Candice didn’t say anything, she just sat there staring at me.
“What?”
“Are you insane? You told him to stop kissing you?!”
Really? That was all she got from what I told her? “Yeah, we had a bad date, why would I want him to kiss me? Maybe if it had gone something like the first two nights I wouldn’t have—”
“No, no. Rachel. Oh my God. We need to fix this. I can’t believe you still managed to mess up the date after everything I went over with you yesterday!”
“Wow.” I shook my head and let my arms give out so I face-planted into my pillow again. I was so dumbfounded I didn’t even know what to say anymore.
After running to the café to grab a quick breakfast, we made our way back to hopefully study for finals that were next week. But from the way Candice had tried to lecture me on all I probably did wrong on the date during breakfast, I’d doubt much studying would take place if it involved her.
Not even two minutes after getting back into our room, there was a knock on the door. And surprise, freaking surprise. Blake West. With four red roses.
“You do realize it’s not even nine on a Saturday.” I answered. And yes, I laid the California bitch tone on thick.
Blake didn’t miss a beat, and his smirk didn’t falter. “Morning, Rach. Can I take you out to breakfast?”
“Oh, we just ate!” Darn. I didn’t even try to sound disappointed.
Candice gave me a look that I pretended not to notice.
“Well that’s okay,” his smile was full of easy confidence. “How about we go grab some coffee instead?”
“I actually need to start studying for my finals.”
“All the more reason for coffee now, it’ll keep you awake.”
Dear lord what was it with him and Candice? Do they not get hints? Must come from her mom’s side of the family. “Sure why don’t we all go? Candice you want to get coffee?”
“Nah, I’m good. I just texted Eric to come over in a few to help me, um, study.”
Traitor. I looked back at a victorious looking Blake, “Could you give me a couple minutes?”
“See you down there.” He handed me the four roses, winked, and walked down the hall.
“Eric today, huh? I’m sure you two will get tons of studying done. Maybe I should stay and help you, you can’t afford to fail this thing.
“You better go!” She looked me over and raised an annoyed eyebrow. “Please tell me you’re going to change.”
I looked down at my yoga pants and off the shoulder Iron Maiden concert shirt. “Ha! No, definitely not. It’s early in the morning, and we’re just getting coffee. Which means I get to stay skanked up.”
“You do not stay skanked up when you’re trying to get the man of your dreams to fall in love with you! You stay skanked up if no one is going to see you! You know this, Rachel.”
Love? God this whole dating her cousin thing was making her more dramatic than usual. I threw my long, dark hair up into a cute messy bun, grabbed my purse and sighed heavily. “See you later.”
Blake didn’t say a word to me as I slid into the passenger seat of his car, and continued to stay silent as we drove to one of the Starbucks near campus. The only acknowledgment he made of my presence was to put his hand high up on my thigh again, and hold tight. Too tight. And not much changed once we were finally in the shop. Conversation didn’t happen, his hand was back on my thigh, and we had four different stare downs.
I only won one of those.
At least he let me order my own coffee. That was honestly the only good part of this morning.
I was barely able to hold in my sigh of relief when my phone chimed.
“Who is that?” Blake’s eyebrows were pulled down, and he seemed more than a little annoyed.
Only checking the text preview on the lock screen I shrugged, “Oh it’s just a friend, he wants to get a study group together tonight.” I started to put my phone back in my purse when his hand shot out and grabbed onto my arm, effectively keeping it suspended above my purse.
“Well, it’s rude to keep him waiting. Aren’t you going to answer him?” He looked like he was struggling to keep himself in check.
I tried to pull my arm back and he finally released it. Sheesh, what was his problem? It was just a text. “Sure, I guess.”
“Just let him know you can’t go.”
“Excuse me?”
He leaned forward and his eyes narrowed. “I’d prefer you study with Candice.”
Now I was getting mad. He didn’t own me, he definitely wasn’t my boyfriend, and this was Aaron. The same gay guy that Blake didn’t like “looking at me”. “And since when do you get to decide who I hang out with? Look maybe I’ve been giving you the wrong impression over the last few days, but we aren’t together. You have no say in what I do.”