Out of the Shadow (17 page)

Her head was spinning furiously and she desperately wanted to go home. She wanted to fall into her own bed and sleep – not her dorm bed where any of Cole’s rabid fans could come pounding on the door.

She swayed, stumbled, and then righted herself as she held onto various pieces of furniture as she made her way to the front door. She’d spotted Jamie heading that way with a pretty blonde only moments ago and she didn’t want him to leave without her.

She fell out the front door and hurriedly got back to her wobbly feet. Jamie, who’d been embracing the blonde, heard her and rushed to her side.

“
Are you okay, cuz?” he asked.

She nodded, stupidly, and set her head off again. “I’m fine. What are you doing?”

“
I’m going to take Kim home,” he said, hugging the blonde to his side. He kissed her cheek and smiled. Kim wrapped her arms around Jamie’s neck and fixed him with a look so filled with affection that Ally had to avert her eyes. “Are you ready?”

“
I called Shannon,” Ally said, her words slurring. She didn’t think she could stand being in a car with the two of them. She couldn’t bear all the touchy-feely that was sure to go on between them. “She’s coming to get me.”

“
I’ll wait with you,” Jamie offered.

“
No, go,” Ally said, staggering to the steps. She plopped down on the top one. “She’ll be here in a second. Go on and call me tomorrow.”

“
Okay, if you’re sure,” Jamie said, reluctantly. Ally nodded. He glanced at Kim and the reluctance left his eyes. “See ya, cuz.”

“
Bye,” Ally said, her eyes tearing up as her cousin left. She sniffed and dug out her phone to scroll through her phone book. She frowned as she remembered she didn’t have Shannon in her contact list – they hadn’t ever exchanged cell phone numbers.

“
Stupid me,” Ally said as she dialed their dorm room. She waited and waited but no one answered. She groaned and smacked her forehead. “I can walk.”

She stood up, wobbled, righted herself, and then carefully walked down the steps. When she reached the sidewalk, her stomach clenched and turned so she ran for the dying hostas, hunching over them in time to spew the several drinks she’d had in the yellowing leaves.

She fell to her rear and cradled her spinning head in her hands as the tears spilled from her eyes. She wished she hadn’t sent Jamie away and wished he hadn’t met that girl. She wished he’d come back and tell her she’d be fine. She wished Cole was home and she could just call him and ask him to come get her.

“
Wishes don’t exist,” she said aloud and wiped her nose on her shirt sleeve. She opened her phone again and scrolled through her numbers, wondering who’d come get her and take her to her dorm. She’d rather go home but that would probably be out of the question.

Unless…

She stopped on a number and dialed, hoping he was at least home and not busy. Or sleeping. She wasn’t sure what time it was and she didn’t know what he usually did on Friday nights - maybe he had a date or something.

“
I was wondering if you’d ever call back tonight,” Robby said sleepily. “How are you doing?”

“
Robby,” she said, tears running faster down her cheeks. “I need a huge favor.”

“
Ally, are you all right?” he asked. “You sound like you’re crying.”

“
I’m at this frat house. I came here with Jamie but I told him he could leave and I’d call my roommate. But after he left, I realized that I didn’t have my roommate’s number and I didn’t want to call Jamie because he was with a girl. So, I decided I’d just walk but I got sick and threw up in the flowers,” she paused to take a breath as fresh tears spilled out of her eyes. “And I just want to go home.”

“
Shh, Ally,” he comforted. “Tell me the address and I’ll come get you, okay?”

“
Thanks,” she said as she read the numbers off the mailbox. He made her promise to sit on the porch, watch for him, and not leave with anyone else. Then he decided it would be best if she just remained on the phone with him until he got there. She agreed but had to put the phone down twice so she could vomit in the flower beds.

He pulled up in front of the house twenty minutes later and she ran to him, stumbling and falling into his arms. He held her as she sobbed into his chest. He edged back and pushed the hair off her face as her tears slowed.

“
It’s all going to be all right, Ally,” he said and kissed her forehead. “Get in the car and I’ll take you home.”

“
Thanks,” she said. He helped her with her seat belt and turned on the heat. She snuggled into the seat, her eyes drifting shut. “Thanks so much, Robby. I didn’t want to stay in that dorm room this weekend at all. I just want to get away and even though my parents aren’t home, I guess that lonely house is better than the campus with all the nosy girls.”

“
Your parents aren’t home?” he asked, throwing a frown her way.

“
No,” she said slowly, her stomach turning.

“
Ally, I’m not going to leave you home alone – not in this condition.”

“
I’ll be fine,” she said as her head drooped. “Promise.”

He chuckled but didn’t take her home or to the dorms. Instead he took her to the tiny apartment he’d temporarily rented until he could find something more to his taste.

He helped her up the stairs and held her as he unlocked the door. Once they got inside, he half carried her to the bathroom and just in time. She shoved him away before dropping by the toilet and emptying the last of the alcohol from her stomach.

He handed her a glass of water once she flushed and helped her to her feet. She rinsed her mouth but didn’t dare look in the mirror. She had no desire to see how terribly awful she looked.

