Page 24 of Cruel Promise
“Humor me.”
I’d love to.Rolling my eyes, I pull my knees to my chest. “There isn’t anything to see. We’re friends…”
But, are we?
No.
We’re really not.
“Or sorta friends. Maybe more like acquaintances who can be friendly to each other on occasion but prefer to go after one another’s throats.” I shrug. “I don’t really know what we are to each other. How to label it. Frenemies is probably a better word but it sounds stupid.” I’m rambling. I don’t ramble often but when I do, nothing short of natural disaster can stop me.
“He and Aaron have been friends since high school. Well, on-again, off-again, friends. They’re worse than a dating couple but for the last three years, they’ve been in the on-again stage. Things were murky before that.”
I’m giving Deacon more information than he needs. Making the answer to his question infinitely more complicated. Forcing myself to pause in my mini rant, I suck in a lungful of air and try to catch my breath but since Deacon doesn’t make any new comments, I pick up where I left off and prattle on some more.
“Since Aaron and Dominique are friends, it makes us friends by association. Neither of us really have a choice about that. We’re in the same social circle so we’re forced to see each other on a pretty regular basis. So yeah.” I clap my hands together. “That’s the deal with Dominique and me. We’re not friends but we’re also not enemies. We’re this weird in between thing. I know I can count on him.. He’s—” my lips curve downward into a frown, “been there for me with the shit I’m going through.” All true but there’s something about saying it out loud that shoots a shock of surprise through me. Dominique Price is there for me.
Who would have thought?
Maybe we are friends after all. My frown deepens. Could we be? Not in thehey, let’s hangout, share secrets, and be BFFs forever,sort of way. But maybe in theyou drive me insane but you’ve got my back so I’ve got yourskind of way.
Huh. I didn’t realize until this moment that I’ve always felt like I can count on him.
“Friends by association?” He doesn’t sound convinced.
“Yup.” My explanation was clear as mud so I shouldn’t be surprised by his confusion.
The ramble didn’t help.
Deacon pushes his tongue to the inside of his cheek and gives a hard shake of his head. “Help me out here,” he says. “You’re not friends. But you’re not enemies. You don’t see anything in the guy or at least that’s the impression you’re trying to give me. And there’s nothing particular about him that draws your attention? He’s just one of your brother’s friends?”
That sounds right so I give him a nod.
“But you’re fucking him so …” he trails off. “That’s where I’m getting lost here.”
I open my mouth to respond, before snapping it closed. Did he just—Am I—Oh Fuck.
“Umm…Shit. Shit. Shit.
Deacon holds up a hand. “Don’t bother coming up with a lie,” he says. “Price puts out some hardcore, ‘stay the fuck away,’and she ‘belongs to me’vibes.” He makes air quotes around his words. “A guy like him doesn’t do that with a chick he isn’t sleeping with. So…”
“So…” I stretch out the word, buying myself a few extra seconds to formulate my response. “Thestay the fuck awayvibes are because he’s protective. All the guys in our circle are like that. You know Roman Valdez and Emilio Chavez. They’re the same way because I’m Aaron’s little sister.” And since they participated in Dominique’s shenanigans when he and the rest of the team were putting Deacon through the wringer for accidentally leaving a mark on my arm after we crashed into one another in the halls, it makes it believable.
“Don’t read more into it than what’s there.”
Deacon gives me ado I look stupid?look, so I try again.
“And themineshit.” I shake my head. “You’re seeing things that aren’t there. Dominique has no claim on me.”
“But he wishes he did.”
I stifle a laugh. “No. He doesn’t.” Dom doesn’t do relationships. “I’m just his friend’s annoying little sister. You have sisters. I’m sure you know how it is.”
Deacon’s expression turns contemplative.
My stomach tightens as a sudden realization takes root. Deacon can use his suspicions against me. Against Dominique.
No matter how vigorously I deny them, and even without a single shred of proof, there is nothing to stop him from spreading his hunch around campus. All it would take are a few comments to his fraternity buddies and the rumor mill would take off like wildfire.
