Obligation, page 24
Tiffany shook her head sadly. “We noticed, too. I mean, that you two weren’t as hot and heavy as you used to be, but we just figured you two were finally out of the annoying honeymoon phase.”
Carissa chuckled.
“But if we had known…” Garrett sighed. “I don’t know. We could’ve helped somehow.”
She turned to smile at Garrett. “Thanks for that, but there really wasn’t anything you could’ve done. Danny and I became more distant, and then I had the miscarriage. The next day, I found out he’d cheated on me. I was devastated, and that’s when we began to fight so much.”
Cory shifted to sit on the floor in front of Carissa. “That explains a lot.”
Carissa nodded. “I was so angry with him. I still am. And our fighting has only gotten worse. He blames me for the miscarriage. He thinks I could’ve been more careful.” She huffed.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Cory mumbled.
Giving her brother a grateful smile, she shook her head. “That’s not going to help anything, but thanks anyway.” She sniffled again. “After he left me at the bonfire, I realized just how bad things really were, and I’m scared if something doesn’t change, he’ll get violent with me.”
“Over my dead body.” Cory curled his hands into fists. “I mean it, Carissa. I’ll kill him, and I’ll get away with it, too, because I happen to know a fantastic criminal law attorney.” He grinned.
Carissa laughed. “Knock it off.”
“Do you think he’ll do anything else now that you two broke up?” Tiffany asked.
“I don’t know.” Carissa blew out a breath. “When we broke up, he admitted he needed to deal with his grief over the miscarriage and that he was going to get help for his temper.”
“Do you really believe that bullshit?” Cory asked.
Carissa stood, carefully stepped around her brother, then snagged a couple of tissues from the box on her desk. She blew her nose. “I do. He sounded more sincere than he had in a very long time. He promised he was going to get better so he could prove that he was worthy of me.” She tossed the used tissue into the trashcan and reached for more.
“Please tell me you’re not going to go back to him,” Tiff said, genuine fearful concern in her tone.
“No, I’m not.” Carissa clutched the tissue in her hand. “But I did tell him I’d be here for him, that I’d help him get better.”
Garrett groaned. “Why would you do that?”
“Because Danny changed me. I’ve become this person I don’t recognize, and I refuse to let him keep changing me.” She wadded up the tissue and chucked it into the trash. “I don’t like who I am anymore, and part of me fixing myself is learning to get back to who I really am. And I am the type of person who would help another person in their time of need.”
“You’re way too good for him.” Cory shook his head, then rose to his feet and returned to sit on Tiffany’s bed.
“Agreed,” Tiffany said.
“That’s why I called you all here.” She crossed her arms and shifted on her feet. “Danny’s father was in a really bad accident, and he’s in the ICU. The doctors don’t know if he’s going to make it. Danny’s leaving to go home on Friday, and he’s asked me to go with him for emotional support.”
“No way.” Tiffany shook her head adamantly.
“Absolutely not,” Cory said, his expression livid.
“Please tell me you told him no,” Garrett said, his gaze pleading.
“I haven’t told him anything yet.” She leaned against her desk. “His dad is the only family Danny has, and I’m worried how Danny will handle it if his dad dies. Danny’s just finally starting to see he has a problem and needs help. Losing his father could push him over the edge.”
“That’s not your problem.” Tiffany stood and planted herself directly in front of Carissa. “No one can fix Danny but Danny. And you going across the country with him, alone, is dangerous. You even said yourself that you’re worried what this will do to him. Do you really want to be the only one he has around should his dad die?”
Carissa’s shoulders slumped. Tiffany was right, and those were all the same questions and worries Carissa had, too.
“Sorry, sis, but if you go, I’m telling Dad,” Cory said with a very non-apologetic shrug.
She ignored her brother’s threat, but secretly, she was relieved he’d made it. If any excuse would work to get her out of going with Danny, blaming her father would do the trick. Even though Danny never admitted it out loud, Carissa knew he was terrified of her father. Then again, who wasn’t?
“I’ll go with Danny,” Garrett said. “This is all my fault anyway, so it’s the least I can do.”
Carissa gave him an odd look. “What do you mean this is your fault?”
“Yeah. Explain that.” Tiffany crossed her arms, her stare unflinching and stern.
“I’m the one who introduced you to Danny in the first place. If I hadn’t…”
“You didn’t force me to get into a relationship with him,” Carissa said.
“Okay. Enough.” Tiffany sliced her hands through the air, and everyone shut up. “Everyone just needs to knock it off. No one here is at fault for anything. Let’s put the blame where it belongs. On Danny.”
Garrett dragged his hand through his hair and blew out a breath. “Fine, but if you’re really worried about how he’s going to handle whatever happens with his dad, and you truly think he’s going to need someone there, then I’ll go.” Garrett pointed at himself. “I am his friend, after all.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” Carissa said, pushing away from the desk.
“You’re not. I’m volunteering.”
Carissa scrunched up her face and chewed on the inside of her cheek. Danny did consider Garrett his best friend, and if Danny listened to anyone, he listened to Garrett. Still, Danny hadn’t invited Garrett, and if he showed up unexpectedly, Danny would lose his mind. Carissa refused to put Garrett in that situation.
