Page 73 of Camera Stays On

“Really? Oh my God, yes please,” I begged.

Ash beamed and pulled his keys from the ignition. Hopping out of his truck, he came around and slapped Sawyer on the back.

“Sorry, looks like you’re riding solo.”

“Fine, whatever. Have fun together. I don’t care.” Sawyer slammed the truck door, nearly hitting me a second time. I bit back a yell, and closed my eyes, quelling my irritation.

“Sawyer.” I sighed. “I have to study.”

“Yeah, whatever. I gotta go if I’m gonna walk across fucking campus.” He stormed off before Ash or I could protest. Neither of us spoke until he was long out of sight.

“I don’t know what his problem is,” I said to Ash, trying to awkwardly apologize for the mini-fight we’d just had in front of him. “He knows I’ve been struggling to keep up.”

“He’s spoiled,” Ash said. “Plain and simple. I’m glad you’re sticking up for yourself, Purdy. Good for you. Want to go to the library?” He motioned toward the building just up the path. We started that way, with me clutching my books to my chest.

“Thanks, Ash. I appreciate it. You really can’t miss class with Professor Westley—he covers so much.”

“Yeah, he can be a bit much. Most people opt out of him when they can.” Ash was one year ahead of Sawyer and me. All three of us were getting various degrees in film. Many of the classes I was taking were ones Ash had already gone through. I smirked.

“Believe me, I tried. But picking classes that work with Sawyer’s schedule is such a task in itself. I’m either up at the crack of dawn or leaving campus at midnight.”

Ash opened and closed his mouth, his expression flashing something so briefly, if I hadn’t been staring I’d have missed it. I knew that look. He’d made it often. He wanted to say something about Sawyer.

But he wouldn’t.

Ash was too good a brother.

He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. “Been there. Morning classes are the worst.”

We reached the library, and he opened the door for me. We found a quiet spot, and he had me crack open my book. For the next hour, he helped me through some of the things I was struggling with, and when I had to get to class, he offered to walk with me.

“Really? It’s kind of cold, and I’m still wearing your sweatshirt.”

“Yeah, I’m not doing anything tonight. I might actually join the lecture, if you don’t care?” Ash shoved his hands into his pockets as his cheeks reddened some. Was he going out of his way to spend time with me? I raised an eyebrow.

“Are you prepared to sit through a two-hour lecture on pacing?”

“Absolutely I am.” He grinned, and together we walked over to the Randolph building, where the class was held. He followed me in, and we sat in the back. The class was packed, but no one noticed Ash and me. No one ever noticed me, in general.

When we sat down, my thigh grazed Ash’s, and I jerked back. The spot where our legs had touched felt hot, and butterflies fluttered in my belly wildly. My gaze drifted over to him. He was staring at me, the intensity of his expression caused me to blush. I pushed the weird thoughts of Ash away and tried to focus on the lecture, but then his thigh bumped mine again and the feelings returned.

Something so minor had my blood running hot and my chest pumping harder. I shouldn’t be feeling this way about Ash…

My mind began to wander. I considered if it were Ash himself that was causing the reaction, or just that it was someone not Sawyer. Sawyer and I had been together for almost ten years now, and I wasn’t sure I ever got butterflies.

Not like this.

I couldn’t focus on the professor’s words even a little bit. I was too busy running through all the things in my life that would be different if I wasn’t tied to Sawyer. I’d like to say this was a new thought, but it was something I considered often.

But what-ifs were dangerous. They only ended in sadness. I glanced over at Ash, and he smiled.

Ash would never make me take classes this late. He wouldn’t have threatened to flirt with other girls if I didn’t ditch class.

He wouldn’t have asked me to marry him, knowing he didn’t really love me.

I looked away quickly, the last thought rattling me to the bone. Ash was just one of many men who could treat me better. He wasn’t special. Or maybe he was. Who knew?

I’d only ever had eyes for the Delambre brothers. There had to be other options.