Crushed (The Rushed New Adult and College Romance Series Book 2)

"Everything okay?"

  "Perfect."

  "We started off on the wrong foot."

  "You mean by being enemies?" I laughed and brushed aside a tear.

  "Enemies to frenemies to friends to…something more. I've missed you these last days. I didn't realize how much until I came home and couldn't get you out of my mind."

  Crap! He was determined to make me cry.

  "Let me make it up to you. Let's start over. Go on a real first date. Are you busy tomorrow?"

  I laughed through my tears. "It's past midnight. By tomorrow, do you really mean today or Monday?"

  He laughed back. "Either. I have to see you. As soon as possible."

  Could a heart break because of too much joy? I took a deep breath. "I have family plans tomorrow. Monday?"

  "Excellent! Monday it is. That will give me a chance to plan it."

  I smiled. "Where should I meet you?"

  "Meet me? I'm picking you up like a real gentleman." He laughed again. "I'll need an address."

  "On Monday I'll be at Mom's in Kirkland."

  "Even better. I'm in Bellevue. It will save me the long drive to Puyallup. I'll text you the details tomorrow. I'm thinking afternoon into evening. We'll make a day of it."

  "I'm thinking that's perfect."

  "Goodnight, Morgs."

  "Goodnight, Sweat Prints." I didn't know why I said it.

  "Did you just call me Sweet Prince?"

  "No, I called you Sweat Prints. You have to earn the Sweet Prince title. Make the date good."

  He laughed again. "Goodnight…Sweat Print Cents."

  I laughed as the line went dead. Then I fell back on my pillow, smiling.

  Dakota

  Fallout. I should have known there would be fallout. There always was after a breakup with Jordan. This time, I was serious. It was over.

  There's only one way to move on. You have to make a hard, cold-turkey break. Sever all communications. Otherwise, it's too easy to get sucked back in out of pity. To find myself apologizing for shit I hadn't done. For wanting someone else. What could I say to Jordan, anyway? That we'd changed and grown apart? That she didn't understand how serious the charges I faced were? That she was trying to ruin me?

  I ignored her pleading texts. Deleted her I'm sorry voicemails. Ignored her rants and begging.

  Zach called. "We need to talk."

  "So talk."

  "In person. About Jordan."

  "You heard."

  "Oh, yeah. I heard." He sounded nervous, which was odd for easygoing Zach. "Coffee? In an hour?"

  "Usual place?" I said.

  "See you there."

  Zach and I arrived at the same time and walked in together, making small talk. The coffee place smelled of pumpkin-spice lattes and caramel-apple cider. The pastry case was filled with cranberry scones and their delicious seasonal cranberry cake. We ordered. I got cake with my latte. We waited for our order to come up and found a table.

  Jazz music played in the background. In another few days it would be the house blend of Christmas jazz and arrangements. Already the fall mugs were on sale. Outside it was raining. Even that couldn't dampen my spirits. I was grinning like a damn idiot. Wondering why I had hung on to Jordan so long. Why I'd nearly fucked everything up for her.

  Zach studied me. "You look happy."

  "That obvious?"

  "Not if you're blind and deaf." He grinned, but he still looked nervous. "You're that happy to be rid of Jordan?" His eyes narrowed. He spoke before I could answer. "Does Morgan have anything to do with this? You can't fuck with her, QB2."

  I glared back at him, on the defensive. "What's that supposed to mean? You're suddenly her defender? After what she did to you and Alexis?" Where the hell was he going with this? And who was he to call me out?

  "Morgan has been going through some serious shit this year. She finally seems to be coming out of it. People have the wrong idea about her and me. We're friends, in a weird way. You aren't using her for cover again, are you? Like you used Alexis? But without Morgan's knowledge?"

  I squeezed my cup, threatening to crush it as I stared at Zach. "What the hell are you getting at?"

  "What are your intentions with Morgan?"

  "What are you, her dad now? I just broke up with Jordan, didn't I?"

  "Is it going to stick this time?"

  I scowled at him. But why should he believe me?

