Keeping Her (The Lexington Series Book 2)
Read Keeping Her (The Lexington Series Book 2) Online
Authors: Belle Winters
Keeping Her
(The Lexington
Series, book 2)
By
Belle Winters
This book is a work
of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of
the author's imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual
persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely
coincidental.
This ebook is
licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or
given away to other people. If you like to share this book with another person,
please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with.
Copyright © 2016
Shannon Jackson
. All rights reserved. Including the right to reproduce
this book or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be
reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the author.
Version 2016.07.11
Table of Contents
Lucy
The drive is exactly what the doctor
ordered. Having to stay up and focus for 8 hours straight required me to push
all the drama and turmoil in my life to the back of my mind. It was extremely
late when I finally pulled into a hotel. I called James and Dean as soon as I
got into the room. I stared at my phone for five minutes contemplating calling
Landon just to hear his voice and thought better of it. I know he’s still pissed
at me for having an abortion and hiding it from him, but shit. He doesn’t get
it… we’re too young for this. He and Nick are so mad at me, and no matter how
much I want to cave, I know they need their space and time to forgive me…
that’s if they ever will. I sighed and tossed my phone onto the nightstand and
fell asleep. When I woke up the next day I grabbed some food from room service
then drove the extra 30 minutes to the school. I got my dorm assignment and
other information. To be honest it was all overwhelming, I felt like a lost dog
and was scrambling to keep it together. When I finally got everything I needed
and found my dorm I discovered I was on the fourth floor. Fuck! How am I going
to get my stuff up there?
I was standing by my car mulling over
the possibilities. I knew there was no way I could carry all my stuff up there
on numerous trips by myself. Hell I’ll be lucky to get one of these boxes up
there alone. I contemplated calling James to see if he could make it out here
within a couple of days and just wait until then. I had unlocked the screen on
my phone and was about to call when the sunlight was blocked and I looked up
startled.
“Lucy?” my eyes trailed up slowly
until I was looking into a face I recognized.
I broke out into a grin, “Teddy!
You’re going here too?!” I asked. It was Ted, who used to be on the football
team with Landon. He was a huge guy that is intimidating as hell just looking
at him but he was the sweetest and shyest guy I knew.
“Yea.” He looked around. “Where are
Landon and Nick? I thought they were going here too?”
I sighed and looked down. “They’ll be
here sometime today I guess. We aren’t really talking right now.”
His eyebrows rose, “They let you come
here by yourself? That’s pretty hard to believe.”
I smiled. Yes they were ridiculously
protective of me, and it was unusual Landon wasn’t breathing down my neck.
Especially now so he could stake his claim with his normal caveman antics. “I’m
here alone. I just found my dorm finally.” I told him.
He nodded and looked at my car,
“You’re going to try to move this all alone?” he asked.
I grimaced, “I’m going to try my
best. Then I was just going to call my dad and ask him to come up here to help
when he could. I know it’s sad but dude I’m on the fourth floor.” I informed
him.
Ted’s eyes narrowed. Whoa, I’ve never
seen attitude on him. “You think I would seriously let you try to do this by
yourself or something. I’ll bring your stuff up. Give me your room number and
the car keys. I need to drop something off then I’ll start bringing it over for
you.”
My mouth dropped, “Dude, you totally
have some fight in you. You hide it well. I will remember
not
to piss
you off.” I smiled wide. “That is really nice of you, but you don’t have to if
it’s an inconvenience. I appreciate it either way.”
“First, Landon and Nick will have my
ass if I don’t do it.” he began
I muttered, “I highly doubt that.” I
know he heard me but ignored me and continued.
“And secondly I like you Lucy. You’re
a nice girl, your funny, and truth be told people thought you were weak for
years because you let them bully you, but I looked at it as strength. You took
it and while I sometimes wished you would knee someone in the balls you didn’t
let it ruin you. Plus you turned Landon into a pussy, well only for you… and mostly
to be honest you made an effort to know me. I know I’m not the easiest person
to get to know because I’m not open with people… but I like talking to you.
