First Instinct

Chapter 2-2

The band took up another fast-paced swing-inspired song, and he started her out with simpler steps, reminding her to relax and trust him. They were soon twisting away, though without the same effortlessness with which he and Beth danced. Still, she was a fast learner, and by the end of the song, she was laughing breathlessly.

They danced for almost an hour, and the band was happy to play their own music for them. Twice Michelle asked for a break, and while she sat at the bar to catch her breath and chat with her friends, Nick danced with Beth. Finally—and a little unwillingly—he admitted that he needed to call it a night. As the song ended, Nick folded Michelle into his arms and hugged her, beaming. Despite his misgivings about going out with Beth and Trey tonight, he’d thoroughly enjoyed himself.

“We really need to come down here more often when these guys are playing,” Michelle said, grinning. “That is so much fun.”

“Isn’t it? Swing is my favorite style of dance.”

“Obviously. Hey, I know you have homework you need to get to work on, so do you mind if I hang out here with my friends a while longer?”

“Why would I mind? But please don’t walk back to campus alone. Either walk with your friends or call me, and I’ll come get you. I know Devyn is a quiet town, but it is Wednesday.”

“I’ve never understood why Wednesday is drinking night.”

“I don’t know how that came to be, either, but be careful, all right?”

“I promise I won’t walk home alone. Jen drove, and she’s not drinking, so I’ll catch a ride with her.”

“Sounds good. Have fun, call me when you get back to your room, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Or maybe later tonight. I have a rain check.”

Frowning, he asked what she meant. When she grabbed the front of his shirt and kissed him with a tantalizing urgency, brushing her free hand back through his hair before curling her fingers around his neck, he remembered. “Ah, right. That rain check. Don’t worry about it. Have a good time with your friends, and we’ll make it up some other time.”

“You’re incredible, you know that? I don’t know too many guys who would let their girlfriends enjoy a night out with their friends when an offer of s*x is on the table.”

“What can I say? I’m not that selfish.”

“If I didn’t know how you felt about me, I might think you weren’t that serious.”

“I’m glad you know it’s not a lack of interest… because it isn’t.”

“I do know,” she whispered and kissed him again.

Nick took her hand again and walked back into the bar with her. He was glad to see that his brothers had left and hoped they’d gone back to the dorms. With a nod to Michelle’s friends to bid them goodnight, he stepped over to the pool table where Trey was playing yet another game against Beth’s ex. Beth sat in the chair beside the nearest keno machine, ignored by her boyfriend and clearly unhappy about it.

“Come on, Trey,” she said. “We need to get started on that radio ad for Keller’s class.”

“It can wait,” Trey replied.

“I’m going to call it a night,” Nick interrupted. “Thanks for badgering me into this, Beth.”

“Yeah, sure. I need to call it a night, too,” she said, directing her latter statement to Trey.

“So walk home with Nick,” her boyfriend replied. Annoyance tinged his voice as he lined up his shot. “I’m going to finish my game.”

“Come on, Beth,” Nick said. “I’d rather you didn’t walk home alone, either.”

“Thanks, Nick. I’m glad someone is looking out for me.”

If Trey heard the remark, he showed no sign. Beth hesitated a moment longer before heading toward the door with irritation stiffening her strides.

A few stars twinkled in the deepening twilight, and the street lamps bathed the street and sidewalks with a dim orange glow. Nick hadn’t realized they’d been in the bar so long. Crap. It was going to be a late night. Once they were around the corner of the bar and heading east toward campus, he asked Beth if she was okay.

“He completely ignored me,” she replied. “This was supposed to be a relaxing night out, and then we were supposed to go home and get started on our project. But, no, he’s too busy playing pool and talking to my ex like they’re the best of friends. What is that all about? They never used to be so chummy.”

“I don’t know that I’d call it chummy so much as competitive.”

“What do you mean?”

“They both looked pretty intent on that game, like they were trying to kill each other in pool. Maybe Trey’s trying to prove his dominance, since you dated Darryl first.”

“I’d ask if all men are such territorial idiots, but you aren’t.”

“Thanks. I think.”

She glanced at him and said flatly, “That was a compliment, Nick.”

He chuckled. “I know it was.” More seriously, he asked, “What is Trey’s deal these days? And what was with the ‘walk home with Nick’ command? When did he start talking to you like that?”

Beth shrugged, then folded her arms defensively across her chest.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” she answered.

“You aren’t acting like it.”

The frown that pinched her brows was a pretty clear indication that all was not perfect between her and Trey anymore.

“He knows my boundaries,” she said slowly, “but he’s been trying to push them more and more lately. And part of me feels guilty about it. We’ve been going out almost a year now. I imagine that’s a long time to go without.”

Nick’s hands curled into fists. This… this was at the heart of his problem with Trey. “It doesn’t matter how long. If Michelle had wanted to wait, I would’ve absolutely respected that.”

“I thought you said you weren’t her first.”

“I wasn’t, but that isn’t the point. The point is that I respect her and I respect her choices. Trey should respect yours just the same.”

