seless Abbi Glines#3

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"Ceaseless"
Author:AbbiGlines
Series:ExistenceTrilogy#3“Thesoulhasbeenmarkedsincebirth.Itwasn’tmeanttoliveoutthislifetime.”-TheDeity
“Flyawayplease.Stayoutofmyroom.Icould’vebeennaked!”(Pagan-Existence)
“Thesoulhasbeenappointednotonce,buttwicenow.”-TheDeity
“Asoulcameintomyhouse.Shetouchedmeandtalkedtome.Soulsnevertalkedtome,before
you.
“Ifyouaredeterminedforthissoultoremainbyyourside,thenachoicemustbemade.”-The
Deity
“Youcan’tscaremeoffandI’mnotrunningaway.”(Pagan-Existence)
“Youknowthatthesoulhasamate.Ifhersoulistoexistforaneternitythenthesoulmust
chooseyouoverthematecreatedasitsotherhalf.”-TheDeity
“Thisisthemostpreciousperfectgiftanyonehaseverreceived.Yougavemebackamemory
thatIwillcherishforever.”(Pagan-Predestined)
“Thesoulhasseentoomuch.Sheknowsmorethanasoulshouldknow.Shecan’tkeepher
memories.Thechoicewillbeanunfaironeifshedoes.”-TheDeity
“I’msavingitformysmokinghotboyfriend.”(Pagan-Predestined)
“Everymomentshehasspentwithyouwillbetakenfromhermemories.Shewon’tremember
meetingDeathandyourbreakingtherulestosaveher.Shewon’trememberfightingforyou.
Shewon’trememberthecurseshesufferedwhileunderthespellofthevoodoospirit.Itwillall
bewashedclean.
Ifyouwanther,Dankmar,thenyouhavetowinherheartfromthesoulmadetobehermate.
Onlythenwillitbepossibleforyoutokeepherforeternity.
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Shemustpassthistest.”-TheDeity
“Trustme,DankWalkerIwillonlyhaveeyesforyou.Nooneelseevencomesclose.”(Pagan-
Predestined)✓Pagan✓
MirandapulledhershinynewsilverLandRoverintoanemptyparkingspotinfrontofJemison
Hall,ourhomeforthenextninemonths.
“Canyoubelievewe’rehere?”Mirandawhisperedinaweaswestaredupatthehistoricbrick
buildinginfrontofus.MymomwasaBooneUniversityalumna.Boonewasasmallprivate
collegeinWeston,Tennessee.WhenMirandaandIhadbothbeenacceptedthere,Ifiguredthis
waswhereIwasmeanttobe.Goingtoalargerstateuniversityterrifiedme.Ilikedthesmaller,
moreintimatefeelingofthisplace.
“I’mstilltryingtograspthefactthatwe’reincollege,”IrepliedasIopenedthecardoor.
“Iknow,right?”
WebothsteppedoutoftheSUVandheadedfortherearcargocompartmenttostartunloading
ourboxes.Mymomhadbeenunabletocomewithusbecauseshehadtoattendawriter’s
conferenceinChicago.MirandaandIbothagreedthathavingherparentscomewithuswasa
badidea.Herparentscouldbeatadbitembarrassing.Sinceweweredoingthistogetherwe
decidedtobeindependentanddoitwithouthelpfromanyoneelse.Wehadeachother.
Now,lookingatthestackofboxesandluggagepiledinthebackofMiranda’sLandRover,I
wonderedifthathadbeenamistake.Itwasgoingtotakeushourstocarryallofthisstuffupto
ourdormroom.
“Thisisgonnatakeforever,”Mirandamoanedinfrustration.
Istartedtorespondwhentheloudvibratingsoundofreallygoodspeakerscaughtmyattention.
Thesourceofthemusicwasasmallblackconvertiblethathadjustpulledintotheparking
spacebesideus.ThefirstthingInoticedaboutthedriverofthecarwasherwildblondhairwith
brightpinktips.
Thedrivercuttheengine,whichmademyearsinstantlythankful.Thedriverswungopenthe
doorandhoppedoutofthecar.Itwasobviousfromhermakeupandattirethatshewasanemo.
