Page 65 of Palm South University: Season 2

“They’re probably curious about us.”

They’re not alone there.

The dolphins play around us for a while and we just watch, pointing, laughing, talking. It’s easy and relaxed, and for once, I don’t feel awkward or afraid of my feelings around him. For once, it feels like maybe we really can have a real friendship.

As we ride back up to the dock, I think of Skyler and Clinton, how they are together. It’s clear they love each other, but not in a way that crosses the friendship line. I wonder if maybe Adam could be that friend for me. The thought of it twists my stomach just as much as it makes me smile.

Adam helps me off my jet ski once we dock and I unzip my life jacket, tossing it to the crew member as Adam does the same. We both head straight to the bar on the first deck of the boat to grab water, taking our plastic cups to the back of the boat and leaning our arms against the railing.

“If I ask you something, do you promise to answer me honestly?” Adam asks, sipping from his cup. I nod, though something tells me I might regret it. For a moment he’s quiet, but then he drains the rest of his water and turns to face me, one elbow still propped on the white railing. “What happened with you and Clay last semester?”

Yep. Instant regret.

I clear my throat. “You know what happened.”

“No I don’t.”

I shift my weight to my other hip, chewing at the chapped skin on my top lip. “I don’t know, Adam. I liked him. I thought he was nice. And honestly, I just wanted to have fun. We fooled around and stuff, and I didn’t expect it to go as far as it did, but that night after semi-formal, I was just so upset with you and he was treating me so kindly, even though you told me he was an ass. And I don’t know, I just trusted him for some reason. So we…” I trail off, shaking my head. “Well, I don’t think I really need to say it.”

Adam winces. “You slept with him because of me?”

My heart kicks in my chest. “Oh God, that didn’t come out right.” I know I’m blushing furiously, trying to save my ass but coming up with absolutely no words that help me achieve that. “I just mean that I was in a weird head space. I wasn’t thinking. Normal me, in her right frame of mind, would have remembered that I have always wanted my first time to be special. I wouldn’t have let some frat daddy take it after seeing each other for less than a month.”

I chuckle, but when I lift my eyes to Adam, his fist is clutched around the empty plastic cup, crushing it, his other hand still gripping the bar. His nose flares, murderous eyes hard on mine. “He took your virginity?”

Oh God.

Now I’mreallyblushing.

Covering my face with my hands, I shake my head, peeking through my fingers. “This is so embarrassing.”

“He took your virginity and then dumped you for your ex-best friend in front of everyone.” It’s not a question. His jaw is ticking beneath the strained skin. “Unfuckingbelievable.”

Dropping my hands to my side again, I offer a sad smile, the scars from that night stinging a little. “It’s okay, Adam. I mean, that’s what college is all about, right?” I shrug. “Lessons learned and all that.”

I force a smile, but Adam is still glaring at me like I took my own virginity. Finally, he sighs, blowing the breath out hard and loosening his grip on the cup in his hands. He doesn’t say a word, just takes my cup, too, and walks them to the trash can nearby. I watch him, wondering if I should have lied about what happened. When he reaches me again, he doesn’t stop in the space next to me. He pulls me into him completely, wrapping his arms all the way around me, his naked chest on mine, his abs pressed against my navel, his arms hard around my shoulders.

“I’m so sorry, Cassie,” he whispers into my hair and chills race from the point of contact all the way to my toes. He doesn’t break our hug, just holds me, and each second kills me and fills me with hope all at once. Hesitantly, I wrap my arms around him, too, and my eyes water.

When he pulls back, he sees, and he wipes at the corner of my eye with the pad of his thumb, catching the tear before it even had the chance to fall.

And it’s in that moment I know for sure.

We will never be like Skyler and Clinton.