Page 23 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)
“I dated a guy back in Australia,” I hesitate for a moment, then let myself continue. “Things didn’t work out and I broke up with him about eight months ago.”
“Justin?”
I nod.
“And he is still sending you flowers? He sounds creepy.”
“You have no idea,” I say, sitting up and crossing my legs, mirroring Christian’s position.
His hand rests on my knee, and it eases some of my nerves. “Tell me.”
I don’t know why I feel that I can tell Christian the truth.
I just met him, but maybe it’s better to rip the Band-Aid off early.
I mean, if someone’s going to freak out about your past, maybe it’s best for them to find out now when feelings aren’t involved.
Then I remember what my family repeated to me over and over again: I did nothing wrong, Justin is the freak, I’m the victim.
Knowledge is power, and there shouldn’t be any ramifications to people knowing my story.
I fidget, pulling my ankles close to my body.
“Well, long story short, I was in school living at home with my parents and sister like any normal teenager in Australia. I knew Justin from school, we got on really well, and started dating. At first everything was great, but after a few months he started getting intense and possessive. It was gradual at first, small things that my friends would point out, but I would shrug it off or make excuses for. He started to hate my family and friends or anyone who tried to spend time with me. He would want to know where I was constantly and would get angry at me if I wanted to do something other than be with him. He would also accuse me of cheating if I wanted to go anywhere without him. He would drive by my house day and night to make sure I was home like I said I was. It was insane.” I take a deep breath.
“The last straw was when he threw me up against a wall at my parents’ house when he heard I had our male neighbor over to visit. ”
“Shit,” Christian cuts in.
“Yeah, then it got bad.”
“It got worse?”
“Yeah, once I ended it, he started stalking me. Anywhere I went he would just show up. He would follow me while driving, and several times I caught him peering into my bedroom window. It got so bad my parents had to take out a restraining order on him.” I swallow the lump that I can feel building in my throat.
“And one night when I was home alone…he attacked me.”
“Holy shit,” he says, leaning in closer, both of his hands resting on my legs.
“My neighbors heard my screams and rushed over.”
He shakes his head in disbelief. “Wow, that’s crazy, Shelby. I’m so sorry you went through that. Where is he now?”
“He was in jail, but he’s out now. He threatened me many times, saying I would always be his and there was nowhere I could go that he wouldn’t be able to find me.
” I feel a sense of ease confiding in Christian, but I hold my breath waiting for his reaction.
“So now I guess you know the real reason I needed a change of scenery. I knew Justin would be out soon and I needed to get away. I hated constantly living in fear, and I couldn’t go back to living the way I had. ”
“Well, you are doing amazing from what I can see.”
“I definitely feel safer over here. I’m slowly getting my life back, making new friends and going out like a normal person. I just really miss my family.”
“Well, I admire you. I would never have known anything was wrong if you hadn’t told me what you have been through. You have courage—you left your family and traveled across the globe, after all—you have strength and are resilient from what I can see. ”
“I feel silly.”
“Why?” he shoots back.
“Telling you all this when I don’t even know you.”
“Shelby?” He says my name in such a way that my eyes, that had fallen to my lap, look up to find his. He reaches his finger out to me and lifts the bottom of my chin. “Will you go on a date with me?”
His question shocks my senses but sends a blanket of warmth and comfort over me. He doesn’t see me as weak, like I’m running away from my past; he admires my strength and wants to get to know me more.
I nod, giving him a shy, “Yes.” Emotions of excitement and hope dissolves the tears of fear and shame that fell just moments ago.
His face beams. “Really?” Then he turns serious. “Because there is no pressure.”
I smile, giving another shy nod of my head. “Yes, really. Although do you mind if we just go somewhere local, someplace I know?”
I know he senses my unease. “Of course, how about I take you for pizza, it’s close and I obviously know you have been there before.”
“That sounds great…I would really love that.”
“Okay, let’s see, I have an away game Friday night, so how about Saturday night?”
My only plans would be with Letti, obviously, and that can be changed. She is going to jump around in excitement when I tell her my news. If she doesn’t offer to shave my legs and pick out my outfit for the date, I’m going to be surprised.
“You won’t be inviting yourself over to other girls’ dorms that night, or take on the taxing role of being the university’s welcome wagon?” I say in attempt to relax the conversation.
He shoots me with a lopsided grin. “Nope, not that night…someone else is on shift,” he says as he leans over and grabs his phone from my bedside table. “Do you think I could have your number? If you don’t want me to have it, I totally understand.”
I pause, then nod. He unlocks his phone and passes it to me. I punch in my number and hand it back to him. He taps quickly at his phone, and within moments my phone pings with a message.
“Now I have your number, and you have mine.”
I flash him with a cheeky look. “And what if you can’t understand my Australian texts?”
“Then I’ll just have to keep inviting myself over to your room to find out what you meant,” he says as he stands and extends his hand to me.
I take it as he effortlessly pulls me off the floor and to my feet.
The simple act sends a warm rush coursing through my body as I take in how close we stand, all alone in my room.
“I better go. I have an afternoon gym session at five with the team. But I’ll text you later?” He brushes a strand of hair from my face with the back of his fingers as he leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek.
“Okay,” is the only word I can get to pass by my lips .
“I’m really glad you opened up to me, it means a lot.”
I give him a ghost of a smile.
“Thank you for giving me a safe space to talk about it. Bye, Christian.”
“Bye.”
I follow him to the door and watch him disappear down the hallway. A loud bang, bang, bang pulls me from my dreamy daze.
“There better not be a boy in there, Dani, or I’ll kick his ass,” he yells as he passes by his sister’s door.
Without stopping, he keeps walking down the hall and disappears down the stairs.
Just then the door opens, and Dani walks out, glancing both ways.
Dressed in green track pants, a gray baggy t-shirt, pen in her hand, and looking super confused.
“What the hell was that?” she asks when she spots me.
I hold my hand over my mouth. “Your brother,” I say, not being able to contain my laugher.
“Hey!” She points at me. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
Laughing, I put my hands up in defense. “Sorry, he just showed up,” I reply, still laughing.
“Typical,” Dani says, sending me one of those Stone smirks. I hadn’t noticed it before, but now I see it clear as day and it makes me wonder what Tyler looks like, and if I would recognize him if I saw him. She shoots me a quick wave, then turns and heads back into her room.
And I go back into mine with the biggest grin on my face thinking about my upcoming date.