The Weight of Words (The WORDS Series) (32 page)

“Then it’s decided. Tell her tonight. It’ll make the outing a hell of a lot less uncomfortable.”

“I can see your point there, but I can’t just spring it on her at the benefit.”

“Why don’t you invite her over to your place so you can go over together? Maybe you could soften her up by telling her about Jeremy.”

“Are you serious? You want to tell her about that too?”

“The look on his face when I told him I was going out tonight with the two of you? I couldn’t continue putting up road blocks. He’s definitely interested in joining us.”

“Wow. Okay, then. So, when I tell her about us, what am I allowed to share? I don’t want to overstep.”

“Well, how about telling her we’ve met outside of class a few times to discuss school issues, found that we get along well and have a lot in common, and we’re thinking maybe there could be a future for us…”

He trailed off, and I considered his words.
There could be a future for us.
That could be interpreted in so many ways.

“That’s pretty open-ended,” I said. “How about I put it this way: Is there anything you
don’t
want me to tell her?”

“You can tell her where and when we’ve gotten together, but could you hold back some of the, um, sordid
details
of our encounters?” he added, chuckling sheepishly.

I could tell he was smiling. I could almost see him shaking his head.

“But I
can
tell her about dinner at your parents’ place?” I asked.

“That’s a good starting point since that night seems to have been the catalyst, and that’s how you met Jeremy,” he said.

“Can I say, for the record, I’m so glad your dad invited me to dinner that night?” I said.

Without missing a beat, Daniel replied, “Can
I
say, for the record, I’m so glad my plans in Ottawa fell through that night? I’m especially glad you don’t know how to play snooker.”

I remembered the way his chin dropped and his eyes became lidded whenever he spoke to me this way. I had a sudden overwhelming urge to be in his arms and felt a physical pang at his distance.

“Hey, sailor?” I whispered.

“Yes, poppet?”

“I miss you,” I said.

“Oh, I miss you too,” he replied. “My arms miss you. My hands
really
miss you.”

Good Lord, where did he come up with this stuff?

“I don’t know how much longer I can keep up the pretense, Daniel. It’s so hard being near you and seeming indifferent. Tonight’s going to be difficult, you know, after yesterday.”

“I
do
know, believe me. I was a mess yesterday. Julie wasn’t the only one giving us funny looks.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think Cara caught me looking at you in the church. She seemed quite interested in the proceedings. She worries me.”

“All the more reason for you to behave yourself tonight, mister,” I reminded him.

“I could say the same for you. Will you be able to control yourself when you catch sight of my incredibly sweet knee in the ratty pants?”

“You’re right.” I laughed. “I’ll be a puddle, there’s no doubt about it. So, um, are you wearing them now?” I asked, closing my eyes to get a visual.

“As a matter of fact, I am,” he replied, voice sultry and low.

I sighed, playing along. “What shirt are you wearing?” I prodded.

“A plain black T-shirt.”

“Mmm, nice.” Now I just needed to complete the picture. “What are you wearing on your feet?”

“My feet? Nothing. I got out of the shower right before I called you.”

Daniel, fresh from the shower in the peekaboo-knee jeans with bare feet. Good Lord.

“Aubrey?” he asked. “Are we having phone sex?”

“Don’t interrupt. I wasn’t finished.”

“Okay, sorry.” He snickered. “What else do you need to know, to, um, finish?” he asked.

“You didn’t shave, right?”

“No, that instruction was perfectly clear.”

“Good. And where are you? I mean, are you in your bedroom or living room?” I asked.

“I’m in the living room. I was about to play some guitar,” he said.

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

I heard the sound of guitar strings being plucked. I moaned, low and throaty. Although I was kidding around, the visual
was
beginning to make me feel a little overheated.

“Finished?” he asked.

“Yeah, that pushed me over the edge.” I let out an exaggerated moan of satisfaction. “For now, at least.”

“You crack me up.”

“I’m glad I amuse you.”

“You do. And I dearly wish you could amuse me all afternoon, but I should get back to marking. I’ve almost finished these
Hamlet
papers.”

“I’ll let you go,” I said. “I need to finish rereading
Antony and Cleopatra
anyway.”

“Shall we meet outside Brennan Hall at eight thirty?” he asked.

“That sounds good,” I said. “I’ll text you if I need to.”

“Sounds like a plan. Good luck with Julie. And sorry about earlier,” he added. “Missing you makes me irrational. I can’t stand the thought of another man being that close to you when I have to keep my distance. It’s so frustrating.”

“I can see that, Daniel, but I have a life and friends and other relationships that are important to me.”

“I know. Look, I’ll see you in a few hours, my sweet. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me too. Bye.”

“Bye,” he said softly.

And then he was gone. I smiled at my bedroom ceiling, completely overwhelmed by my feelings for him. At the same time, there was a vague apprehension brewing in the back of my mind. Was his overreaction to my relationship with Matt really a result of the imposed restrictions on us, or was he prone to a possessiveness that would threaten my relationships with others? I realized with sudden clarity that my apprehension was coupled with another emotion: Guilt. Here I was, denying any connection to Matt beyond friendship, when no more than three weeks ago I’d been lying on this very bed with Matt’s lips and body pressed against mine.