Shehadonheavyblackeyelinerandblackcombatboots.Theonlythingthatthrewmeoffa
littlewasthehair.Hotpinkwasn’treallyanemothing,wasit?
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Sheputonehandonherhipandblewalargebubblewithhergum,blatantlystaringatbothof
us.Shepoppedherbubbleloudlyandsmirked.“Thisshitisgonnabefun,”shesaidinan
amusedtone,thenturnedandheadedtowardthedorm.
Onceshewasoutofhearingrange,Mirandagrabbedmyarmfirmly,“PleaseGoddon’tlether
liveanywherenearus.Shescaresme.”
Icouldn’tdisagreewithherthere.Nodding,Ireachedfortheclosestboxtome.“Idoubtwe’ll
seeherthatmuch.It’sabigbuilding.Chancesarewearen’tevenonthesamefloor.Now,geta
boxandstartunloading.”
-Isohopeyou’reright.ShouldImovetoanotherparkingspace?Youknow,awayfromher.-
Mirandaasked.
-Justgrababoxandstopworrying,-Irepliedandresolutelyheadedforthedorm.
ThewildlookingblondwasstandingonthebottomstepwatchingmewhenIreachedthe
doubledoorsoftheentrance.Great.Shehadn’tgoneinside.Ishiftedmyeyesawayfromher
andonthegroundtokeepmefromtrippingandfalling.
Aloudrumblecausedthegroundtovibrate.IstumbledanddroppedtheboxofshoesIwas
carrying.Despitemyeffortstoholdontothem,theshoesspilledoutontothepavement.I
practicallygrowledinfrustration.Iputmyhandsonmyhipsandsilentlycursedmyselffornot
askingMiranda’sparentstocomewithus.ThiswasjustmyfirstdangedboxandIcouldn’teven
getitinsidesafely.
TherumblingsoundofamotorbecamelouderandIturnedmyheadtoseeablackandsilver
motorcyclecometoahaltafewfeetawayfrommeandmyshoedisaster.ItwashisfaultI’d
droppedthedangedthings.Whatwashedoingridingaroundcampusonaloudmotorcycle?
WhenIlookedupfromtheoffendingmotorcycle,myeyesmetapairofbrilliantblueeyes.My
swiftintakeofbreathwasloud,ashisgazetraveledovermeslowly.Hewasjustso…so…
strikinglyperfect.DarkthickeyelashesoutlinedthemostinsanelyblueeyesI’deverseen.Long
darkhaircurledathiscollarandwastuckedbehindhisears.Aperfectmouthwasturnedupina
smirk.Wait…asmirk.IshookmyheadtostopthecompletephysicalassessmentIwasdoing
onthisstranger.Imanagedtoturnmyslightly-awedexpressiontooneofannoyance.
-YouthinkyoucouldgetaloudermotorcyclebecauseIdon’tthinkthatonewokeupthepeople
inAustralia?-Isnappedandbentdowntostartpickingupmyshoes,whichwasinitself
embarrassing.
-Isthismyfault?-heaskedinahypnoticsexydrawl.Figures.Guysthatlookedlikethathad
voicestomatch.
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-Youstartledmeaswellaswokeupsleepingbabiesinthesurroundingstates,-Ireplied
throwingoneofmycowboybootsintothebox.
Fromthecornerofmyeye,Isawhimstandupandswingonejeancladlegoverhismotorcycle
andstand.Great.Nowhewascomingoverhere.JustwhatIneed.Ikeptmyfocusontheshoes
scatteredeverywhereashewalkedtowardme.Hisblackbootsstoppedjustoutsidemymound
ofshoes.HebentdownandpickedupapinkheelthatIhardlyeverwore.Iwasn’tevensurewhy
Ihadbroughtthem.I’dboughtthemforsomethingbutIcouldn’trememberwhat.Hepickedup
theotheroneandIrealizedhewasholdingthemalmostreverentlyinhishands.Iwascurious
andcouldn’thelpit.Iturnedmyheadtolookathim.Hewasstaringdownatmypinkshoeslike
somethingaboutthemmadehimsad.Didhisex-girlfriendhaveapairlikethat?Orwashejusta
smokinghotnutso?