  He grinned at me. What the hell? "You really like Morgan."

  "Shut the fuck up. Of course I like her." I leaned across the table and hissed at QB1. "She doesn't need to know about Jordan."

  "Dangerous game, buddy." He took a sip of his coffee. "Jordan is pissed. She called me and tried to cry on my shoulder. She also threatened me." His grin was wry. "Blackmailed, more like."

  I cocked an eyebrow. "What? How? What does she have on you?"

  "You're not getting back together with her."

  "Is that a command or a question?"

  "Both."

  "Jordan and I are done."

  "I've heard that before." His expression became serious as he studied me. Finally, he looked like he believed me. "I have something to tell you that should seal the deal. But first, you have to promise not to punch me after I tell you."

  I shook my head and grinned at him. "What are you getting at, man? Are you a chickenshit now?"

  He was serious. "We've barely reestablished our friendship. I don't want to lose it, buddy."

  My heart pounded. My mind raced with shitty, disgusting possibilities. "Whatever it is, it can't be worse than what I'm imagining. Give it to me straight. I promise not to throw a punch. Or my coffee." I forced a grin.

  "I slept with Jordan."

  My mouth fell open. "What the fuck? When? What about Alexis?" I reflexively rose out of my seat, ready to break my promise and beat him senseless.

  He stood too, ready to defend himself, as curious bystanders went quiet around us and the manager looked like he was about to come over or call security. "Sit down," he whispered in a hiss. "It was ages ago. The summer after high school."

  I fell back into my chair, stunned, doing the math. "Wait a minute—Jordan and I were together then…"

  He nodded. "Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm not proud of it, buddy. I was out for revenge."

  My mouth went dry as the implications set in. "She screwed you behind my back? Why?"

  Zach looked away. Which was telling. All this time I'd been hanging on to Jordan, thinking she was the one girl who'd wanted me above Zach. It had all been a lie.

  I saw red. My stomach burned with rage and betrayal. And relief.

  "You okay?" Zach fell back into that defensive posture again as his forehead creased with concern.

  "I'm glad she's not here, is all I can say." I swallowed hard. "I wouldn't be accountable for what I might do."

  "And us?" Zach stared at me with sympathy and remorse in his eyes. "I'm sorry, dude. I wish I could take it back."

  "Shit," I said. "I was trying to hurt you, too. Bygones." I stood.

  He stood. We took a step toward each other and slapped each other on the back.

  "I won't forgive her." I realized I was playing with a double standard. I'd been with Morgan, after all. Maybe there wasn't any defense. But she'd gone a step further and slept with my best friend. That was unforgivable.

  Morgan

  Dakota texted me and told me to get ready for a day in Seattle. He'd pick me up around two. I felt like a nervous high schooler as I tried on outfit after outfit, finally settling on a cute fall dress, tights, and thigh-high boots, with my black coat that tied around the waist and flared into a skirt.

  Mom insisted on meeting him. She was already upset that Dad had met him first. And approved of him. I hoped she wouldn't be perverse and dislike him just to be contrary. She and Dad used to be in lockstep about everything. Now they rarely agreed on anything.

  I'd been wondering how Dakota planned to pick me up. I half expected to go on a double date. Instead, he showed up with a lim
o and driver. He was smart enough to come to the door. He charmed Mom like she was a pliable snake. Until she'd coiled her approval all around him and was singing his praises as he escorted me to the car.

  He was dressed casually in jeans, but he looked so hot I couldn't take my eyes off him.

  The driver held the door open for me.

  "Where are we going?" I asked Dak as I slid in.

  "You'll see." He slid in next to me and grabbed my hand. "You look beautiful today, Morgs. Breathtaking."

  I laughed as I leaned into him to whisper in his ear. I caught a whiff of his cologne and the fresh mint of his breath. I ran my fingers along the back of his neck and watched him shudder with pleasure. "Be still my heart. You don't have to shamelessly flatter me."

  "What if I want to? What if it's how I see you and I want you to know?" His eyes were shining and completely serious.

  I had no answer, except the wild beating of my heart.