I tossed my phone on the dresser before heading out to the kitchen. Matt was starting to clean up. I helped him bring the last of the dishes to the sink and filled it with hot, sudsy water.

“So, that was your TA, right? Do you make a habit of talking to him on the phone?” he asked.

“Oh, um, not really. We had a meeting scheduled yesterday to talk about my ISU. We canceled because of the memorial I was telling you about, so he called instead.”

My face always burned when I lied. I tried to hide my heated blush from Matt by staying intently focused on the plates and cups in the sink.

“He’s pretty keen on going out of his way to help you. Driving you home after the play that night, and now phoning you…”

“Yeah, he’s a decent guy. My English class is small. He’s got a good rapport with everyone.”

Matt grunted in reply, seeming to accept my explanation that Daniel wasn’t favoring me in any particular way. He continued crashing around in the cupboards putting away pots and pans. I took the opportunity to change the subject.

“So, what are you up to tonight?”

“Shawn called earlier. I’m heading out with him later.” He paused in his noisy clean up. “He was talking about you.”

“Really?” I looked at him over my shoulder.

“Yeah, he saw you at that service you went to yesterday. Said you looked hot.”

“Get out.” I flushed again and grimaced as I turned back to the sink. Shawn Ward? He’d never shown me the slightest bit of interest. Why now?

“I’m serious. He even asked me if I thought you’d go with him to the Kap party next Friday—the semi-formal?”

I’d seen flyers for the Kap party. The slogan was:
“It’s Friday the 13th– Bad Shit Will Happen—Look Good When It Does.”
I had no plans to go to a semi-formal without Daniel; since his attendance was out of the question, so was mine.

“I don’t think I’ll be going.”

“Why not? You should get out—have some fun. Maybe you’ll meet a guy. Or go with Shawn, you know.”

He frowned and went back to shoving things into the cabinet. Why was he pushing Shawn on me?

“If the events of the last Friday the thirteenth were an omen, I think it’s best if I stay home,” I said.

“You puked because you were sick, Aub. That has nothing to do with the date and everything to do with germs,” he said, flicking my ass with the dish towel. I grabbed it from him to dry my hands.

“I’ll see. Right now I need to call Julie to invite her over before we head to a benefit at Brennan Hall. It’s a MADD fundraiser, kind of a tribute to the girl that died.”

“Really? What time’s she coming over?”

“I was thinking seven o’clock.”

“Shit, I’ll be gone by then. That’s too bad. I haven’t seen Jul since last year. Remember when she drank that whole pitcher of mojitos I made? That was a good night.”

“I remember some of it.” I laughed, tossing the dish towel at him before heading off to my room to phone Julie. As usual she was on the fly, but I managed to convince her to come over around seven before heading to the benefit. As I hung up, I started planning the big reveal. How on earth was I going to tell Julie the truth about Daniel and me?

Without warning, a vision of a guitar-playing, bare-foot, holey-jeans-wearing Daniel distracted me from my agonizing thoughts.

And I was okay with that.

At six thirty, I was ready and waiting for Julie. A note on the counter from Matt told me to look in the fridge for a big surprise. There, in a large glass jug, was a pitcher of mojitos. Maybe some liquid courage would help me tell Julie about me and Daniel.

I grabbed a small glass and conducted a taste-test. Sinfully good—exactly the way I remembered. I couldn’t resist pouring myself another, and I’d just knocked it back when the buzzer sounded. I let Julie into the building and waited for her in the apartment’s open doorway. As soon as she was close enough, I pulled her into a hug. I squeezed way too hard, anxious about our impending conversation.

“Aubrey, you’re crushing me,” she gasped. “You been taking lessons from the bruiser? Where is he, anyway?” she asked, looking around the apartment.

“Matt’s gone out with Ward.”

“That sucks. I was kinda hoping to see the hunk. You know, get one of
his
rib-crushing hugs in person.”

“He was hoping to see you too,” I said, leading her into the kitchen. “He left you a treat.” I opened the fridge and pulled out the pitcher.

“Oh my God! Mint leaves! Is that what I think it is?” she asked, wide-eyed.

“Yep. I had a small glass before you got here to make sure it’s fit for company.”

I poured out two large glasses, and we clinked before we each took a swig.

“That’s divine,” she sighed. “He’s got a gift, I swear.”

“Come on.” I grabbed the pitcher in one hand and my glass in the other. “I still have to do my makeup.” I led her to my room and turned on my iPod dock. Julie flopped onto the bed as I put on some mascara.

“Aubrey, I don’t know what it is, but you’re looking super-hot these days,” Julie said appreciatively.

“I am?” I looked at myself critically in the mirror. All I saw was the same old me.

“Yeah, you’re kind of glowy. And look at your legs and ass in those jeans!” Julie crawled across the bed and knelt behind me.

“You don’t think my legs are too skinny?”

“Too skinny? What the hell are you talking about?”

“I don’t know. I feel all gangly.” An image of Penny and her curves sprang up in my mind’s eye.

Julie sighed and moved around to lean on my dresser facing me.

“You have amazing legs. Other women would kill for these gams. And your ass is hot and you know it,” she said, looking at me through narrowed eyes.