She shook her head. “No. I appreciate the offer, but no.”
“Well, you’re sure as hell not going,” Cory said, and in that moment, he sounded so much like Dad.
“Agreed.” Tiffany nodded. “In fact, if I even think for one second that you’re going to that airport to meet Danny, I will tie you to that bed and keep you there.”
“Yeah… about that…” Carissa moved toward the window and glanced down at the parking lot.
Was that Bradley’s car? She leaned closer to the window and squinted to get a better look. Her heart raced, but she couldn’t be sure that was actually his car or not. Maybe he was on campus for a class or something. But then why would he be parked in a lot near the residence halls as opposed to closer to the academic buildings?
“About what?” Tiffany asked.
Carissa spun around and blinked. “I like Bradley,” she said, her voice stronger than she’d expected. “A lot.”
“Wait. My roommate, Bradley?” Garrett’s eyebrows rose.
“Yeah. We’ve been flirting quite a bit, and he’s made his feelings about me very clear.” Heat rushed to her face just thinking of what he’d said to her at the penthouse. “He wants me to go to Texas with him for some fundraiser thing his family is hosting.”
Cory whistled, and Tiffany smacked his arm. He laughed and rubbed at the spot she’d hit him.
“When?” Tiffany’s tone held entirely too much enthusiasm.
“Friday. Same day and time Danny wants me to go with him.”
Cory clutched his stomach and laughed until he was red in the face. Carissa gave her brother a dirty look. Glad he saw the humor in her situation because she surely didn’t.
“Sorry.” He gasped and held up a hand. “It’s just… Are you seriously having a dilemma about who you should go with?”
Carissa narrowed her eyes.
“You’re too smart to be this stupid, sis.” Cory tilted his head, his laughter gone. “Go with Bradley. There. Problem solved. You’re welcome.”
“It’s not that simple.” She groaned, shuffled over to her bed, and flopped down on the mattress. “He wants me to meet his entire family. And he wants me to lie to them and pretend to be his girlfriend.”
“So, don’t lie,” Tiffany said. “If you don’t want to lie to his family, then go as his actual girlfriend. Make it official.” She shrugged. “See? Another problem solved. Next?” She raised a brow, daring Carissa to come up with another weak excuse.
But she was fresh out of excuses.
Thankfully, she was saved from having to say anything else when a knock sounded on the door. She glanced at Tiffany, but she simply shrugged as if to say, “I have no idea who it is.”
Carissa got off her bed and opened the door, fully expecting to see Danny standing there. She wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up multiple times between now and Friday, demanding an answer from her.
“Bradley?” she said, equal parts shocked and thrilled.
Chapter Thirty-Four
“Hey,” Bradley said, his voice wavering. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“No, it’s fine,” she said, tossing a glance over her shoulder at her friends. “We’re done here anyway.” She stepped aside. “Come in.”
“Uh…” Bradley hesitated. “No, it’s okay. I can come back later.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Carissa grabbed his arm and practically dragged him into the room; then she shut the door behind him.
He stood awkwardly near the head of her bed, hands shoved in his pockets. His face was flushed, and his expression was wary. He looked frazzled. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but she had a feeling he didn’t want an audience for that conversation.
“Y’all having a party?” Bradley asked with a nervous laugh, his southern twang coming out unexpectedly.
Tiffany grinned, her gaze dancing from Bradley to Carissa, and her smile widened. Carissa narrowed her eyes and gave her friend a warning look. Not that a scathing look would do any good when Tiffany got into one of her moods.
“More like an intervention,” Cory said.
Bradley’s eyebrows shot up. “An intervention for what? And who?”
Tiffany laughed, her mischievous glee ringing out clearly. “For Carissa.”
“Tiffany!” Carissa snapped, but there was no stopping her friend now.
Holding up her hand to silence Carissa, Tiffany turned her entire focus onto Bradley. “It’s a relationship intervention. We’re trying to tell her that her break up with Danny is a good thing, and that she can’t cave just because he’s having some sort of personal crisis.”
Groaning with embarrassment, Carissa buried her face in her hands. She wished she could plug her ears, too, and drown out the rest of Tiffany’s words.
“I’m confused,” Bradley said.
“Danny’s father was in an accident, and he’s in the ICU. Doctors didn’t give a very good prognosis, so Danny’s rightfully upset. He’s leaving Friday to go home for a while,” Garrett explained.
Carissa lowered her hands and dared to peek at Bradley, but his attention was on Garrett, not her. That was a small relief.
“That explains a lot,” Bradley said after a moment. “I just saw Danny at the house, and he wanted me to tell y’all that he’d be gone for a while.”
Bradley’s gaze shifted to Carissa, pinning her in place. His eyes were an icy shade of blue-gray that she’d never seen before, and a shiver raced down her spine. She shifted nervously on her feet, but she couldn’t tear her gaze from his, even though she wholly uncomfortable in that moment.
“He also told me Carissa was going with him.” Bradley crossed his arms and leaned one shoulder against the wall.
Carissa winced.
“And that is exactly why we’re here,” Tiffany said. “We’re trying to talk her out of going with him.”