  His smile was dazzling. "I'm trying to prove I'm more than a hookup. I can be something more serious." He brushed my lips with a kiss.

  More serious. I liked the sound of that. "Where are we going?" I asked again as we pulled out of the driveway.

  "On the quintessential Seattle date."

  "The Wheel!" I clapped and laughed. Since its completion while we were in high school, no relationship was legit without a ride on the giant Ferris wheel downtown on the waterfront.

  He grinned. "And Sylvester the mummified man. I'll buy you all the cheap touristy curios you want."

  "All?"

  "Absolutely everything you can carry."

  "I can carry?" I bumped him playfully with my shoulder. "You won't be my packhorse?"

  "Absolutely not." But he was grinning.

  "The market?"

  He nodded. "We'll watch them toss fish."

  "Beecher's mac and cheese?" My stomach almost rumbled at the thought of it.

  "If you want. But I have dinner planned for later."

  "We're hitting all the touristy stuff downtown?" I squeezed his hand.

  "Yeah."

  The morning had been foggy. Marine air. Onshore flow. That was what we called it in Seattle. In the late fall, it sometimes didn't burn off until late in the daylight hours, if at all. It was lifting as the driver pulled to a stop in front of the Wheel. Dak gave instructions to the driver, took my hand, and helped me out.

  He bought our tickets and we stood in line to be loaded. We shared a gondola with a couple from British Columbia who were down celebrating an American Thanksgiving. The view over the sound to the Olympic Mountains was stunning. Even better was the possessive feel of Dak's arm around me as we watched the ferries coming and going. When our gondola stopped at the very top, he tipped my face toward his and kissed me, sweetly, deeply, full of passion. The tenderness of it rocked my world.

  "How long have you been dating?" the woman from BC asked us.

  Dak slung his arm over my shoulders. "This is our first date." He looked so casual and handsome.

  "Your first date!" Her eyes went wide. "I would never have guessed. You seem so comfortable with each other." She smiled widely. "You two have something special. I see a long future together ahead for you." She wagged her finger at us to make her point. "I know special when I see it. I know the one. I've never been wrong. Didn't I tell you, Roy, that my brother would marry Connie? And that was after the first time I saw them together."

  Roy looked apologetic, but his wife would not be stopped.

  "Big things!" she said. "You'll be married inside two years or I miss my guess."

  "The good news for her is, she'll never know whether you are or aren't. Her record will remain intact." Roy winked at us.

  His wife gave him a playful shove.

  "We've been friends for a while," I said.

  "Friends first, that always works best," the woman said.

  After the Wheel, we went to Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, then up the hill to Pike Place Market, which was crowded with shoppers already preparing for Thanksgiving. We stood in line at Beecher's and bought a cup of mac and cheese to share. The market was always crowded. There was no place nearby to sit.

  I grabbed Dak's hand and pulled him along. "I know where there are always tables."

  "Where? In the market? You're crazy. This place is always packed."

  "Shows how little you know. Of course in the market!" I pulled him past the shops and restaurants and down the stairs at the far end of the market to the floor below. Sure enough, there were half a dozen available tables, just like always.

  "See!" I pointed. "Most people don't come down here. They don't even know these tables exist."

  "An in-depth knowledge of the market. I'm impressed." He held a chair out for me.

  I sat and held a finger to my lips. "Shhhh. Don't spread the word about these tables. They're our little secret." I laughed. I couldn't believe I was so happy. With Dakota Bradley.

  He handed me a plastic fork. We dove into our mac and cheese together. It was gooey, cheesy, and rich. Perfect.

  "Having fun?" he asked.

  I grinned at him. "What do you think?" I rubbed my foot over his.

  "I wish we were at school." He wiggled his eyebrows.

  "No more hookups," I said.

  "I wasn't talking about a hookup." He held my gaze. "I was talking about something more."

  I looked down, embarrassed and afraid I would give my deep longing away.

  Our plastic forks clicked and our fingers brushed as we both dove in for another bite of food.

  He cleared his throat. "How are things at home? How was the family thing yesterday?"