You’re not judgmental or anything.” He said.
I nodded, “You know… you’ve never
spoken to me this much before. But I like it. You’re pretty fucking awesome
Ted. I’m happy I did speak to you.”
He shrugged, “It’s because I’m
comfortable around you. I would’ve spoken to you more in school but I’m not
comfortable with a lot of people around and I really only saw you at lunch. I’m
sure you noticed that the ones I do speak to its usually private or nonexistent
around others. I’m kind of hoping to work on it now though. Anyway, keys and
room number. I’ll see you in a few.”
I handed over my keys and thanked him
again. He nodded and walked off while I headed to my room. I was technically
staying in a small furnished apartment, but it was so small I still considered
it a regular dorm room. We just had some additional amenities and a bit more
privacy. When I got there it was empty. I looked around and noted our small
living room and kitchen. I knew I would have a roommate but she hasn’t arrived
yet. I’m kind of worried about it, what if I don’t like her? What if she’s a
pain in my ass or stinks or something? I would have to endure it for a whole
semester. I tried to push it out of my mind to try to prevent a panic attack
before I knew anything.
It was about 30 minutes later when
the room door swung open. I got out of my bed to go to the front door to help
Ted, but it wasn’t him in the doorway was a girl. She stumbled into the room
trying to tug in two rolling bags while balancing a few on her shoulders. I
jumped up to grab the door to help her. She didn’t even look at me as she
pulled everything in and then dropped them. She heaved a huge sigh and then
looked up.
“Goodness you’re pretty.” She said
when she saw me.
I laughed softly, “Actually I’m
Lucy.” I said holding out a hand.
She laughed too. “Sorry, I’m Naiyla.”
She shook my hand, and I took her in. She had caramel skin, dark brown straight
hair past her shoulders. Her brown eyes were framed by long thick eyelashes.
She had a figure eight body shape. She wasn’t slim nor was she heavy either,
I’d put her at a size 4 or 6.
“You’re really pretty too.” I told
her genuinely. She smiled a huge beautiful smile that revealed white straight
teeth.
She giggled, “now that we have that
established have you chosen a room already? I prefer the right side. Please
tell me that you’ve chosen otherwise?” she asked.
I noticed I gravitated automatically
to the left bedroom and she had automatically gone towards the right. I smiled
and nodded, “sounds perfect. I’ll let you get yourself together.”
She waved a hand, “get myself
together? Girl I need to get my breath. That was the ultimate struggle let me
tell you.” She plopped down on the sofa, “so what’s your major?” she asked.
“Art and business. What about you?” I
asked.
“Track. I’m here to run, and you
would think that I wouldn’t be out of breath right now being that I usually
enjoy putting my legs to work.” She admitted.
“Well you had extra weight so I think
it’ll be ok this time.” I joked.
She laughed, “I like you. I’m happy.
I was afraid I would be stuck with some weirdo roommate all year this is a huge
relief.”
“Tell me about it. I was thinking all
type of crazy stuff.”
There was a knock on the door and I
got up and swung it open. Ted was standing there and gave me a smile. He picked
up a stack of three boxes and bought them into the room. When he dropped them by
my door he gave me a wary smile. “Sorry Luce. I had to claim my side of the
room so I figured I’d take up my stuff first and then come get yours.”
I laughed, “Teddy its fine. You’re
doing me a favor there was no rush.” I told him.
He smiled. “Ok, I’ll be back.” He
turned and left the room.
I looked over to Naiyla to see her
watching me with a raised eyebrow, “boyfriend?” she asked.
I looked at her confused. “Huh?” I
asked.
She shook her head, “that huge guy
that just brought up your stuff. He’s cute, a little intimidating because he’s
so…
large
. He has to be on one of the sports teams to be built like
that.”
I laughed, “Ted? Oh no, we’re not
dating. He’s just helping me out. I looked like a helpless thing out there
trying to figure out how to get my things up here and he offered to help.” I
explained.