-Youwannagivememyshoes?-Iaskedholdingoutmyhandforthem.Heliftedhisgazeand
thestartlingbluecolorwasevenmoreamazingupclose.Therewassadnesstheretoo.Icould
seeitclearlyandsomethinginmeached.Ididn’tevenknowthisguy.WhydidIcaresodeeply
abouttheobvioushurthewasdealingwith?
-Ilikethese.Ibettheylookbeautifulonyou,-hesaidasheplacedbothofthemcarefullyinthe
box.
Iwantedtoshiveratthehuskytoneinhisvoice.
“Thanks.”Irepliedawkwardly.Ididn’tknowwhatelsetosay.
“Youreadytoroll,Dank?”theblondwithpinktippedhairaskedasshesteppedovermyshoes
andmadeherwaytohismotorcycle.Wasshewithhim?Washeheretogether?Theemogirl?
Really?
“No,Gee,I’mnot,”hetoldher..Hisattentionwasflatteringandalittlenerve-wrackingatthe
sametime.Itwaslikehewaswaitingonmetosayordosomething.Ididn’tknowwhathe
wantedbutitwashardnottowanttodowhateveritwouldtaketopleasehim.Hereachedfor
anotherpairofmyshoesandputtheminthebox.Hecontinueduntileachshoewasbackinthe
correctbox.Thenhereacheddownandpickedupthebox.Thesnug-fittingblackteeshirthe
waswearingdidwonderfulthingsforhisarmsasheheldtheboxandstoodtherewaitingfor
directions.
“Whereto?”heasked.
Iwasn’tsureIwantedhishelpbutIdefinitelyneededhelp.Mirandawasjustnowmakingher
wayacrossthestreet.Iknewtheminutehereyeslandedonhim.Hermouthdroppedopenand
shedroppedtheboxshewascarrying.Whattheheck?Hewashotbutdidshehavetodropher
boxandspillherhairproductsacrossthestreet.?Dangit.Wewerenevergonnagetmovedinto
ourdormroomatthisrate.
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“OHMYGOOD!!!-shescreamed,coveringhermouthanddoingalittlebouncythingontheballs
ofherfeet.Ithadmovedfromembarrassingtohumiliating.Iwasafraidtolookbackattheguy.
Mirandawasactinglikealunatic.
“Miranda,”Ihissed,tryingtogethertostopgoingfan-girloversomestrangerandomguy.She
thenliftedherfingerandstartedpointingathim.Fantastic.She’dgoneinsane.
“Doyouknowwhoheis?”sheaskedme,andthensquealed,stillgawkingathim.
DidIknowwhohewas?Whatdidshemean?WasImissingsomething?Iturnedandlookedat
himagain.Hewasstilljustasridiculouslysexy,buthewasjustaguy.Theamusedsmirkonhis
facealertedmethatmaybeheknewwhyshewasactinglikeshe’dlosthermind.
“Whoareyou?”Iaskedstudyinghimclosely.
Theblueinhiseyesbeganto…glow?
“DankWalker,”hereplied,nevertakinghisgazefrommine.Itwashardtolookawayfromhis
eyes.Somethinginthemwasmagnetic.Almostlikemybodywasdrawntohim.Ididn’tlikeit.It
scaredme.Itwaswrong.Itwasn’tnormal.
“Pagan,doyounotknowwhoheis?Oh.My.God!Youhavegottobekiddingme.I’vegottoget
yououtmore.Ican’tbelieveitisyouarereallystandinghere.HoldingherPagan’sbox.Doyou
gohere?Ididn’tknowyouwenttocollege?Iamsuchabigfan.YetYouStayismyringtone.
Loveit!”
Ringtone?Wait…
“You’retheleadsingerinthatband,”Ipaused,becauseIcouldn’tremembertheirname.Iknew
Mirandalovedthem.Ijusttunedheroutmostofthetimewhenshestartedgoingonandon
aboutsomething.
