My hand shakes as I force myself to take a sip of water. My mind is racing. Outside of Connie, did I tell anyone else?
He grins. “The university is like a small town. Everyone gossips.”
Sean met me on campus once. That created gossip?
“Lucy,” he laughs, but I don’t find any of this funny. “How can you not see what is in front of your eyes?” He takes my hand and rubs the back of it with his thumb.
I feel like I’m going to be sick. This isn’t right. This isn’t friendly.
“Ted, I thought you were gay. I’m really confused right now.”
I didn’t want to believe Connie. Or Cody, when it came to Ted. My denial put me into this mess of a situation.
His brow furrows. “Why would you think that?”
Why would I think that? Because he never hit on me? I close my eyes. How arrogant doesthatsound? No, Ted has never talked about another woman—nor has he spoken of a man.
Ted takes my other hand, startling me. “Do you remember what happened when I first met you?”
I nod. I do. We laugh about it often.
“Well, after I watched Craig hit on you and you essentially told him to go to hell, I figured the only way to get close to you was through friendship.”
He says this as if it isn’t creepy.
I frown. “You didn’t want to be my friend?”
I think back on all the conversations we’ve had, the class, and lab we collaborate on. He was faking it that whole time?
“I’m sorry. I never meant to mislead you, but everything is out in the open now, so we can be together.”
“Together?” Please tell me I’m misunderstanding.
He intertwines our fingers. “As a couple, of course. We get along great, and you can’t deny the chemistry.” He releases one of my hands to skim my jawline with his knuckles.
He’s seriously lost his mind. Clearly, I don’t know this man at all. I have to get out of here.
“Excuse me. I need to use the bathroom.” I stand and grab my purse.
A vein on Ted’s forehead bulges, and I can sense something akin to anger brewing in him at my rejection.
I make my way to the back hallway where the bathrooms are. Fortunately, there is also a door open to the outside. I pick up my pace and run into a man coming back in.
“Miss, you can’t go this way. You need to go through the front door.”
“Please,” I whisper, “the man I’m with is dangerous. I need to go.”
He nods and allows me to pass.
The door shuts behind me, and I find myself in an alley lined with dumpsters. I run, thankful I wore flat boots and not heels.
Making it to the sidewalk, I run until I’m at the entrance to a local bar. Glancing back, I make sure no one is following me before going inside and heading straight for the bathroom.
The crowd breaks out in a cheer as I pass through, and I glance up at the big-screen television. The Havenwood hockey team is playing.
After I duck into the bathroom, I take a moment to calm down and go through my options. Pulling out my phone, I call Connie. The moment she answers, I tell her about my disaster of an evening.
“What a creep,” she says. “Where are you? I’ll come get you.”