Bradley nodded slowly. “Is it working?”
“Doesn’t matter if it is or isn’t.” Cory shrugged. “I already warned her if she goes, I’m telling Dad, and that isn’t going to work out well for her or Danny.”
Carissa rolled her eyes.
“Is that true?” Bradley asked, his attention still on her.
Shrugging, she averted her eyes to the floor. “I haven’t made up my mind yet,” she mumbled.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake!” Tiffany threw her hands in the air in frustration. “Then why the hell did you bother to call us here, Carissa? If you weren’t planning to take our advice, why ask for it?” Anger dripped from Tiffany’s words.
If Carissa didn’t act soon, she worried Tiffany would end up saying too much about things Carissa didn’t want Bradley to know about.
“Look, I’ve listened to what you all had to say, and I promise to consider it, but can you please give me and Bradley a few minutes alone?” She struggled to keep her tone even and not lose her temper when her friends were only trying to help.
“We’ll be in the lounge at the end of the hall.” Tiffany yanked open the door, and Bradley jumped out of the way so she wouldn’t hit him with how hard she yanked on the door handle.
Garrett gave her a sad smile, then followed Tiffany out of the room without a word.
Cory rested his hand on Carissa’s shoulder. “Don’t be stupid.” Then he walked out of the room, too.
Carissa was now alone with Bradley, exactly as she’d requested. Only, she had no idea what to say to him.
“I just need to know if Danny’s telling the truth,” Bradley said after several tense moments of silence. “Are you going home with him this weekend?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted, thankful her friends weren’t around to hear her say that. “Danny’s very close to his father, and I’m really worried how he’s going to handle it if his dad doesn’t make it.”
Bradley nodded as she spoke, his expression morphing from neutral to disappointed to upset. “Then I guess I’ll see you when we both get back.” He turned and reached for the doorknob.
Carissa blinked with confusion. That was it? He was just going to leave? She shook her head to clear her thoughts. “Is that why you came here? To ask about Danny?”
His back to her, Bradley hesitated in the doorway. “Yes,” he said without turning around. “I said something to Danny about how he treats you. He accused me of wanting you, told me I was jealous, then said you were still his and you were going home with him this weekend.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat, but bile rose up, and she forced in a deep breath. She’d never given Danny a definite answer, but she should’ve known he would assume she’d say yes.
“I’m not his,” she said to Bradley’s back.
“Yeah, well, I don’t think Danny got the memo.” Bradley glanced over his shoulder at her, and his eyes were full of pain and longing. “Look, Carissa.” He finally turned to face her, though he kept his grip on the door. “I thought I could do this, but I can’t.” He shook his head. “I want you, but I need to know you want me, too. I won’t keep coming in second to a guy like Danny.”
She nodded, mostly so she could get her tear ducts under control. Her throat was dry, and she licked her lips. “I do want you, Bradley.”
He raised a brow. “But?”
“But…” She sighed. “I don’t know,” she admitted with a half-sob, half-laugh. “I want to be the kind of person who will be there for a friend in need, and right now, Danny is facing the possible death of his father. He needs someone to be there for him.”
“That person doesn’t have to be you, Carissa.”
“I know.”
Her thoughts flashed back to Garrett’s offer to go with Danny. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around Garrett doing that, though, especially without Danny knowing. Then again, Garrett was an adult. He could do as he pleased.
“Well, my invitation stands,” Bradley said. “I told you that you always have a choice, and I meant it. So, if you don’t show up, then I’ll take that to mean you chose Danny over me.”
Bradley spun on his heel and strode out of the room before she could utter another word. An involuntary gasp escaped, and she cupped her hand over her mouth. Deciding who she would go with was about a lot more than just a weekend getaway—she was choosing which guy she wanted to be with.
If Danny got his shit together and changed—really changed—then she could see things working out between them. But if he didn’t… She shivered and hugged herself, unable to consider what might happen if his temper went unchecked.
But if she just went to Texas with Bradley, they could spend some real time together, get to know each other better. The potential for a long and mutually respectful relationship was right there waiting for her. Bradley was the whole package—smart, sexy, funny, considerate, polite, rich, and her parents already approved of him.
Bradley was hands down the best choice, but Danny still held a large piece of her heart, and right now, he needed her a lot more than Bradley did.
Carissa spent the next day avoiding classes, her friends, her responsibilities, her cell phone… basically the entire world. She kept trying to justify all the reasons she should go with Danny, but no matter what she came up with, she couldn’t shake the image of Bradley’s face when he’d walked out of her room yesterday. If she went with Danny, she was choosing to give up Bradley, and that wasn’t a choice she could live with.
By the time Friday morning rolled around, she’d finally come to a decision. At least, she was pretty sure she had. The smallest thing would cause her to reconsider and second guess her choice and her reasons for making that choice. But both Danny and Bradley were scheduled to leave in a few hours, and she was determined to be at the airport before either of them took off.
Suitcase open on her bed, she folded jeans, shorts, T-shirts, pajamas, socks, underwear, bras, and sundresses and packed them into the luggage. She then piled a few too many pairs of shoes into the suitcase, too. Hopefully she could get it closed.
