The Graham Effect (Campus Diaries, #1)

I keep my expression shuttered and my response vague, because I don’t know how I’m supposed to react. If I’m supposed to treat it like a friend asking another friend to dance. Or a peer asking a peer.

Or my girlfriend asking her boyfriend.

Case’s eyes narrow as Gigi takes my hand.

She tugs on it, and I follow her instinctively. I’m so crazy gone for this woman that not following her isn’t even an option.

When we reach the dance floor, I dip my head close to her ear. “I don’t dance, baby.”

“You’ll be fine.” She places one hand on my shoulder and clasps the other in mine.

She peers up at me with the most beautiful smile, and I’m dumbstruck again because she’s so gorgeous I don’t even know how to function in the face of that smile.

“Put your hand on my waist,” she says, so I do.

She moves closer, the top of her head tucked beneath my chin. The flowery scent of her shampoo drifts into my nose. I breathe her in and get high.

“What is this?” I ask, trying to concentrate on pressing matters rather than how good she smells and feels in my arms.

“Just dancing with my boyfriend,” she answers.

I don’t even want to look in the direction of our friends. I can feel their stares on us. I imagine that particularly prickly sensation tightening my skin is courtesy of Colson.

“Is this some sort of power play?”

“No.”

We move to the slow tempo set by the orchestra. I recognize the song as a classic rock ballad.

Gigi tips her head back to look at me. “This was my parents’ wedding song.”

That startles me. “Really?”

“Yeah. It’s the first song they ever danced to.” She moistens her lips, blushing before averting her eyes. “I heard it just now and…I don’t know. I knew I wanted to dance to it with you.”

That does something to my heart. I don’t know what. I don’t understand half of the emotions she elicits in me. Whatever this one is, it just feels right.

We continue to sway, doing a little turn, during which I catch a glimpse of Colson’s blond hair and suspicious eyes.

“Case is going to have questions,” I warn.

“I don’t care. I came to the realization tonight that I can’t live my life worrying about his feelings.”

She’s right.

But she’s also very wrong, because he’s my cocaptain and I am worried about his feelings. We’ve only recently become friends. And I’m already grieving the loss of that friendship as Gigi and I turn again and my gaze locks with his. I can feel the surrender that pervades my face. The defeat. Because I can’t hide how I feel about this woman anymore. And he knows it.

His blue eyes darken. Suddenly, he’s breaking off from the group. Stalking toward the dance floor. I expect him to confront us, but all he does when he gets within earshot is hiss, “Fuck this,” and then brush past us and march out of the ballroom.

The song changes to something more up-tempo, as if the violins and cellos also feel the urgency of the situation.

“Shit. I gotta go talk to him,” I tell Gigi.

She bites her lip. “I know.”

“He’s my teammate.”

“I said I know.” She drops her hand from my shoulder and pulls me away from the floor. “Let’s go.”

We catch up to him at the valet stand, where Case spins at our approach and glares.

“Case—” Gigi starts.

“Fuck you both,” he interrupts. His face is red with fury.

“Hey,” she says sharply. “Come on.”

“How long has this been going on?” He angrily gestures between us before his gaze fixes on me. Accusation burns there. “How long were you pretending to be my buddy while you were going after my ex?”

“That’s not how it happened,” I say quietly.

“When did it start?” he demands.

I glance at Gigi. I don’t know how she plans to play this. If she’s going to lie or not. I’ll back her up either way.

But she’s honest. “September,” she tells him. “After my exhibition.”

Case recoils. “That long?”

She nods.

And I’m momentarily floored myself because I can’t believe it’s been three months. It simultaneously feels like I just met her yesterday and like I’ve known her forever.

Case looks like he wants to hit me. I know it because he plasters his arms to his body, fists clenched to his sides. He’s doing everything he can to control the violence simmering beneath the surface.

“You fucking asshole,” he spits out. “You warned me you were a dick. I should’ve believed you.”

I swallow a sigh. “I barely knew you three months ago, man. We weren’t friends.”

“Yeah, until we were.”

“It’s my fault,” Gigi intervenes. “I told Ryder not to say anything, okay?”

His incredulous gaze shifts to her. “I can’t believe this. He’s my teammate, Gigi.”

Regret floats through her gray eyes. “I didn’t plan this. It just happened.”

“You could’ve stopped it once it did. Taken a step back.”

“Why would I take a step back? You and I aren’t together anymore.” She sounds frustrated. “I made that more than clear every time we talked. I didn’t lead you on.”

“I know that, but did you even consider showing me a modicum of respect by not banging my teammate?”

“Respect? Are you kidding me right now?”

She lunges forward, and since I know how strong she is, I swiftly put my hand on her shoulder. Easy there, partner.

“You cheated on me and lied about it!”

The valet chooses that moment to approach with Case’s keys. He takes one look at the confrontation in progress and wisely steps away, trying to meld into the background.

“I didn’t lie. I came clean the day after it happened.”

“You told me you made out with her when she fucking gave you a blowjob.”

Oh, Colson. You stupid bastard.

Case freezes. “That’s not…”

“Not what? Not true?” Gigi snaps. “Can you look me in the eye and tell me it’s not true?”

I see the wheels turning in Case’s head as he calculates what his play is here. Whether he should fess up and admit he lied (because, hell, of course he lied) or try to maintain his moral high ground. If he picks the former, he sinks right back down to all our levels, and he knows it.

In the end, he proves to be a smart man.

“I knew you would never forgive me if you thought it was anything other than a kiss,” he says in a hoarse voice.

“You had a better chance of forgiveness if you’d been completely honest.”

“Bullshit. You think kissing is cheating.”

“Kissing is cheating,” she argues. “And let’s not talk about respect right now. You disrespected me. All I did was try to spare your feelings by not flaunting my relationship with your teammate. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest move on my part, but I’m not fucking perfect. Nobody is. Least of all you, with your secret blowjobs.”

“Who even told you?” Case mutters.

“Why? So you can go yell at them? Bullshit. Own this. You made the mistake. You lied to my face.”

“And you told me you still cared about me and wanted to be my friend,” he throws back.

“I did.”

“Really, this is you being my friend?” Sarcasm drips from his voice. He glares at me again. “Yeah, Ryder? You really wanted to be my friend?”

I don’t answer. But yes, I did want to be his friend. I like the guy and I feel bad. This is a shitty situation all around.

“Well, excuse me if I don’t bask in the glow of either of your friendship.” Noticing the cowering valet, he stalks toward him and grabs his keys.

Without another word, Case gets in his car and speeds off.

I stare at his disappearing bumper, then give Gigi a dry look. “So it was a power play.”

“It wasn’t. I mean, yes, I just found out he lied to me. But I swear I asked you to dance because of the song.”

“Are we lying to each other now, Gisele? Because my favorite thing about us is the honesty.” I raise a brow. “Was it just the song?”

She sighs. “Ninety percent the song. Ten percent scorned woman.”

I chuckle and reach for her hand. “Fuck. That was rough.”

“I know.” She gives me a glum look. “Should we get out of here?”

When I nod, she signals the valet.

“Let me pop inside and hit up coat check. Oh, and I need to make sure Whitney and Cami can get a ride with somebody else. Do you have a coat ticket?”