Raw Deal (Beauty for Ashes: Book One) (50 page)

“Lexi,” Dan said softly. He waited for me to look at him before he continued. “I can’t even explain how I feel about you. Some guys are good at all that, but I’m not, and it makes me angry because it’s the reason you dumped me for Carl.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything.

“I guess I should let you go.”

“Thanks for the ride, Dan.” I felt like my heart was breaking as I walked toward my apartment complex. Why had Dan kept his real feelings buried when we were dating? Why had he left all this unsaid?

I patted my damp hair and looked at my reflection when I got into the elevator. I had to push Dan aside for now, what was I going to say to Carl?

The elevator doors opened, and I made my way down the corridor to my apartment. I was filled with dread as I looked through my purse for my keys. Carl opened the door as I was still feeling around my purse. He looked at me wordlessly.

I walked past him and went to the bathroom and locked the door. I was scared. I wondered what to do. I decided that if I came out, and he even looked like he was going to hit me I would call my mom. I found my mom’s number and unlocked the bathroom door and walked out, ready to press the call button if Carl did anything. He was sitting in the den watching soccer. I walked past and went to our room.

“Where’ve you been?” Carl called after me.

“At my mom’s.”

Carl got up and followed me. “I don’t believe you, but I guess you’re innocent until proven guilty. But when I find out, it’s not going to be funny.”

“Try to trust me, Carl,” I said, sitting down on the bed and removing my shoes.

“As I’ve already told you many times, I will never trust you.”

“Then leave, get a divorce. Why stay married if there’s no love or trust?”

Carl ignored that. “We’re having lunch with my parents tomorrow at one o’ clock.”

“Isn’t this really short notice?”

“They told me last week.”

“So, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you don’t do anything on Sundays anyway. You don’t need notice.” Carl’s expression darkened. “How did you get home?”

“My mom dropped me off.”

“Has she got a new car?”

“Yes,” I replied nervously. He must have been watching. I knew it!

“I hope that’s true, because I took the number plate and I’m going to run it.”

I stared at Carl, anger replacing my fear. “You’re psychotic.” I looked away in disgust. I should have stayed with Dan and never come back.

“What an ugly word,” Carl said smugly. “But I think I have a right to know if my wife is cheating.”

“Okay, while we’re talking about cheating, I’d like to ask you who Kayla is. She sent you a message saying she hopes you’ll come round again. And by the way Sam Foster filled me in on all the girls you parade around, he didn’t even know you were married.”

Carl acted like he didn’t hear a word I said. He removed a piece of paper from his pocket. “Is there anything you want to tell me before I run this number? I’d much rather you just tell me the truth and save me the bother.”

“Why would I want to save you the bother?”

Carl put the paper back into his pocket. “It better not be Dan Black’s,” he muttered as he left the room.

Fear gripped my heart with icy cold fingers. What was I going to do? I jumped when Carl came back into the room.

“Relax. I’m not going to check until Monday. I have more important things to do right now. I’m going out. Don’t expect me back till tomorrow.” He went to the dresser and looked through all my bottles of perfume until he found his cologne. He sprayed himself liberally, grabbed his jacket, and left. My sigh of relief when I heard the front door slam was audible.

I sent Dan a message and told him about what Carl had said about running his plate number.

He replied saying that I shouldn’t worry about Carl’s threat, because it was in his dad’s name. Carl wouldn’t be able to get any information about it for security purposes.

***

I sat at the table with Carl and his family, quietly enduring the torture of having to smile and appear as though all was well. I gave Carl a saccharine sweet smile when he called me sweetheart and asked me to pass the salad bowl.

His mom looked delighted. “I thought it might be a mistake, you guys getting married so young. But I can see that you really love each other, it’s not just puppy love.”

Carl gave me a dazzling smile, and I gritted my teeth. “I really love Lexi, Mom. She’s great.”

It was a great effort for me not to roll my eyes. My phone started to ring, and I excused myself from the table. I knew it was pretty rude, but I had to get away. Besides, I didn’t recognize the number. It might be Sheena. “Hello?”

“Lexi, how you doin’?” It was Dan.

I went outside to the patio. “Dan, I can’t talk now, I’m having lunch with Carl and his parents.”

“Oh, well, I’ll call you later.”

“Don’t, please. Carl will freak out. I’ll call you when I get a chance.”

“Okay.”

I hung up and stored Dan’s number as Jan. Just so that next time I’d know it was him and not pick up.

“Who was that?” Carl asked when I got back to the table.

“Just my mom.”

“Oh, can I have her number,” Carl’s mom asked. “I’d like to invite her over if she wouldn’t mind. It’s shameful that you two are married and she and I still don’t really know each other.”

“Sure, I’ll give it to you later,” I agreed. I smiled at Carl’s dad from whom Carl got his eyes and height. I wondered if Carl got his violent temper from him too.

Chapter 57

On Monday morning, I went to college early and sat at the front of the lecture hall. I had to catch Sam Foster on his way in so that I could get Shawna’s number. I still felt that unexplainable urge to speak to her.

I hoped Sam would be on time so that I could get the number and then move to the back of the hall before Professor Jackson came in.

Unfortunately for me, Professor Jackson arrived first. He sauntered into the room in a black classic Armani suit, and a hush fell over the class. He set his briefcase on the table and looked at his watch. “I wonder why only half of you are here. Where’s everyone else?” He looked around. “Well, I did announce on Friday that my revision classes will start at exactly nine o clock, and that any late comers will be denied entrance. So let’s begin.”

He paused when he saw me. I dropped my gaze immediately before he saw me looking and thought I was still interested in him, when really I was only checking out his clothes.

