Evan's Addiction (3 page)

     I frowned at her reflective tone and profoundly worded remark.
Shaw was trying to play it cool but I could sense she was more disturbed by
what happened than she was letting on. It had me wondering what dickless had meant
about ‘her list’.   

     We left the girls to go get our food and when we came back I took
my assigned seat next to Shaw. She pretended to ignore me but her face was slightly
flushed and the pulse in her neck was fluttering. It was the first signs she’d
shown that she was affected by me. I grinned in satisfaction. I’d broken things
off with Stephanie after my last encounter with Shaw because why have sex with
someone while thinking about another you could be having sex with.

     “So Red, how’s it going?” I was hoping I could get her back to her
normal starchiness. The thought of her stewing didn’t sit well with me. 

     “I wish
you
were going.” She stabbed at her salad
aggressively.

     Oohh, she was undeniably more cantankerous. “They put you in a bad
mood, sugar? I know a way to make you feel better. What do you say we make like
Winnie-the-Poo and I get my nose stuck in you honey pot?”

     “Why don’t you play like Tigger and bounce the hell away from me.”
She growled. It lacked the threat of evisceration she’d displayed with the
other guys so that was at least something. 

     “I can’t. You are too much fun to be around.” I teased. “In fact,
I wish I could plant you and grow a whole field of you.”

     She turned and bared her teeth, her eyes shooting volatile sparks.
“I wish I could do the same to you…and then mow all of you down, and then I’d
do it again, and again, and again.”

     Ouch, more hacking and cutting of my parts. Maybe she wasn’t
getting over those fucks as quickly as I thought? “Hey, you sure you’re okay?”

     She looked back down at her salad, moving leaves around. “No,
you’re bugging me.”  

     “There were these other guys…”

     “Carrie!” Shaw interrupted whatever Carrie had been about to say.
“It’s none of his business.”

     Carrie frowned. “You know that they could probably help you.”

     Shaw scowled back. “I don’t need their help.”

     “I would be glad to help.” If she needed help with something I
wouldn’t mind helping her out, and it might get me an in with her. 

     Shaw didn’t even look at me, just kept eye contact with Carrie.
They were having some kind of silent argument with their eyes. Carrie huffed
and from the sound of it Shaw won.

     Nic leaned forward. “Shaw, you might not want our help but I hope
you know I would no problem.”

     She frowned down at her plate and shrugged. “Everything’s fine.”

     I leaned towards her. “I would love to help.”

     “You need help.” She snapped standing up and stomping away.

     I frowned after her. I really didn’t know Shaw all that well, just
our few repartee sessions, and while I lusted heavily after her and liked her
all fired-up, seeing her upset bothered me. 

     I turned back to Carrie. “What does she need help with?”

     Carrie’s lips twisted in troubled indecision. “I can’t tell. She
asked me not to.”

     “Is she in trouble?” I pressed.

     “Not really, just hassled and annoyed I guess you could say.” She
hedged.

     It sounded like it could be one of two things. “Is it a problem
with a guy, or work?”

     Carrie sighed, appeared to wrestle internally with herself for a
minute, and then blurted. “Guy. And that’s all I’m going to say. I shouldn’t
have said anything. Shaw would kill me for spilling as much as I did.”

     Shaw had a dickhead bothering her. Past boyfriend? Hopeful
boyfriend? Stalker? I didn’t like the idea of any of them. “If this guy gets
out of hand you should keep us informed because no girl should have to deal
with crap like that alone.” 

     She nodded and I knew she would. Carrie was familiar with shit
happening to you and how bad it could get.

Wednesday, October 29

     I was walking down the campus sidewalk towards my car after class
when my attention was snagged by a mass of bright red curls zooming toward me
on a bike in the bike lane adjacent to the walkway. Only one person had hair
that crazy and vivid. I wondered if she might have gone past me before I knew
her and had never noticed. It seemed impossible.

     When Shaw neared I yelled. “Hey, baby, do you want to be the sun
in my life?” Everyone around me stopped and stared at me but I didn’t give a
shit.

