My Soul Keeper (30 page)

“He was hitting on you, Simone. With me standing right there.”

“We’re not together, Jacob. We’ve been through this.”

He snatches a couple of the cups as they’re placed in front of us. “He doesn’t know that, does he? Are you ever going to forgive me, Simone?”

I look up into his pained face. “I already forgave you.”

He reaches his hand up to my face and caresses my cheek. “I still love you.”

I close my eyes and drop my head. “I know Jac, and I’ll always have love for you, but that’s the past now.”

His hand drops. I open my eyes to see he’s retreating. I let out a heavy sigh and take the remaining two cups, spinning on my heels to leave. I collide with a wall of male. One of the cups caves and the rich, hot, brown liquid coats both of us; it’s hot and my instincts kick in. I place the other cup down and try to lift the material of my sweater out, away from my skin. I realise I’m hopping from foot to foot blowing down my front, because a girl at a nearby table sniggers at me.

I look to the white t-shirt of the guy I bumped into and I flinch. Following the dark stain upwards, I find blue piercing eyes looking down at me. He is beautiful, like artwork. Perfect lines. Wow! He looks like a young Brad Pitt and Brad Pitt at any age is Godlike.

“I’m so sorry.”

I turn to the counter, gather napkins, and dab at his tight stomach. I actually have to swallow, because he has made my mouth water. His face remains passive.

“I’ll pay for the dry cleaning,” I offer.

He wraps his huge hand around mine to stop my frantic wiping. “It’s fine. Let me buy you another.”

I’m a little dazzled by him and I have a weird feeling that I’ve seen him before, but that’s not possible. I would have remembered him.

“Oh shit, are you okay?” the coffee guy asks, coming around the counter and taking my hands from the Brad Pitt look alike.

“Yes, thank you. I was clumsy. Could you please make me another hot chocolate?”

He smiles. “Sure thing. It’s on me. You want a t-shirt to change into? I always bring a spare in my locker.”

“No, that’s okay. I only live across the road… but maybe…” I point to the guy I bumped into. The coffee guy takes in his appearance and winces.

“Sure. I’ll go get it.”

“Thanks.” I smile.

“Simone, what’s going on?” Jacob grumbles, positioning himself between me and the guy covered in Leah’s hot chocolate.

“I had an accident.”

He looks down at the mess on my sweater. “Shit, Simone. Did you burn yourself?”

He lifts the hem of my sweater and drops to his knees. My face flushes as my midriff is on display for everyone to see. I catch a few smirks from guys and sniggers from girls.

I look up at the other guy, his eyes have hooded over and he licks his lips. I’m embarrassed.

A cool breeze hits my stomach and makes goose bumps form over my skin. I look down at Jacob, blowing on my skin. I yank the material from his hand and drag it down over my stomach, glaring at him. He stands just as the coffee guy returns and hands the shirt over.

“Here, man. Do you want to go back and change?” he asks.

I look back to the guy I covered in hot chocolate. He shakes his head and lifts his shirt over his head. My mouth pops open and I hear a collective gasp from the women and a couple of guys. He reveals a body carved to perfection.

“You’re beautiful.” It just comes out, but it’s the truth, he is. It’s not an, ‘Oh my God, I’m in love’ you’re beautiful, it’s just an observation. He really is impressive to look at. He smiles down at me.

“As are you,” he replies.

“For fuck’s sake,” Jacob moans and storms off.

“Is he your boyfriend?”

I shake my head. “No.”

The coffee guy returns with a new cup.

“Thanks.” I smile, taking it.

“No problem. Hope to see you around.”

“So, can I at least have this washed for you?” I ask the other guy, taking the soiled shirt.

“Sure, if it will make you feel better. And give me a chance to see you again.”

I catch my breath and look into his eyes. He is, without a doubt, drool worthy, but I don’t get that flutter in my stomach.

“I’m Gabe.”

He offers his hand, which I take, and he brings it to his lips. I have a deja vu moment.

“Simone.” My voice comes out hoarse and I have to cough to clear my throat. He reaches for a napkin and grabs a pen from a girl gazing at him. He jots down his address and hands it to me.

“You’re in the dorms next to mine.”

He smiles. “Bring it over tomorrow and let me take you to dinner.”

A few of the girls around muffle a few things about me being lucky. “Damn, I need to scald people and ruin their shit more often,” one girl mutters. I ignore them and nod up at Gabe.

“Sure, thank you.”

He kisses my hand again and watches me as I leave the shop.

“Do you have to flirt with everyone, Simone? I just told you I love you, and then have to watch you throw yourself all over that douche.”

I flinch from Jacob’s verbal attack. “Jake,” I whisper, but he storms off, leaving me to rush behind him.

“Your drinks are cold because Simone was picking up dates,” Jacob grumbles to Liam, who raises an eyebrow at me. Leah rushes over to me and takes her cup from my outstretched hand. She ushers me to the bed she’s designated as mine and sits, pulling me down with her.

“Spill.”

I look at Jacob. “I bumped into a guy and spilled your drink all over us both.” I hold up the shirt. She snatches it from me and holds it out.

“Wow, he must be tall.” She sniffs the shirt, making me screw up my nose. Liam snatches it from her.

“God, it smells yummy.” She giggles, making me smile. “Was he yummy?”

I blush.

“Holy shit, he was, wasn’t he?” she accuses.

“She fucking told him he was beautiful, like some kid with a crush,” Jacob moans in disgust.

“What?” Liam asks.

“It just sort of came out. He was he was a very good looking guy. Like film star good looking.”

“Oh my God.” Leah starts bouncing up and down.

