Page 84 of The Draft

Tiff was quiet for a second. “Look, Mads, I get it. You like him, and you want to see the best in your situation, but I’m just offering my opinion as a casual observer. It sounds like you’ve agreed to be secret fudge bunnies, and I’m worried he’s going to drop you the minute you’ve had your fun, and you push to tell Cade. He’ll dump you, and he knows you won’t say anything because you’ll be too embarrassed to admit you made the same mistake.”

“No. That’s not what’s going to happen.”

I hated that was a potential scenario for us. I wasn’t the type of girl who had a fuck buddy. Yes, I liked to flirt, but that was because it was non-committal and fun. This thing with Dash wasn’t non-committal. In fact, it was probably the biggest commitment I was willing to make. He was a serious guy, and if things didn’t work out, I’d still have to see him because he would always be around Cade. That was why I was so desperate for him to see me kissing him in the equipment room for what it was. I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want him for the long-haul.

Slowing, I waited for the automatic library doors to open and strolled in. “We’re more than that,” I said, noticing a few heads turning, so I dropped my gaze to the floor and kept my mouth shut.

“You can tell me that all you want, but I think it’s Dash you’ve got to convince. If you really want to be with him for the long haul, then I’d suggest getting out of whatever situationship you’re in now because it might become the norm.”

Situationship?

I sighed because she had a point. I knew it when Dash suggested we try things out before telling Cade, but I went with it because I always assumed it was going to lead to a relationship. Dash hadn’t given me any reason to question his narrative, but the more I thought about it, and how naïve I was last time, the more concerned I became.

A guy cleared his throat so loudly, he startled me. Standing right in frontof me was Ralph Higgins, the head librarian, glaring at me like I stole his puppy. With his brow raised, he tipped his chin to my phone, and that was when I knew I was in trouble. Clearly, I was being too loud.

Swallowing, I said, “Umm, you know what, Tiff? I’ve got to go.”

“But wait, we aren’t done with this—”

I hung up before she could finish and flashed Ralph a flirty smile to try to stop his pressed lips and scowling brows.

“No cell phones in the library,” he said, unimpressed.

“Oh, yes. I’m so sorry about that. I only came in to return these.” I raised the books as though they were a good excuse to talk, but Ralph’s face remained the same. “I’m sorry. I’ll, uh, make sure I don’t do it again.” With folded arms, he narrowed his eyes as he turned away and muttered something inaudible.

“Sor-ry,” I sassed under my breath, knowing that he couldn’t hear me but feeling like a badass, anyway.

While returning the books, Dash’s name flashed on my phone, and I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to see what he had sent me.

Quickly, I pushed my books through the return slot, and looked for somewhere private. There was a little nook by the working desks, so I decided to quickly check my messages there.

Big Man: I’m back on campus in ten minutes. Where are you?

I bit my bottom lip, refraining from squealing because that would no doubt get me in trouble with Ralph again, but I couldn’t help but be a little excited. It wasn’t just the fact that Dash wanted to see me. It was that I was the first person he wanted to see when he got back from his three-day trip. Little old me.

Grinning, I pointed my phone to the stack of shelves and took a zoomed-in picture of one of the books. It was blurry and perfect, so I attached it to a message.

Madison: Can you guess?

Big Man: Don’t toy with me, woman.

Madison: But I like toying with you.

Big Man: I’m five minutes away now. If you don’t tell me where you are, I’ll be forced to go to the gym with the guys instead.

Madison: And stretch with your foam roller?

Big Man: There will be some foam roller stretching, yes.

Madison: *sigh* What’s a girl got to do to be treated like that?

Big Man: Tell me where you are, otherwise, you’ll never find out.

Madison: That’s a good point. I’m in the library.

Big Man: Perfect. Go to the third floor and meet me in the Ancient

History aisle. I’ve just arrived on campus, so I’ll see you soon.