He took her gently by the arm and guided her to the living room. “I’ll make you some hot tea. That should help.”

She fell to the sofa and eased her body horizontally. Once she closed her eyes, the room stopped spinning and her stomach quit turning. Robby returned a moment later and squatted by her head.

“
I called Cole and we got into a horrible fight,” she said, struggling with tears again. “It was awful.”

“
You were both pretty angry,” he said in a reassuring tone. “You’ll talk tomorrow and work things out. You know I’m right.”

“
Yeah,” she said as she tossed an arm over her eyes. She groaned as her stomach gurgled, but settled a few seconds later.

“
Ally, why don’t you take my bed,” he suggested. “It’s probably more comfortable. I’ll camp out on the sofa tonight.”

“
Don’t want to move,” she muttered. “Don’t want to get sick again.”

He chuckled and softly stroked her cheek. “You’re going to feel like hell in the morning, I guarantee it.”

She moved her arm, cracked open an eye, and attempted a grin. “My first hangover – aren’t you the lucky one?”

“
I’m honored,” he quipped, smiling enough to set his dimples off.

Her heart twirled and she wanted to make him keep smiling – it was just so charming. “Thanks for this, Robby. I mean it.”

“
Anytime, Ally,” he said, brushing her hair off her sticky face. He winked. “You can call me if you need anything.”

All the pain that had been beating up her heart faded with his kindness. She stared at him, so many words on the tip of her tongue but reluctant to leave it. He must have seen it in her eyes for he bent over, aiming a kiss on her cheek. But she moved at the last second and caught his lips with hers.

He froze for only a moment as her eyes fluttered shut and her hand lifted to the back of his neck. His fingers remained on her cheek and the slight contact was enough to scorch her skin. She deepened the kiss and he reciprocated, his hand coming to life and cupping her cheek. She sighed happily and raised her other hand so she could wind her fingers in his hair.

She shifted and pulled him closer. His free hand moved to her hair and his fingers tangled in her tresses as his lips continued to move over hers. Warmth spread throughout her body and she forgot about her drunkenness and the party and the vomiting and thought only about him.

Then he was whispering her name on her lips and she smiled, opening her eyes. He edged out of her arms and touched her cheek tenderly as his eyes filled with concern.

“
Ally, this cannot happen and you know it,” he said.

She squeezed her eyes shut as shame and guilt flooded every crevice, every organ, every cell of her body. The tears started again, this time falling for Cole and not the pain he’d inflicted on her but the pain she was certain she’d inflicted on him.

“
Don’t cry, Ally,” Robby said, holding her hand. “Stop. It’s okay. It was an accident – not something either of us meant to do. It was just something comforting between two friends, that’s all.” He kissed her forehead as if to prove his point. “You love Cole. I know that, you know that, and Cole knows that.”

She nodded her head, too ashamed to open her eyes and look at him. Too embarrassed, also. He continued to push her hair off her forehead and she wished he’d move away and not touch her. She felt dirty enough as it was and had no clue how she’d tell Cole. Her stomach turned again but there was nothing in it to vomit.

“
Do you still want that tea?” he asked.

“
No,” she whispered. “I just want to sleep.”

“
I’ll get you a pillow and blanket,” he said and dashed away presumably to fetch her some bedding. She kept her eyes closed as he returned and carefully lifted her head to stuff a pillow under it and shook a blanket out over her.

“
Um, if you need me, just holler,” he said, obviously anxious to get away from her. “I’ll leave the hall light on, okay?”

“
Yes,” she said in a small voice. “Thanks again.”

“
Sure,” he said. Once she heard the footsteps fade away, the tears started again.

Chapter Eleven

Ally woke early the next morning, her head about to explode, and gazed at the clock on top of the entertainment system but the numbers were blurry and it only expounded the pain to try and focus.

She stifled a groan as she tossed her feet over the side of the sofa. She rubbed her eyes and recalled the previous evening. Her heart fell to her feet as the tears made an encore appearance. She rested her elbows on her knees and carefully cradled her thumping head.

“
What did I do?” she whispered. “I’m a horrible, horrible person.”

The only response she received was the ticking of the clock and she was glad Robby was apparently still sleeping. She had several problems currently on her plate but the most pressing was her need to escape without aid. Unfortunately, she had no car and no way to get back to her dorm unless she called Jamie and she’d still have to wait for him to get there. By that time, Robby would most certainly be awake.

She got up and stumbled to the bathroom. She turned on the taps and splashed her face with cold water, drying it with a navy blue hand towel. She turned off the faucet and splayed her hands on the counter, ducking her head. She longed for a nice hot shower and a toothbrush but she’d only get it if she woke Robby and asked him to take her home.

The light above the mirror reflected off the jewels in the ring Cole had given her a short time ago and a sob rose in her throat. She fought it bravely as she continued to stare at the rubies and diamonds – the simple, yet beautiful, symbol of Cole’s love.

A light tapping on the door startled her and she jerked her head up, kick starting the throbbing again.