Surprise flitted over his features. “You sure? We can just hang out in the room, if you want?”
I shook my head. “No way. You were the MVP. That party is for you. I’m not going to be the girlfriend who pulls you away.”
“You sure?” He was grinning.
“Yes. I’ll be with my friends, and what are you smiling about?”
“Nothing.” He leaned over, his lips finding mine for a quick second. “It’s just nice to hear you call yourself my girlfriend.”
I knew what he meant, and I felt like I was glowing as we headed inside the house. We were hand in hand, but instead of going through the back door, I led Shay to the front. It was his moment. After that first step inside, I knew I was right. The place was filled with people. His teammates, girls, and other friends all cheered for Shay. He was grabbed up by the guys, being literally pulled away. He flashed an apologetic smile my way, but I waved it off.
I was pulling my phone out when Linde appeared next to me. He handed me a cup. “Here.”
“What is it?” But I took it, sniffing it. The alcohol was strong enough to kill a fly in the general proximity. “Holy shit, Linde. That’s strong.”
He laughed. “Last party before we all head home tomorrow. I figured what the hell, right?” He draped his arm around my shoulders, nodding to where Shay had been taken. A group formed at the bar, and he was being challenged in a shot-drinking contest. “Thinking it’s going to be a rough morning for both of you tomorrow.”
“Here.” I wasn’t listening. I gave him the cup back. “I need to text my friends.”
Thirty minutes later, Kristina and Casey both walked in. Their eyes were huge. The music had gotten louder, and I had to shout into Kristina’s ear. “Thanks for coming!” I nodded in Casey’s direction. She was glancing around the room. The edges of her mouth turned white. I asked Kristina, “Is this going to be okay for her?”
Kristina put her mouth next to my ear. “We talked about it before coming, but she’s okay. She isn’t going to drink, and she’ll stay with you or me the whole time, but she trusts these guys. That asshole wasn’t partying with other football players when it happened. He was at a fraternity.”
“Okay.” I reached over to tap Casey on the arm. She moved closer, leaning forward to better hear me. I asked her anyway, “Are you okay being here?”
She nodded, giving me two thumbs up. She yelled back, “I won’t drink, and I’ll leave if I get uncomfortable.”
“Me, too!” Kristina joined in, then we heard a nearby shriek and someone launched themselves at us. Two skinny arms wrapped around us, followed by another pair of equally thin arms. Sarah and Laura bounced up and down, both beaming and both looking flushed in the faces. “You guys are here! We weren’t sure. We’re all partying together.”
They were so excited, but the shared look between Kristina and Casey told me they weren’t. Both were cautious and wary.
“Yeah.” Casey untangled their arms. “Should be fun.”
“Shots, shots, shots!” Laura began clapping, turning, and looking around. Then, “Kreigerson! Get over here. Look who’s here!” She looped an elbow through Casey’s.
A guy ventured over, holding a drink in each hand. His dark hair was slicked back, and he had a baby face with round cheeks, smooth complexion, and dark eyes to match his hair. He was good-looking, and I saw the lurking arrogance. He knew it, too. “Hey! Winchem! It’s been forever.” He handed her one of the drinks. “Fuck yeah.”
She shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“Ah. Come on.”
“No. Really. No, thank you.”
Sarah was the closest to me, and she’d stopped jumping up and down. The flushed coloring was fading, and she was no longer smiling. She leaned to me. “It was his party where it happened.” She shook her head. “What is Laura thinking?”
But she didn’t wait for my response. She waded in and took the drink that he was offering Casey. Firmly situating herself between the two, she held it up to his face. “Are you kidding me? You know what happened to her, and it was a drink you gave her.”
“Hey—” His persuasive smile fell away, and he drew back to his fullest height. “If you’re saying I drugged her—”
“No, but he gave you the cup and you gave it to her. It could’ve been Laura or me. It could’ve been any girl and you’re giving her another one?”
“I said—” he started to bark back.
She flung the liquid in his face.
“HEY!” he roared, swiping the alcohol out of his eyes. “What the fuck, Sarah?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and lowered her chin in place. She wasn’t moving. “Get out of here, Kreigerson. We’re done partying with you.”
“I—” His hand was in the air. I didn’t know what he was going to do, but I was back there.
It was dark out.
Night.
The library closed.
I was on that sidewalk.
“Hey!” a new voice rushed in, and there was movement. I was grabbed and pulled away, but I didn’t know what was going on. I was on that sidewalk again. Those two shadows were looming over me, growing larger and larger.
They were raising the bat.
I screamed and tried to cover my face.
“Hey, hey, hey.”
I was caught and held against a chest. I was frozen, the impending attack was coming, but I recognized Shay in the back of my mind. I was safe. I wasn’t. I was in his arms. No, I was going to get hit. I was going to fall to the ground, and I was shuddering.
“It’s okay, Kenz. It’s okay.”
My head was being cradled against a chest, a strong chest that I knew intimately. I looked up and saw Shay’s loving eyes. The flashback left, but I was drained. I sucked in some breath and pressed my forehead to him again. “I was back there.”
“You’re safe. I’m here.” He twisted around and shouted, “Get him the fuck out of here! NOW!”
“Hey, man. I didn’t know—”
A growl cut him off, and I recognized Linde’s voice. “You know now, and it’s time you left.”
“No.” I looked up, but Shay was holding me against the wall. His back was protecting me, shielding me, and I tried to step out of his arms.
“No.” He tightened them. “What are you doing?”
I shook free from his hold. “I’m fine.”
I walked forward.
Linde and another guy had Kreigerson’s arms twisted and behind him. They were beginning to walk him out when I hurried forward. “No.”
Linde looked over, his eyebrows pulling together. “What are you doing, Clar—”
I balled up my fist and swung.
It wasn’t this insensitive asshole I was lashing out at. It was Carruthers. It was the other guy. It was Casey’s rapist. It was all of the assholes who thought they could attack a girl and get away with it, but this was really about me.
My fist hit him across the face, and the pain blasted me. I didn’t think I could smile any wider.
“What the fuck?” His head jerked to the side and then he looked back at me.
I said to him, “You helped hurt her.”
Casey stood right there, and her eyes filled with tears. She clasped her hands together and looked down to the floor.
“You helped hurt me.”
“What? No, I didn’t. I didn’t even—”
“If you hurt one and don’t change from it, you’ll hurt another.” I flexed my hand out. I wasn’t making sense, but I didn’t care. He’d understand when he had a daughter one day. I turned my back on him, giving Linde the nod to kick him out.
Then the pain started.
I whimpered, “Ice bag, please. Or morphine. Whichever is closest.”
Shay already had an ice bag in his hand. “Here. Let’s go upstairs.”
I put the ice on my knuckles as I looked over my shoulder. Kristina, Casey, and both the other girls all had dazed looks on their faces.
I said, “I’ll be back in a bit.”