“ColdSoul,Pagan!HeistheleadsingerofCold-freaking-Soul.Howcouldyounotknowthis?”
MirandainformedmeasshesteppedoverherbrushesandhairdryertogetclosertoDank
Walker.
“Iamyourbiggestfan.”SheinformedhimbutIhadafeelinghe’dfiguredthatmuchoutalready.
“It’snicetomeetyou,”herepliedpolitely,butonlyglancedatherbeforeheturnedhisattention
backtome.TheamusedgrinonhisfacemademefeellikeheknewsomethingIdidn’t.That
annoyedme.
“Icantakethebox.ThanksforyouroffertohelpbutI’vegotit,”Isaidreachingouttotakethe
boxhewasholding.Hearchedoneeyebrowandshiftedtheboxoutofmyreach.
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“I’msureyoucanhandleitallbyyourself,Pagan.ButIwanttocarryittoyourroom.Please.”I
couldn’tberude.Hehadsaidplease.
“Shewantstocarryitherself,Dank.Giveherthedamnboxandlet’sgo.Wegotstufftodo.”The
Emogirlwhowasnowsittingonhismotorcyclecalledout.
SomethingthatIwasprettysurewasangerflashedinhiseyes.Hedidn’tevenglancebackin
herdirection.“Ignoreher,”hetoldmeashenoddedhisheadtowardthedoorsofthedorm.
“Leadtheway.”
Ididn’twantthewild,slightly-scarygirlwholivedinmydormtohateme,butMirandawas
nudgingmyarmlikeanidiot.ShewantedmetoletDankWalkercarrymyboxofshoesandhe
wasobviouslydeterminedtohelpme.
“Okayfine,I’lljustgogetanotherbox.Miranda,youshowhimwheretheroomis.”Miranda
beamedatmeandnoddedherappreciation.
TheamusedlookvanishedandDankWalkerseemedannoyed.Fine.Good.Heshouldn’tbe
hittingonanothergirlwhilehehasoneonthebackofhisbike.Iwasn’tstupid.Iknewguysin
rockbandswereplayers.Thatwasnotmything.
Mirandabeganbubblingoverwithwordsandmorewordsasshestartedwalkingtowardthe
dormtryingveryhardtoholdDank’sattention.Shecouldhandlehim.Ihadnodoubt.Heading
backtotheLandRover,ItriedtoblockouttheirvoicesandfocusontheboxesIneededto
unload.✓Dank✓
ThreedaysagoI’dheldherinmyarmsasshefellasleeptellingmeaboutallthethingsshe’d
packed.Ihadteasedheraboutpackingtoomuchandnotbeingabletofititallinherdorm
room.Shehadpromisedmeshewouldwearthosepickhighheelsonourfirstofficialcollege
date.Everythinghadbeenperfect.Paganhadlovedme.
Now,shedidn’tevenknowme.
“Hereitis,”MirandaannouncedassheopenedthedormroomthatIknewconnectedtoGee’s
room.I’dmadesureofthat.Ialsoknewthisroomwasthebiggestoneavailable.Iwanted
Pagantohavethebest.Iwantedeveryexperienceshehadtobeperfect.She’dbeenthroughso
muchwithmealready.Thiswassupposedtobethebeginningofourhappily-ever-after.
“Ohwow.It’shuge!Iwonderifthisistherightone?We’rejustfreshman.”Theexcitementin
Miranda’svoiceasshespunaroundandtookinhersurroundingsremindedmethatMiranda
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hadforgottenitalltoo.Myexistenceinthehumanworldoverthepastyearhadbeenaltered.
Paganwouldn’tremember.They’dtakenthatfromher.Everymemory—gone.
“Youcanputthatboxdownoverthereonthatsideoftheroom.Paganwillwanttobefurther
fromthebathroom.Ittakesmelongertogetreadyandshecansleeplaterinthemornings.”