The way she sighed and refused to meet his gaze concerned him.

“I’m serious, Beth. Don’t you dare let Trey convince you he needs it. The only one who gets to decide what happens with your body is you.”

“I know that.”

“Do you? Because what I’m hearing right now is Trey trying to manipulate you… and succeeding. You want to know why I don’t like him anymore? That’s why.”

“You think I should break up with him?”

“If he won’t respect your decisions, yes.” He smiled, but there was no humor in it. “Preferably before he does something that compels me to kick his ass.”

At that, she finally looked at him with a brow lifted. “You’ve never been in a fight in your life—no, roughhousing with your brothers does not count. Besides, Trey’s bigger than you.”

“Wider, maybe heavier, but that doesn’t mean he’s stronger. Or faster. You forget we both wrestled in high school and play on opposite sides of the football.”

“You seem to have done a lot of thinking about this.”

“More than I like,” he admitted. “But I don’t like what I’ve been seeing.” He stopped and looked at her as a thought entered his mind. “Should I be complimented that you’re more concerned about me than him or insulted that you don’t have any faith in me?”

“I….” She took half a step back and stared at him with eyes wide.

He had a feeling that if he were ever cruel enough to ask her to choose between him and Trey, her boyfriend would lose.

“I have every faith in you,” she whispered. She fell silent, and neither of them spoke again for almost a block. Finally, she said, “I’m glad we decided to walk. I know it’s only eight blocks, but we usually drive, and it’s too nice a night to be sitting in a car.”

Nick glanced skyward. More stars had appeared while they’d been walking, and the indigo bowl above them glittered. He let out a breath, and because the abrupt subject change was a clear message that Beth didn’t want to talk about Trey anymore, he forced his agitation into submission. It wasn’t hard to do; it was a stunning night, after all, and most of it had been fun.

“So, what’s it like dating a girl almost as tall as you this time around instead of some shorty like me like you usually date?” Beth asked after a moment. “And how tall is she, anyhow?”

“Five ten, and I can’t say that it’s any different.” Laughing, he rested his arm on top of Beth’s head. “Well, maybe there are a few differences.”

“Ugh. Maybe I should hate her, but I can’t. She’s too nice to hate.” Beth laughed and shoved his arm away. “Smart aleck.”

“Five-four isn’t that short.”

“Says the man who just used my head as an arm rest.”

“You know you love me.”

“Always.” She shook her head, smiling. “Vince passed me when he was in middle school, and he sees fit to remind me on a regular basis. I can’t believe he’s already a sophomore in high school.”

“In high school? My brothers are sophomores in college.” Nick sighed. “I know I’m only two years older, but why do I feel like an old fart compared to them?”

“Because you’re the big brother, and as such, it’s your job to look out for them and keep them out of trouble.” She wrapped her hands around his upper arm and rested her head against his shoulder for a moment. “Just like you’ve always looked out for me. Face it, Nick, you’re doomed to be the protector.”

“Is that your way of telling me to stop whining about it and accept it?”

“Yes, it is.”

They walked the last three blocks to campus in companionable silence. When they reached the northwest door of Mathews Hall, Nick unlocked it, reminded yet again how late it was getting and that he still had a lot of work to do before he could sleep. He glanced at the clock above the door. It was already a few minutes after ten, but he walked Beth down the stairs into the basement and all the way to her door.

“How late are you going to be up tonight?” he asked.

“A while. I have that paper for Rodnick’s class to finish and the radio ad for Keller’s class that Trey and I need to work on.”

“Would you be up for going over each other’s papers?”

“That’d be great. When do you want to come down?”

“It’ll probably be almost midnight, if that’s okay.”

“I’ll see you then.”

He pulled her door closed and waited until he heard the snick of her lock. Content that she was safe, he headed up the southern staircase to his room on the next floor. He unlocked the door and stepped inside, leaving the door open in case anyone stopped by, turned his radio on with the volume low, and pulled his assignment notes and textbooks out before sitting down at his desk with a sigh. “Midnight, here I come.”

Michelle called him shortly before eleven to let him know she was home safe in her room, and not long after that, he finished typing his paper. He hit print and waited, cringing when grinding and crunching issued from the machine. “What the…?”

Pulling the beast apart, he discovered the problem—a paper jam to end all paper jams. Bit by bit, he yanked the shreds of paper out and tried again. Another paper jam. Swearing, he cleared it and was about to hit print again when some primal warning made him pause. He straightened and listened, his senses heightened by the first trickle of adrenaline.

Over the country song on the college radio station, he heard an indistinguishable sound that made the hair on his neck stand on end. He turned his music off and padded to his door. Unsure of the source or even what he’d heard, he peered down the empty hallway. Everything appeared to be quiet, but instinct urged him forward, so he closed his door and paused again. He heard it again, louder and clearer this time—a woman screaming. Without thinking, he sprinted toward the sound of her voice with his heart pounding and adrenaline now flooding his veins.