  "Horrible!" I rolled my eyes and twisted my mouth to one side. I took a deep breath. "At dinner last night, my dad and stepmom made a big announcement. You know how I thought I was going to have a little sister who would be daddy's new princess?" Dak had teased me about that before.

  He nodded.

  "Turns out, the princess is going to be a prince. They showed the new ultrasound pictures, featuring his little dick. Just to prove the point. He's a cute little guy. He was sucking his thumb. You could even tell he looks a lot like Dad." I couldn't keep the fear out of my voice.

  "That's great!" He saw my face and stopped. "What's wrong?"

  I forced myself to smile. "Besides the fact that I have to return all the girl stuff I bought for the shower and get boy things?"

  "Small detail." He reached across and squeezed my hand.

  I swallowed hard. "Dad's always wanted another boy. I was supposed to be the replacement for my older brother who died. Now this little guy will be."

  Dak looked sympathetic. "Being the replacement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Think unrealistic expectations. Your dad loves you." He grinned. "I could tell by the way he looked like he wanted to kill me when we first met."

  I laughed.

  "Cheer up. It will be okay," he said.

  "What about you?" I asked. "You survived a bad party. What else have you been up to?"

  He shrugged, watching me closely. "Zach and I hung out yesterday."

  I realized he was looking for my reaction, trying to see how I felt about Zach. "That's nice. I'm glad he's doing well." I bit my lip and screwed up my courage. "It's crazy how things change after a crush dies. I used to think Zach was the hottest guy on campus."

  Dakota's face became a mask.

  I laughed. "And now I think you are."

  His eyes lit up. He smiled and pulled me into a kiss. "Tell me again how hot I am."

  I shook my head and grinned. "You're impossible."

  We finished our mac and cheese and went back into the main part of the market. We watched the guys at the fish counter toss and wrap fish. Explored the vegetable, fruit, and flower stalls. Dak bought me the largest bouquet of fresh fall flowers he could find. Then made me carry them.

  It was getting dark by the time we left the market, even though it was only a little after five. We walked up the hill to the shopping district. Holiday dresses
graced every department store window.

  I saw the most gorgeous powder-blue one in the window of one of my favorite stores. I stopped to admire it, and sighed.

  "What's wrong?" Dak gave me a worried look.

  "That dress would be perfect for the winter semiformal the week after we get back."

  "So buy it," he said. "Let's go in. You can try it on for me." He gave me a wolfish smile.

  I shook my head. "What's the point? I'm on social probation, remember?"

  He frowned. "We could still go in and see if they have your size."

  "No," I said. "That would only depress me. Ugh. It's going to be excruciating watching all the excitement of getting ready while I sit on the sidelines."

  "I don't want my girl depressed. Let's go." He squeezed my hand and led me to Westlake.

  We browsed the mall. Then he called the limo and we drove back to the waterfront and had dinner at a restaurant on the pier looking out on the sparkling night waters of Puget Sound. The meal was phenomenal. For dessert, we had their famous flaming volcano cake.

  After dinner, Dak called the limo again. I thought he would take us home.

  "I have one more surprise," Dak said.

  The limo dropped us off at the Wheel again.

  Dak took my hand. "We saw it during the day. I thought we should see it at night."

  We went to the ticket window.

  "I want the VIP package." He pulled out his wallet.

  "What!" I said. "No, we don't need that."

  He looked at me. "We do."

  The clerk smiled at us. "You're in luck. It's available. What T-shirt sizes do you need?"

  "We get a T-shirt?" I grinned.

  "This isn't the frat. But we have to have a T-shirt to commemorate the occasion."

  We gave the clerk our sizes. He handed us two T-shirts and vouchers for a champagne toast at a nearby restaurant. "You have to be twenty-one for those," he said.

  Dak didn't reply. I hooked my shirt over my purse.

  "Not going to wear it?" he asked.

  "It clashes with my dress."

  He slid his arm around my waist and pulled me close.

  The VIP gondola had leather seats. And we didn't have to share it with anyone else. As part of the package, we were taken to the front of the line and loaded first.