Page 108 of The Draft

Really? I stopped and huffed out an annoyed breath because I couldn’t even make it two feet out of my dorm before Dash found me.

“Madison’s not home right now,” I said with pointed annoyance, refusing to look back at him because I knew the minute I did, I’d fall into his arms, and he’d see I’d been crying the entire night.

Walking faster, I hoped I could shake him off and maybe hide in a bush before he could see, but unfortunately, the campus was impeccably landscaped, and I couldn’t see a bush big enough for me to hide in.

My eyes were red-rimmed, my body felt exhausted, and all I wanted to do was stay in my dorm for at least two weeks. Having to see Dash wasn’t something I wanted to deal with.

His heavy footsteps loomed closer, so I picked up my pace, refusing to look back.

“Madison. Stop.”

His voice was urgent, but I obviously ignored it because he had a hell of a lot of explaining to do. It wasn’t until I looked over my shoulder that I slowed, realizing that running from Dash was pointless. The guy’s stride was at least three normal steps, and he seemed to have a knack for chasing me down. It didn’t matter where I hid, he’d always find me.

Sill staring at the ground, I accepted my fate and turned to face him. I needed to get this over with. There was always a feeling in the back of my mind that Dash and I could only end in disaster. I’d just hoped I was wrong. But now that I’d seen the truth, there was no point in delaying the inevitable heartbreak that was coming my way.

When his feet came into view, I tipped my chin, surprised to see that his hair was a mess and he had obvious dark circles under his eyes. He looked just as exhausted as me.

“Madison,” he said when he finally got close enough, and surprisingly, he bent forward, wheezing from the chase.

“Wow, Big Man. Really? Chasing after a five-foot-four girl has winded you? Aren’t you supposed to be an elite athlete?”

Still taking deep breaths, he shook his head, laughing. “Don’t start with me, Madison. You know speed isn’t one of my strong points.”

“That I do,” I mumbled sarcastically.

Dash lifted his head, looking at me with bloodshot eyes for the first time. I didn’t want to admit it, but there was a smell lingering between us. My nose twitched as I took in his rumpled clothing, and I couldn’t let it linger. “Dash, you stink.”

He laughed bitterly. “Hard to take a shower when you’re sleeping outside on a bench.”

My brows furrowed, and I looked into the distance, seeing the small bench just outside my dorm. “Wait, you actually slept on the bench? I thought Todd and Aster were exaggerating when they told me you wouldn’t leave last night.”

“You weren’t answering my calls or texts. What else was I supposed to do?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe wait for me to contact you like any other normal person would do?”

“I think we’ve established that I’m not a normal person when it comes to you, Madison. Besides, I know you. You were never planning on calling me back again.”

I pouted my lips out and tipped my chin up, trying to seem defiant, but feeling like I was about to crumple into nothing. “You’re right. I have no reason to call my brother’s playboy best friend.” I took him in, curling my lips with disgust. “I should have known that you were seeing other people. It was just so obvious, but I was blinded by how much I liked you.” I pushed him a little, trying to get my anger across. “You told me Sienna was just a girl looking for a story. I didn’t realize that story was in your pants.”

He stepped back, surprised at my outburst. “She is looking for a story, and she found one.”

“Oh, let me guess… she found out you have a twelve-inch cock?”

“I don’t—” He shook his head, growling in frustration. “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”

He got his answer when he saw my angry scowl.

“She couldn’t find anything on me, so she found a story on your brother instead.”

I rolled my eyes in disbelief. “Sure. I bet that’s exactly why you were dragging her into your room last night, too.”

“It was,” he refuted. “I was dragging her in there because she was refusing to tell me what she knew about Cade. I needed to threaten her but couldn’t exactly do that in front of the rest of the hockey team.”

With my arms now folded, I watched Dash’s expression change. There was something in his eyes that I hadn’t seen before. Desperation, maybe? Exhaustion was probably more likely.

“What did you do? Threaten her with your sword because, frankly, that thing could poke an eye out if you’re not careful.”

Dash grumbled, running a hand through his hair before shaking his head. “You make me crazy, Madison. I have no interest in Sienna. You’re all I’ve ever wanted, and I had you right in the palm of my hand, but I somehow fucked it up because I was trying to protect your brother.”