Mirandawasright.Paganwouldn’tspendmuchtimegettingreadyinthemornings.Italso
remindedmethatIwouldn’tbeheretoholdherandkissthesleepylookonherface.Iplaced
theboxbesidehercloset.Agonyattheseparationwasslicingthroughme.Thentherewasthe
fear.WhatifPagandidn’tchooseme?WhatifIneverheldheragain?Whatifsheneverlooked
atmeagainwithloveinhereyes?CouldIexistwithoutthat?
No.Icouldn’t.
“We’regonnabelate,”Geegrumbledfromthedoorway.Itwaspasttimeweheadedoutto
collectsouls.ItwasjustsohardtoleavehernowthatIhadhercloseagain.Beingunableto
touchherorallowhertoseemewastorture.
“Oh,doyouhavepractice?”Mirandaaskedbattinghereyelashesmyway.I’dforgottenshewas
aColdSoulfan.I’dbeenPagan’sboyfriendtoherforawhilenow.Thefactshewasafanhad
fadedaway.Thiswasgoingtobeannoying.
“Nohehasagig.”Geeexplainedinanamuseddrawl.
“Wow,where?Isitsoldout?I’dlovetogo.I’veneverseenyouperformlive.”
Yeah,shehad.Severaltimes.Butthatwasalsoforgotten.BeforeIcouldcomeupwitha
suitablereplyGeeinterruptedme.
“Paganisoutsidetalkingtoaboy.OnewithaCajun-talkingDaddy,ifyouknowwhatImean.”
Shit.
IstalkedpastMirandaandshovedGeeasideasImademywaydowntotheparkinglotinthe
closestthingtohumanspeedasIcouldmanage.ButbecauseIknewLeifwasnearPaganand
shedidn’tknowwhohewasorwhathehaddone,Ifeltjustifiedaslightlymoreefficientmodeof
travel.
Ididn’twanttoscarePaganbyappearingoutofthinair.SoIcameupbehindher.Leiffeltmy
presencebecausehisentirebodytensed.
“CanIhelpyoucarryyourthingsinside?’LeifaskedPagain,lookingoverhershoulderinan
attempttofindme.
IstartedtotakeastepforwardwhenGeegrabbedmyarmandpulledmebackwithahardtug.
“Stopit.Remember,heisn’thertype.Calmdown.Letherhandlethis.You’regoingtofuck
everythingupifyouactlikesomecrazedguywithaninfatuation.Thisisnottheguyshefellin
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lovewith.ShefellinlovewithdarkmysteriousDankWalker.ShefellinlovewithDeath.Bethat
guy.Stopbeingthisbroken,pitiful,obsessedstalkerdude.Thatwon’tgetherback.Andbelieve
itornot,IwantPaganbacktoo.”
Shewasright.Iclenchedmyfiststightlyandwaited.
“Nothanks.I’vegotthis.Itwasnicetomeetyou.”Paganinformedhiminaslightlyannoyed
tonethateasedmyanxiety.Geewasright.Leifwasn’tPagan’stype.Heneverhadbeen.Iknew
theboywasn’tstupidenoughtotrytotakeheragain.Hisfatherwouldn’tallowit.Hewas
testingthewaterstoseeifshereallyhadforgotten.
“See?She’sgotthis.Nowlet’sgo.Youactmysteriousandsexy.Gogetyourassonthat
motorcycleanddriveawaywithoutaword.”
LeavingPaganwashard.Ididn’twanthertohavetocarryallthosethingsinside.Iwantedtodo
thatforher.Iwassupposedtobetheonedoingthat.Shehadbeengoingtopaymeinsexual
favors.We’djokedaboutitforweeks.Butnow…shewashere.Alone.
“Youstayhere.Staynearher.Helphermovein.Mostimportantly,keepthevoodooprinceaway
fromher.I’llbebackassoonasinhumanlypossible.”
Surprisingly,Geedidn’targue.
✓Pagan✓
“Smartmove.Helookedlikeacreep.”
Theblondwiththepinktippedhairwassuddenlybesideme.Ihadn’theardherwalkupbutI’d
beenbusytryingtogetridoftheoverly-friendlyguywhohadmetmeatMiranda’scarand
wouldn’ttakeahint.
