Page 81 of Tempting the President

Me: But I don’t think I can see you again after this.

Swallowing, I pressed Send.

A second later, Kellion was calling me. I dropped the call. He called again, and I dropped it right away. It went on and on until I realized he had called me over twenty times.

Me: I still want to see you smile. I will always see you. But I’ve become selfish. You made me selfish. You make me want more than your smile, and I hate myself for it.

Kellion: Answer the phone. PLEASE.

I cried harder at the words. So damn simple, but God, how those words hurt. I didn’t want him to beg. He knew that, right? Never. Never. Never.

Me: I think I’m in love with you, and I don’t want to be in love with you. So please, please just stay away because I know you don’t love me back.

I waited.

But this time, my phone didn’t ring.

I switched my phone off. It was easier to pretend he couldn’t call, less painful than the reality of Kellion no longer wanting to call.

IT WAS CLOSE TO MIDNIGHTwhen the after-party for the successful exhibit ended, with most of the students drunk and unable to walk a straight line. Since I was one of the few sober persons left, I felt obliged to help Professor Edison send everyone off in cabs rather than letting them get behind the wheel.

Even KC was drunk, which was a surprise to me. She had never struck me as the type to lose her head over liquor. Thankfully, Lace was there to bring her home.

I wrote on my board.YOU’RE SURE YOU CAN HANDLE HER ON YOUR OWN?

Lace nodded. “Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time she’s drunk too much.”

Together, we helped KC get inside the cab. As KC slumped in the backseat, she whispered something.

Yuki.

I blinked. I had no idea what it meant, but the pain in her voice was unmistakable and I couldn’t help looking at my friend, wishing there was something I could do to ease her hurt.

As I straightened to let Lace get inside next, I saw her pretty face marred by a scowl. “That’s her ex’s name.” She added darkly, “They broke up in high school and there’s never been closure.”

Ah.I got it, but I didn’t get it at the same time. How could any sane guy hurt someone like KC? The thought had my bloodturning cold. KC was a nice girl, thenicestperson I’ve ever met, the proverbial good girl. But some stupid guy had still been enough of an asshole to break her heart. If that could happen to KC, then wasn’t it more likely something worse would happen if I was the one to fall?

“Aria?”

I started, not realizing Lace had been talking to me.

“You’re sure you don’t want to ride with us?”

I nodded. The university was just ten minutes away. Right now, I would rather walk, needed to do something that would clear my head.

We exchanged waves and I stayed there, waiting for the cab to turn round the corner before taking the first step home. The night was cold and breezy, and I felt even more thankful I had been able to borrow a jacket from one of the guys at the exhibit.

Pulling the jacket closer around me, I walked slowly, my feet moving at a slower pace than the jumbled thoughts racing in my head. There was a dull ache inside me that hadn’t really disappeared since I sent that message to Kellion, and I was scared it was the kind of wound that would never ever heal.

Minutes had passed when I realized someone was following me. I tried to quicken my steps without being obvious about it.

“Miss.” A hand touched my shoulder.

I didn’t bother looking behind me. I just broke into a run.

The man behind me laughed, and then he was running after me. “Are you going to blow me if I catch you?”

The words had me stumbling.