She puckered her lips in thought and
then nodded, “we’re going to get on just fine.” She said.
When Ted came back with the rest of
my boxes, she excused herself to go shower. She admitted she felt gross from
her travels and having to handle all her stuff.
“Your roommate is ok?” Ted asked.
I nodded, “so far so good. You?”
He shrugged, “don’t know who I’m
rooming with yet.” He told me.
I nodded and walked over to him. I
stood on my tiptoes and threw my arms around him in a hug. He tensed at first
and when I didn’t let go he relaxed and put his arms awkwardly around me. I
looked up at him, “thanks Ted. You really saved my ass just now.”
He scoffed, “it’s nothing Lucy. You
let me know if you need anything.” He looked around the room and found a sheet
of paper where he wrote his number down on it. “You said you weren’t talking to
Nick and Landon
right now
. I don’t know the details and it isn’t my
business but you need someone or anything and you don’t have them, you call me.
Don’t think about all this grateful shit you’re talking about. I mean it.” I
started to shake my head and he put a hand up. “Lucy you’re a really attractive
girl and you’re pretty much here on your own. I know you been through a lot of
shit already. If you can’t or don’t feel comfortable calling Landon or Nick,
you call me. I know you think I’m sweet as you call it… which I am. But that
doesn’t mean that there isn’t a reason why I’m intimidating. Just… keep it
available to you. I’ll help you however I can. Now get settled and I’ll be
seeing you around, yea?”
I nodded and grabbed his shoulders to
pull him closer to me. I kissed him on the cheek and he blushed. “Thank you and
I promise I’ll save your number and I’ll use it if I ever need to.” I told him
honestly. It felt good to have some type of support here; I didn’t feel so
alone anymore. He nodded and left.
I sat down on my bed and stared at
the boxes. I was not in the mood to unpack, so I threw myself back on my bed
and stared at the ceiling. I put my arm behind my head and I felt my hair snag.
Shit. I freed myself and pulled my arm up to see the swing bracelet that Landon
bought me for Christmas. The memory flooded back to me and tears pricked my
eyes. I could feel his thumb rubbing my wrist before he snapped it into place.
I pressed my hand against my neck and felt my necklace there. From the way I
was laying the swing charm was right in the base of my throat. I knew on the
other side it said
angel
. I remembered the second and last time he
placed them on me. How he snapped it on and then untucked my hair from
underneath the chain. My fingers trailed softly over the diamonds on the charm.
I could feel the kiss he placed on it after it was fastened. My fingers trailed
softly from my shoulders down my arms like he had done that night. I closed my
eyes and shivered pretending it was him. I felt the kiss to the inside of my
wrist, my palm. I sighed. Then I remember cuddling with him that night because
the intimacy of the moment was too much for me to let go of then and I needed
more.
“Lucy?” I heard and sat up. Naiyla
was standing in the doorway looking at me frowning, “are you okay?”
I sighed, “not really, but it’s not a
story for right now.”
She nodded, “got it. How about we
explore our new grounds? Get you out of your head and us away from unpacking.”
I sat up fully, “that actually sounds
great. Just know I have no sense of direction so if for any reason you’re banking
on me knowing or remembering anything… well you’re shit out of luck.” I
admitted.
She laughed, “We’re two peas in a pod
then. Let’s get fucking lost together!” she said with enough enthusiasm to
bring me back to the present.
It was really nice and warm out so I
threw on a tank top with a pair of my Victoria Secret sweats. I topped it off
with a pair of my most comfortable sneakers and pulled on a cap and pulled my
curls through the back in a ponytail. When I was ready, we headed out. We
walked around the campus going in a bunch of different directions. We made it
back to our room when it began to get dark. We found a diner and grabbed some
food to go. We stayed up a little while longer and chatted getting to know each
other. When Naiyla went to bed I called Mel, and Max to check in. I couldn’t
fall asleep because I had a million thoughts in my mind, all on Landon.