“Hewasniceenough.I’mjustnotcrazyaboutgivingdirectionstomyroomtoeveryguyon
campus.”Iexplained.AndIdidn’twantthemtofeelasifIowedthemsomethingfortheirhelp.
Thegirlreachedintothecarandpulledoutmysuitcase.Iwasn’tsurewhattothinkaboutthat.
Theroarofthemotorcycle’senginestartledmeandIspunaroundtooseeDankWalkerdrive
awaywithoutsomuchasaglancemyway.NotthatIexpectedit,really.Imeanhehadbeen
veryniceandseemedsomewhatinterested,butIdidn’texactlyencouragehim.
“Weren’tyougoingwithhim?”Iaskedasthegirlwalkedaroundmewithasuitcasehandlein
onehandandoneofmyboxestuckedinherotherarm.Shewasreallygoingtohelpmeunload?
Why?I’ddonenothingtowinherfavor.Shedidn’tappeartobesomeonewhomadefriends
easily.
“Changedmymind.He’sinabitofafunktoday,”shesaidwithoutlookingbackatme.Iwatched
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asshemadeherwaytotheentranceofthedormthenIturnedaroundandgrabbedabox
myself.Shewouldn’tknowwhichroomtogotoandevenifshefoundtheroomonherown,it
wouldterrifyMirandaifemogirlwalkedintotheroomwhenshewastherealone
Fivehourslaterwewerecompletelyunpacked.Evenourverylargeroomwassetup.We’dtaken
heemptyboxestothedumpster,packedthefridgewithwaterbottles,andI’dgivenhalfmy
closetspacetoMiranda.She’dbroughttoomanyclothestofitinhers.Thiswasnotsurprising
intheleast.Ifiguredthatitwouldbeeasiertolivewithajam-packedclosetthanlisteningto
Mirandawhineforthenextninemonthsbecauseherclosetwasn’tbigenough.Besides,with
thesizeofthisroomwecouldeasilyfitoneofthoseportableclosetsinthecorner.
“Istillcan’tbelievesheisintheroomconnectedtooursandshedoesn’thavetosharewith
anyone.Whatisshe?Arockstar’skid?THAT’SIT!Sheissomefamousrocker’skid.Shelooks
thepart.SheisobviouslyonafirstnamebasiswithDankWalkerandshehasthemoneyand
powertohaveherveryowndormroom.Andshehasthatweirdname.Whocallstheirkid‘Gee”
butsomefamousperson?”
Mosttimes,IwavedMiranda’sridiculousideasaway,butthistimeshejustmightberight.No
oneelseinthedormhadherownroom,everyoneelsehadaroom-mate.Granted,ourroomwas
huge.ItwasevenbiggerthanGees,butweweresharingit.Iploppeddownonmyblackpolka
dottedcomforterthatMirandahadinsistedIget.Shewantedustomatch.Herswasblackwith
whitepolkadotsandminewaswhitewithblackpolkadots.Ididn’treallycareforthepattern
buthonestlyI’dhavebeenfinewithaquiltfromhomeasmycover.Mirandahadthrownahissy
fitwhenI’dsuggestedthat.So,wehadpolkadots.Everythingelsewasblackandwhitetoo.
Blackandwhitewashercurrentdecoratingcolorschemeobsession.Shehadevenboughtus
matchingpinboardswithblackandwhiteribbononthemtohangaboveourdesks,rightbeside
theblackandwhitedryeraseboards.
“Itlooksgooddoesn’tit?”Sheaskedsmuglyasshesatdownbesideme.Shewashappywith
thewayeverythinghadfitintoplace.Iwasjustgladshe’dlefttheOneDirectionpostersather
house.Idon’tlikeboybandsandIsuredon’twanttothemplasteredoverthewallsofmyroom
allyear.
“Youdidagoodjob,”Iagreedandshebeamedatme.Itdidn’ttakemuchtomakehersmile.
