I grimaced. “It’s ridiculous that you have to sit outside and wait on me. Why don’t you just come?”
“Nina, it’s what I’ve done for the last three years. You need to spend time with your friends or they’re going to start worrying about you.”
“Ryan is the only one that’s worried, and he’s just being difficult,” I said, running my hand over the sleeve of his jacket.
“He’s jealous.”
I wrinkled my nose. “We’re just friends.”
Jared smiled and kissed the top of my hair. “I’ll see you later, then.”
As soon as class was over, I headed directly for Andrews. The sun was shining, and I was just beginning to enjoy my walk when Ryan appeared beside me.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hi,” I said, less than enthusiastic about his company.
“Oh. c’mon. You’re not that mad,” he teased, throwing his arm over my shoulder and squeezing.
I squirmed from his embrace. “You tried to humiliate me in front of everyone, Ryan. What was the point in that?”
“I told you what the point was. I’m worried about you.”
I breathed out a sarcastic laugh. I was never safer than when I was with Jared.
“Nina…,” he said, slowing down. Before I could get too far ahead of him, he jerked me back by my coat sleeve to where he stood. “Nina!”
“What?” I growled, trying not to trip over my bag. I jerked my arm from his grip and smoothed out my sleeve.
“You have to admit you’ve been MIA this week. What’s going on with you? You barely know this guy.”
I fidgeted as I tried to think of a believable answer. I knew it appeared that way to him—and everyone else—but I couldn’t defend myself with the truth.
“I didn’t move in with him. My hand is infected, so he’s changing the dressing every night. As soon as it heals I’ll be back at Andrews.” I couldn’t help but frown at the thought.
“He could do that at Andrews,” Ryan argued.
Of course he was right, but Jared and I both knew it had been a flimsy excuse all along. I didn’t like the thought of him spending the night in his Escalade outside Andrews, and Jared was more than ready to make the present living arrangement permanent. Neither of which I could explain to Ryan.
“What is your problem?” I asked, continuing to the dorm.
Ryan shoved his hands in his pockets, following close behind. “I just think you’re getting in way too deep, way too fast. You need to take a step back. Slow down. You just met this guy and you’re acting like an old married couple. You have other friends.”
Feeling slighted, my mouth flew open. “I am not! I know I have other friends. I’ve talked to Beth and Kim every night since I’ve been at Jared’s.”
“You haven’t talked to me,” he said, looking hurt.
I rolled my eyes, glad that we had finally reached Andrews. “You want me to start calling you at night? Will that make you feel better?”
“Maybe it would. Will your husband mind?”
I rolled my eyes, pulling my keys from my pocket. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Mind if I come up?”
“I guess not, since you’re already following me in.”
I shoved the door open and rolled my bag into the closet. Ryan sat on Beth’s bed and watched me, seemingly amused.
“What?” I asked, waiting for a sarcastic remark.
He shrugged, dropping his backpack to the floor. “Nothing. You’re just so funny.”
“How so?” I asked, peeling off my coat.
“You spend so much time pretending to be mad at me when you know why I say the things I do. I don’t get it. You like spending time with me; you like spending time with him; the only difference is that you decided to play house with him this week.”
I raised my eyebrows, anticipating a fight. “Are you insinuating what I think you’re insinuating?” I asked, pulling off my boots.
“It depends. Are you going to throw your boots at me?” he asked, pulling one side of his mouth up into a grin.
“You think I’m leading you on?” I yelled, gripping one boot in my hand.
“Well…,” he trailed off long enough to see my temper flare. “Just kidding!” He held his hands up, expecting a boot to fly across the room. When he felt he was safe, he continued, “I didn’t say that. I just think you should leave your options open, is all. You’re getting all wrapped up in this guy you barely know. You might miss something that’s right under your nose.”
I knew what he meant, but I refused to gratify it with a reply. I plugged in my laptop, watching the screen as it came to life. “What time are you heading over there?”
“Whenever you do,” Ryan shrugged, sprawling out on Beth’s bed.
“I probably won’t leave until seven thirty,” I said, criss-crossing my legs on the desk chair.
“Okay.”
I looked over at him in disbelief. “What do you plan on doing here for four hours?”
“Hanging out with you. It’s my turn,” he sniffed.
“Ugh. You talk like you’re sharing me,” I groaned, disgusted.
“I am,” he said, utterly naive of any offense.