Just then, Sam Foster burst into the class. Professor Jackson looked at him and then at his watch. “It’s nine on the dot. You can come in.”

“Thanks, Mark,” Sam said. I waved to him, and he came to sit next to me.

Professor Jackson pointed at a big burly bald-headed guy. “You stand at the door for me and turn away everyone who tries to get in. Don’t worry about taking any notes, I’ll give you a set when we finish.”

The guy nodded and went to stand by the door to act as bouncer.

“I need to see you when we finish,” I whispered to Sam.

“Okay.”

Professor Jackson looked over at us. “May I have your attention please?”

I took out my pen, and stole a piece of paper from Sam. I’d forgotten to bring mine. I tried to focus and take notes during the class, but my mind kept drifting off to other things. At one point, Sam nudged me, and I snapped back to attention.

“Are you okay?”

I smiled at him. “Sure, I’ve just got stuff on my mind.”

Professor Jackson looked at us. “Lexi, you can talk to your boyfriend afterwards. For now, pay attention.”

“I’m not her boyfriend,” Sam corrected, and there was a hum of suppressed laughter all over the room.

Professor Jackson continued. At the end of the class, I was waiting for Sam while he packed his things when Professor Jackson approached us. “I’d like to see you later in my office.”

“Who, me?” Sam asked.

“No, just Lexi.”

I frowned. What did Professor Mark Jackson think he was playing at?

“Hurry up,” I urged Sam when Professor Jackson returned to his desk to attend to some students who were waiting to see him. “I have to get out of here.”

“What’s up?”

“Quit asking me that.”

“Well, you seem like you’re on edge. Shoot me for being concerned.” He swung his book bag over his shoulder. “Okay, let’s go.”

“Concerned? You don’t even know me.” I deliberately didn’t look at Professor Jackson as we walked past him on our way out of the lecture hall.

“Do I have to know you to care about you?” Sam asked holding the door for me.

“I don’t see how you can care about someone you don’t know. I sure don’t really care about anyone but myself and my mom.”

“What about the starving kids you see on TV? Don’t you care about them?”

“That’s different.”

“Not really. I see you as a starving child that needs help.”

I snorted. “Well, I’m not a child, and I’m not starving.”

“Not physically, but your soul is starving.”

“Whatever.” I followed Sam down the corridor to the private study room. “What are we coming here for?” I asked.

“I’m meeting Shawna here. Anyway you said you wanted to see me?”

“Yeah, I wanted to get Shawna’s number, but since she’s coming I guess I should wait and get it from her directly.”

We sat down at a table, and I looked around at the other people that were in the study area. “So is this where the geeks gather?”

“I guess, but not during lunchtime because the non-geeks flock in and make it like another cafeteria.” Sam started unpacking his books. “So where’ve you been? I haven’t seen you since you came to my apartment.”

“I’ve been studying at home.”

“Why?”

“Because I haven’t felt like going to classes.”

“Why?”

“I’ve got stuff going on that I can’t tell you,” I said with a deliberately fake smile. We both looked toward the door as it opened and Shawna entered the study area. Sam waved her over.

“Lexi!” She trilled taking the seat next to me. “How’s you?”

“I’m good.”

“She wants your number,” Sam said.

Shawna raised her eyebrows questioningly, and I felt silly. Why did I want her number? Why did I want to talk to her? What did I want to talk to her about?

“Sure.” Shawna dug into her purse and found her cell phone. “Give me your number too.”

We exchanged numbers then Shawna waved at someone across the room. It was Dan Black.

He came over. “Hey, ya’ll.”

“Do you guys know each other?” I asked.

“Yeah, Shawna is in some of my classes,” Dan said. “How bad was that revision class just then?” he asked Shawna. “I should have just stayed home and studied on my own. I would have got more done.”

“Yeah, she was pretty bad. She nearly confused me,” Shawna agreed. “So you know Lexi?”

“Yes, she’s gorgeous, isn’t she?” Dan said.

“Very,” Shawna agreed with a laugh. “How do you know each other?”

“We used to be roommates.”

“We lived on the same floor,” I clarified.

“I nearly split her and Carl up for good,” Dan said. “I should have tried harder. Maybe we’d still be together.”

“Did you used to date?” Shawna asked.

“Yeah, we had a hot relationship for a while.”

“Dan, please.”

Shawna looked from me to Dan and smiled but made no comment. She exchanged a look with Sam.

“Lexi, remember Professor Jackson wanted to see you,” Sam reminded me.

“I’m not going.”

“Why not? He might want to give you some handouts since you’ve missed so much.”

“You gave me all the handouts, and believe me, it’s nothing to do with class handouts.”

“Don’t tell me he’s been trying it with you too,” Shawna said, shaking her head. “He was on one of my girlfriend’s back the whole of last semester. That man needs to be reported.”

“Has he been harassing you?” Dan asked, a dangerous edge to his voice.

“No,” I denied.

“Tell me, Lexi.”

I frowned at him. “I can handle my business, Dan.” I pushed away from the table and stood up. “I’m outta here. Shawna, I’ll text you later.”

“Okay.”

I waggled my fingers at Sam and then left the private study. Carl was still in when I got home.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” he demanded, hurriedly buttoning up his shirt. “I can’t believe I slept this late!”

“I left early.”

“Oh, by the way, we’re invited to Matt and Michelle’s wedding in July.” Carl pointed to a peach envelope on the dresser. “It came this morning.”

I picked it up and read it. “It’s only addressed to you.”

“Well, they don’t know we’re married, do they?”