“Thanks, Mr. C. You take care,” I say, abruptly stopping the conversation. He doesn’t know the whole story. I’ve kept him in the dark about my biggest obstacle in the way of accepting love.

“Remember what I said, Grant.” He hugs me and then whispers in my ear, “I love you.”

“Bye Mr. C, see you next week,” I say in return and make my way back to Jessa.

After we leave, I decide to take Jessa on a real date. I drop her off at her house, instructing her to be ready in an hour. I’ve been trying to plan this for the last couple of days. We’ve been fucking like rabbits, but I have yet to treat her like she deserves. She hasn’t said anything about it, which makes me believe she’s used to be treated that way and it’s not right.

I get back to my frat house and find Emily sitting on the couch with a few other girls.

“Grant,” she calls out to me when I open the door.

“Hey, Emily,” I reply, nodding my head at the other girls, who give small waves in response.

“We never see you anymore. You’re always with that girl,” she remarks, standing up to walk toward me.

“She’s my girlfriend,” I say, liking the sound of those words.

“WHAT?” she screams. “Grant, I know she might be easy, but girlfriend? Are you kidding me?”

“Emily, you know nothing about her so you can stop talking now.” I put my arms across my chest impatiently, wanting this conversation to be over.

“Don’t you know?” she asks and I raise my eyebrows in question. “Nice that she never told you,” she sneers, pulling her phone out.

“Told me what, Emily?” I irritably sigh, waiting while she thumbs through her phone.

“This.” She shifts her weight onto one leg, placing the phone in my face.

It’s a fuzzy picture and I’m unable to recognize anyone right away. Then I see Jessa on top of some guy, the same way she straddles me. My heart plummets seeing her like that with someone else. The guy’s face isn’t visible, but Jessa’s full body is. I take Emily’s arm and drag her into the other room.

“Where did you get that?” I clench my teeth in order to calm myself as best I can.

“Let’s just say that Jessa Harrison isn’t that common of a name.” She tilts her head to the side, obviously satisfied by her revelation.

“Delete it,” I demand. “How many other people know about it?” I ask. She just stands there, staring me down.

“No one, I thought you should see it first.” I grab the phone from her hand and delete the picture. “You do know, I can just get another one. There are plenty more online. And I see why you like her Grant, she’s into some kinky stuff,” she snidely remarks.

“You want to play this way, Emily? Fine. If anyone else sees that picture or any other pictures, I’ll tell everyone about how you let her boyfriend fuck you in a closet on New Year’s. How do you think your friends will feel about you then?” Her face drops and I’m glad my assumption was right. I’d suspected after she followed Rob into the kitchen looking disheveled, but since she and I weren’t together, I really didn’t care enough to mention it before now.

“How…” she stutters.

“Did you actually think he wouldn’t talk about how he fucked a sorority girl in the closet as the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve?” I lie, making my case that much more convincing for her. The only way I can be assured that she won’t spread this gossip about Jessa is to make her afraid I’ll ruin her reputation.

“Don’t tell anyone, Grant. I won’t show anyone the pictures I found,” she promises, fumbling with her phone.

“Fine, but I swear, Emily. If I hear anything…” I threaten, the anger getting the better of me.

“You won’t. I promise, Grant.” She appears sincere so I turn around, eager to get the hell out of here.

I walk up the stairs and as soon as I shut the door, I throw my phone across the room. I can’t fucking believe this. That’s the secret she’s been keeping. I don’t know if I’m more pissed at the fact she did those things with someone else or that some asshole posted the pictures. Of everything she could be keeping from me that’s crossed my mind, this didn’t even come close.

Stomping into my bathroom, I flip the shower knob and start stripping my clothes off. I put toothpaste on my toothbrush and stare into the mirror, trying to figure out what the hell to do. There on my right pec, is the hickey she left last night, and a smile comes across my lips remembering us joking around with each other. I chuckle to myself thinking about her matching one on her ass. The way she squirmed, laughing, while trying to get away from me, but I held on to her until I could leave a mark. How I let her think she was strong enough to hold me down in order to suck my skin into her mouth, leaving a red blotch next to my nipple. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Considering everything, I guess I have to give her the benefit of the doubt. God knows I’ve had my share of partners.

I go into my room to find my phone. The expensive cover I bought was worth the money since it’s still intact. Of course, the heap of clothes that broke the fall helped too. I send Jessa a quick text message, instructing her to pack an overnight bag and lots of warm clothes. After making a second phone call, securing us a place to stay, I grab my duffle bag and leave.

“Where are you going, Bishop?” Matt asks when I walk down the stairs. A few of the girls are still milling around, but Emily’s not anywhere in sight. I hope it stays that way.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” I inform him, continuing to walk toward the door.

“You going somewhere with that girl?” he calls out and I quickly turn around, ready to pounce.

“Yeah, what of it?” I ask defensively. If Emily went back on her word, I’ll start spitting out gossip like a rapid, uncontrollable fire until it’s spread to everyone.

“Nothing. She seems…nice,” he says, shrugging his shoulders.

“She is,” I confirm.

“Have fun.” He turns around, walking back toward the living room.

Calm down, I tell myself. It doesn’t seem like he knows anything about the pictures of Jessa fucking some other guy.

I gas up the truck and drive over to pick Jessa up. Before I have a chance to get out, she’s already jogging down the steps. I reach over to push the door open for her and she pulls it the rest of the way.

“Where are we going?” she asks excitedly, tossing her bag in the back.

“It’s a surprise,” I tell her and she scoots over, buckling herself into the seat next to me. She leans over to give me a light kiss on the lips, but it quickly turns intense and I can’t drive us there fast enough.

“I think I may stay naked all night. Will you keep me warm?” she whispers in my ear and, despite the anger I felt over the pictures Emily showed me, I’m instantly hard.

“Alright, but you’ll need me naked next to you to stay warm,” I tease her. I have to wait for her side to the story. I know I’ll need the same from her when I tell her what a selfish prick I am.

“I wouldn’t dream of anything else,” she says and winks at me.

Jessa

I snuggle up to Grant in the truck, wondering where this spur of the moment creature came from. Grant seems like a planner, always careful that everything is mapped out before he ventures. We couldn’t be more opposite in that way. But tonight I am seeing spontaneity in him and I’m loving it.

He looks over at me and I nuzzle closer, letting him put his arm around me. I always thought people looked stupid sitting so close together in pick-up trucks, but I understand it now.

This guy is dangerously close to taking my heart fully in his hands, but I still can’t help thinking that he’ll break it just as easily. Grant has monsters, and they’re bigger than mine from what I can tell. He never speaks about his mom or family, and I still don’t know what was up with that guy at the diner a few weeks ago.

He closes himself off from everyone and I need to find a way to get in. The doors that open up to truly see Grant are double-locked with a chain around the handles. I figure since he’s stuck in this car with me, I might as well give the door a tug.