She’dgonethrougharoughpatchthereforawhileafterherboyfriend,Wyatt,hadpassedaway.
Ithadbeenthethreeofusgrowingup.Losinghimhadhurtmetoo,butnotasbadlyasithad
her.TheyhadaconnectionIdidn’tshare.Shoppingforourroomhadkeptherbusyoverthepast
monthandshe’dslowlystartedtoheal.
“Whatshouldwedonow?Wanttogocheckoutthecampus?Orgofindsomethingtoeat?The
campusfoodcourtdoesn’topenuntiltomorrow.We’llhavetoleavecampustofinddinner.”
IstartedtoanswerwhenGeewalkedintotheroomthroughthebathroomthatadjoinedour
rooms.“Iknowtheperfectplacetogoeatandhavealittlefun.Let’sgo,bitches.”
11✓Pagan✓
Althoughitwasanage-restrictedclub,Geehadgottenusinsidewithoutahitch.I’dstartedto
refusetogoinsidebutMirandahadgottenallexcitedwhenthebouncerwavedusthrough.Ihad
togointokeepMirandaoutoftrouble.
“Stopfrowning,PeggyAnn.Itain’tthatbad.Loosenup,”Geesaidaswemadeourwaytoward
oneoftheemptytables.
“MynameisPagan,”Iinformedher.
“Youusedtobemorefun,”shemumbled.Whattheheckdidshemeanbythat?We’dknown
eachotherallofsixhourstops.Iwasabouttoaskabouthercommentwhenaguysteppedin
frontofme.
“Hey,beautiful.You’renewhere.I’dremembereyeslikethoseifI’dseenthembefore.”
Iletoutawearysighandlookedupathim.“Really?That’sthebestyou’vegot?”Iaskedraising
aneyebrow.
HisconfusedfrownannoyedmeandIsteppedaroundhim.
“Harsh!Ilikeit.”Geechuckledaswetookourseatsatthebar.
Mirandagrabbedmyarmandjerkedmeclosetoher,“Don’tlooknow,butJayishere,”she
whisperedexcitedlyinmyear.
IknewJaywenttoUniversityofTennessee,whichwasjustonecityoverfromusbutIhadn’t
expectedtobumpintohimsosoon,especiallynotonmyfirstnightincollege.Istartedtolook
backbutMirandasqueezedmyarmstightly.“Isaiddon’tlook.He’swithagirl.They’redancing
reallycloseandwellIthinkshemaybehumpinghisleg.”
“WhatdoyouwanttodrinkPay-gan,”Geeaskedinamockingvoicedrawingmynameoutsince
I’dcorrectedherbefore.
“ACokewillbefine,”IsaidandturnedmyattentionawayfromMiranda’sdeathgriponmyarm
toGee,whowasperchedonabarstoolasifshewereactuallyoldenoughtoordersomething
morethanasoda.
“YouwantCoke?WhyamInotsurprised?”Sherepliedwitharollofhereyes.Hergazeshifted
frommetosomethingovermyshoulder.“Well,shit.”Shemumbled.
Curious,IturnedaroundandmyeyesmetJay’s.Hewasinfactdancingwithsomegirlwhojust
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mightbehumpinghisleg.Hishandswerecuppingherbuttandhewaswhisperingsomethingin
herearoratleasthewasuntilhesawme.Hissurprisedexpressionmademesmile.I’msurehe
hadnoideaIwasatBoone.Ihadn’tspokentohimsinceWyatt’sfuneral.Ismiledandgavehim
alittlewaveandturnedaroundtolookatGee.Shewaswatchingmecloselyasifshemayneed
totacklemetothegroundatanygivenmoment.Whatwasherdeal?Shewasjustweirdenough
tomakemenervous.
“Youknowhim?”Sheasked,shiftinghereyesfrommetoJay’sdirection.
Shrugging,IpickeduptheCokethebartenderplacedinfrontofme.“Yeah,heusedtogotomy
school,”Iexplained.Ididn’twanttoexplaintoherthathehadalsobeenmyboyfriendforthree
years.Shewouldprobablyembarrassmesomehowwi...