     Her head whipped my way and she halted her pedaling. Gliding by
she hollered back, cheeks flushed in exertion, and was that a possible smile on
her face. “Sure, now go thirteen billion miles away from me.” Resuming her
pedal work she zoomed away, displaying those awesome calves of hers.

     I chuckled and my day abruptly became tons better.

     “Hey, did you make Shaw’s big black book of fucks?”

     My muscles tensed and I spun around to find a guy staring at me
with a frown. He was about my size, blonde hair, good-looking I guess. Two
other dudes were with him but standing a foot behind him.

     “What the fuck did you say?” I snarled. 

     He smirked, but his eyes were hard. “That girl that just went
by…Shaw. I was just wondering if she’d bagged you yet? I swear she’s got a list
of guys she’s fucked and future ones she wants to. She’s done each one of us…”
He motioned to the two guys behind him. “And several other of my friends as
well. That girl is wild and a bit of a nympho, if you know what I mean?” His
smirk got bigger.

     His friends grinned behind him. “That chick will do just about
anything.” One of them remarked.

     My gut clenched, along with my jaw and fists. What they were
saying about Shaw didn’t sound kosher. Sure, I hardly knew her, but I wasn’t
getting that slut vibe from her.

     Fists at my sides I gritted out as smoothly as I could. “First
off, asshole, Shaw is my friend’s roommate and friend.” I considered Carrie a
friend now. “So you need to be careful what comes out of your fucking mouth
pertaining to her. Secondly, how does any of this concern you?”

     His beady eyes narrowed and he shrugged. “Sorry if I’m
overstepping, dude. I’ve known Shaw since we were freshmen in high school. She
started her list around then. You ask any guy at Riley High and I’m sure they
could tell you a story or two.” He shook his head. “That girl got around more
than the common cold. If you haven’t made her list yet I just wanted to warn
you to suit up. I can’t imagine what she’s a carrier of by now.” He snorted and
walked away, his two douche-friends going with him.  

     My gut churned with anger. The urge to go after them and beat all
their faces to a bloody mess was nearly overwhelming, but coach would kill me
if campus security was called. Even though lacrosse season was another month
away fighting was a one way ticket to suspension.

     I couldn’t stop myself from wondering if asshat was telling the
truth. Rumors and gossip were notorious for being over-exaggerated, or even
completely erroneous. Carrie had rumors going around about her last winter that
were utter lies, and like I said, Shaw wasn’t giving off any kind of slut vibe.
If she was a nympho she would have been all over me by now, or come over to our
house to partake of the smorgasbord of men that hung out there.

     No…Shaw must have rejected that guy at some point and he was
spreading rumors about her in retaliation…and his friends were backing him up.
This could even be the guy that Carrie said was hassling Shaw.

     However, those fucks yesterday had mentioned a list as well.

    Since I didn’t really know anything about Shaw another option was
that she was keeping her activities as far from Carrie as she could and didn’t
bang her friends’ friends, or maybe she’d turned over a new leaf since high
school. Many a person had done that.

     I walked away with those guys words stuck on repeat in my head.

Tuesday, November 4

     I entered the cafeteria in a subdued mood still chewing over what
I’d heard last week. I’d thrown out a comment to Carrie over Halloween about
hearing rumors about Shaw. Carrie had given me a disappointed look and made a
pointed remark about listening to rumors. Carrie had an extreme and justified
dislike of them. I’d told her I’d only wanted to warn Shaw that they were out
there but Carrie had informed me Shaw already knew about them.

     She knew about them because they were true?  

     She knew because she’d heard them as well?

     She knew about them and was handling it?

     I wanted more information but Carrie wasn’t sharing.

     Information was my drug and I needed Shaw to share with me but
it’s not like we were close enough for me to dig into her past like that. From
my own viewpoint I was inclined to believe that the rumors about Shaw were
exaggerated. I wasn’t going to hold it against the girl if she liked sex and
was sowing more than her normal quota of oats. I mean shit, glass house here.  