“Watch your drink. Enough spilling for one day,” I complain.

“Can you get your girl to stop encouraging her?” Jacob asks. Liam shakes his head.

“Get lost, Jake. You two broke up ages ago. Get over it,” Leah says. He huffs and leaves, slamming the door behind him.

“Liam, what are you looking at?” she asks, jumping up and looking out the window to see what’s distracted Liam.

“Wow, who’s that? Oh my God, is that the guy, Simone?”

She waves her hand in a ‘come here’ command. I go to the window.

“Where did he go?” she asks Liam.

He glares at her. “Who? The guy you were panting over in front of your boyfriend?” he asks, pissed.

Leah slaps his chest. “Don’t start getting touchy. I’m not blind. I can appreciate the male form, just like you do the woman’s. I saw you checking out the other freshmen.”

He screws his face at her. “No way did you see me checking out anyone. I only have eyes for you and you know it. The only women in my life are in this room.”

His eyes drop to the floor, like he’s just remembered how alone he is. I know how he feels; we really have just us. Leah’s parents divorced and her dad moved away, her mom is a recluse. Liam never knew his dad and his mom left him alone a while back.

Out of instinct, I pull him into an embrace. He squeezes me tight and kisses my head.

“You can’t share my boyfriend forever, Simone. You need to get back out there.” Leah sighs. Liam and I both glare at her, but she just shrugs her shoulders.

“I actually have a date tomorrow with the guy I spilled coffee on.”

Her face breaks into a huge grin. “No way.”

“Yes way.”

“I have to go sort out a few things. I’ll be back,” Liam grumbles, exiting abruptly.

“What’s wrong with him?”

Leah shrugs. “Who cares? Tell me about coffee guy,” she demands, pulling my eyes away from the door Liam just bolted though.

I look around at the bags and boxes covering the floor.

“Let’s get everything put away, then go for some food?”

She agrees, putting my clothes into the small built-in closet next to a computer desk. The room is a fair size. There are twin beds with about twelve feet separating them. There are bedside tables next to both beds. Leah has covered the floor with pink and lilac fluffy rugs from her bedroom back home. Her side of the room is covered in pictures of Damon from
The Vampire Diaries
. I cock a questionable eyebrow at her.

“What? He is delicious. Do you want some for your side?”

I laugh. “No thanks. I have a better view from here.” I wink at her.

“She fucking saw you,” Liam curses at me for Leah seeing me outside the window.

“I’m sorry,” I mutter my apology

“Simone has a date tomorrow,” he tells me. Rage floods my body.

“Lucas is back on the scene. I need you to stay with the girls a few nights. We need to treat the Lucas situation with caution. I know he will need me to transfer his soul back into his body. He hasn’t said this but I’m the only person who can do it so he needs me and that’s a good bargaining chip for us to have.”

Work has kept me busy. The sun creeps over the horizon and birds chirp from their nests when I arrive outside Simone’s dorm. There’s sadness in the air. A girl wearing a Starbucks uniform is sitting on a bench a few feet from Simone’s bedroom window. She’s crying. I walk toward her.

“Hey, are you okay?” I ask, dropping so I’m eye level with her. She wipes her face and inhales.

“I was just going to work and then I just…” She shakes her head and furrows her brow.

“It’s okay, you can tell me,” I reassure her.

She sniffs in a very unattractive manner. “I just was overcome with a sad feeling.”

I leave her there and go down a side alley to dematerialize, reappearing in Simone’s room in my obscure form. She’s sobbing in her sleep. Liam has tears building in his eyes. He’s pacing the floor and sniffles come from a sleeping Leah. The sorrow in the room is overwhelming.

I whisper Liam’s name to let him know I’m here.

“Bathroom,” he commands. I follow him from the room into the hall and to the communal bathrooms. They’re empty.

I make myself whole. “I didn’t bring your shirt,” he growls at me. “She’s been crying for ages. It’s… God, Shamar, she’s emanating sorrow. It’s everywhere in that room.”

I pull my shirt over my head and throw it at him. “Go to her,” I command.

He looks at my bare torso. “You fucking kidding with that shit?” He points at me. I look down.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He grumbles something about how hard he has to work out. I fade so I can follow him without being seen. He opens the bedroom door; he slips his shirt off and mine on. He climbs into Simone’s bed, lifting the covers. She immediately inhales and turns her body into his. I tense all over; it’s so painful to watch even though I know there’s nothing going on.

I stand over her bed and flood my calm into the air. Her sobs subside. She clings to my shirt with closed fists, breathing into his chest. Her breathing eventually evens out and she falls into a peaceful slumber.

I stay in the room as the hours pass. Leah stirs first. She mumbles something making no sense. When she cracks open her eyes, she pats the empty space next to her and sits up. She looks over to see Simone splayed across Liam’s chest. She rubs her eyes and shakes her head, like she’s trying to clear it. Her eyebrows are pinched together. She swings the covers back and walks over to Simone’s bed.

“What the fuck?” she shouts, startling both Liam and Simone.

“Shit,” Liam grumbles. He eases Simone from his chest and she rubs her eyes.

“Hey,” Simone answers.

“She had a nightmare,” Liam explains, but Leah’s arms are folded under her breasts, her stance hostile.

“So you slept in her bed with her all over you.”

“Leah,” Simone whispers.

“Don’t. Simone, this is too far. I get that you're close and Jacob said he had been comforting you at night because of your nightmares, but for fuck’s sake, this is more than friendship. I knew it as well, I just didn’t want to believe it.” A tear falls to her cheek.

“No, Leah, that’s bullshit. We are just friends, family. I love her like a sister and she needs me right now.”