     Rationally I accepted this, but there was a part of me that was
uptight thinking about her with other dudes; especially lots of other dudes.  

     I’d been shooting down invitations from other females because my
body and mind had a major hard-on for one girl. My dick was not happy at being
cut off from action this long so I needed to at least find out if Shaw was
interested in something more than flinging remarks back and forth.

     “Hey Shaw, how’s it hanging?” I parked myself in the chair next to
her. 

     “Probably better than you; I bet that’s all it does on you.” Her
cheeks were pink as she ate her sandwich telling me that she was over her bad
mood from last week and that whatever this was between us she enjoyed it.

     “I feel like I need to cover my girlfriends’ ears whenever you two
get together.” Nic grumbled making Carrie giggle.

     “Just think of it as free cable.” Seth mumbled around his food.

     “I was wondering if you were doing anything tonight?” I left out
the ‘
besides me’
part because it was time to make my move.

     Shaw’s brows pinched. “Not you, if that’s what you mean.”

     She thought I was throwing out a line. “No, I really want to know
if you want to do something with me tonight.” Sure, I was calling myself out in
front of my friends, but I felt pretty certain of her positive reply. The girl
threw off a snarky, bitchy manner but I could see flares of interest in her
eyes.

     Silence reigned over the table for a moment and the embarrassment
I thought I wouldn’t feel began to wash over me.

     Shaw’s brows were nearly touching as she looked down at her plate.
“Uhhhh...no thanks. I’m really busy with other stuff.”

     Huh. Cut off at the knees. I knew by the way she phrased her
rejection that she meant all her days were busy so don’t bother asking about
another night. Disappointment was swift and surprisingly strong. I didn’t get
turned down often and when I did I normally didn’t care all that much, but my
lust for Shaw was stronger than I’d ever felt before.

     “In fact, I’ve got to get going and get started on those things.
See you guys later.” Shaw jumped up and stalked away.

     Before I knew it I was calling out. “Hey Shaw, you forgot
something.”

     She turned with a confused, edgy frown. “What?”

     “Me.” Slouching back in my chair casually I gave her a cocky grin
that showed I wasn’t at all affected by her rejection. I had my pride. “What
time do you get off? And can I watch?”

     Her uncomfortable expression cleared and she stared at me with
intent dispassion. “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Herpes.” Turning, she strode away.

     “Smooth.” Seth remarked.

     “Yeah, you covered yourself pretty good there. It almost appeared
as if you didn’t give a shit that she shot you down.” Nic raised his brow in a
questioning arc, but I didn’t have any kind of answer for him because I was
still processing.

     Carrie was looking down at her food like she was afraid it might
disappear if she looked away from it. She probably didn’t want me to see the
sympathy in her eyes.

     “Hey, she’s hot and entertaining. I had to try.” I smiled to cover
my frustration and restlessness.

     Carrie head shot up with a frown. “Is that all it is?”

     She was wondering what I felt for her friend. As with Nic, I
didn’t have an answer for her. “That’s how it typically is, Carrie. You feel an
attraction and you go for it. If the other person’s not feeling it then you
move on. There are no hard feelings and we go back to what it was before.”

     Now my dick could move on and find someone else to get wet in
since it wasn’t going to get wet with Shaw.

     However, I found myself glancing back toward the doors she’d
disappeared through with a disappointed frown. 

CHAPTER ONE

Ten Months Later

SHAW

EARLY AUGUST

     “Please come, Shaw. Please, please, please.” Carrie pleaded from
my bed. “We’ve been friends for almost a year and a half and you haven’t hung
out with any of my friends.”

     I punched away at my computer keyboard. “I’ve hung out with them.”

     She slapped at my bed cover. “You spent time with them during
lunches. That’s barely hanging out, and that was only with Seth and Evan months
ago.”

     My heart did a little jitter at Evan’s name, which I totally
ignored. “Sam and Blake come over all the time, and I’ve met all your other
friends.”