Claire (Hart University Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

what happened with you guys tonight?”

Chapter Four
    I woke up slowly and in stages.
    The first thing I was aware of was my head. It was a little foggy but not too bad—not my worst hangover by any stretch.
    The next thing I was aware of was my body.
    But it wasn’t just my body. It was my body and Will’s.
    I was lying on my left side. The big, solid bulk of him was behind me, his arm draped over my waist.
    I did a quick check of my memory. No, Will and I hadn’t had sex. We hadn’t fooled around.
    We hadn’t even kissed.
    He’d been the perfect gentleman and friend. He’d let me ramble on about my stupid failed relationship without once telling me to just shut the hell up, which alone should qualify him for a medal.
    So how had we ended up like this? The plan had been for me to crash in his room while he stayed somewhere else.
    As the night had gone on I’d gotten sleepier and fuzzier and my rambling more disjointed until finally Will said, “You’re wiped out. I’m going to go and let you get some sleep, okay?”
    That had been enough to wake me up. If Will left, I knew exactly what I’d do.
    I’d call Ted.
    “Don’t go.”
    I was ashamed of the words the moment they came out of my mouth. They were pathetic. They were needy. They were—
    “I have to go.”
    I stared at him. His voice was different, suddenly. Rougher.
    “I’m sorry,” I said, feeling even worse. “I’ve kept you away from your own party. You’re right. You should go. I’ll be fine.”
    He’d been sitting on his desk chair this whole time, listening to me talk. Now he got to his feet and started to pace, his hands stuck in his pockets.
    “I’m not worried about the party. I don’t give a shit about the party. I just…”
    I watched him prowl around his own room like an animal in a cage. I was still a little buzzed, not to mention exhausted and sort of hollowed out, but I tried to figure out what Will was thinking.
    Suddenly I remembered something I’d forgotten about.
    “Oh my God.”
    Will stopped pacing and stared at me. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
    “Your girlfriend. You guys broke up, too. Oh my God, I’m so selfish. All my babbling is reminding you of that, isn’t it? I’m making you think about it. I’m so sorry. Do you want to talk about it, or do you just want to get back to the party?” I answered my own question. “Of course you want to get back to the party. I’m sorry. You should go.”
    Will stared at me for another moment. Then his shoulders sort of sagged and he combed a hand through his hair. “Okay.”
    He sounded almost hopeless, and I felt terrible. “Unless you want to talk. You listened to me talk forever. Please, Will, stay and talk to me. I’ve been a shitty friend. I didn’t even ask you about her. But I’m asking you now. Talk to me.” I realized something. “God, I don’t even remember her name. I’m the worst friend in the world. What’s her name?”
    He looked even more hopeless. “Lissa.”
    I started to ask something else. But the alcohol I’d drunk and my emotions about Ted and the post-gig exhaustion sort of tangled up inside me, and before I could stop myself, I was crying.
    Then Will was there with his arm around my shoulders. He held me as I cried, murmuring something soothing and comforting, while I said Don’t go over and over.
    And that, somehow, had led to us spending the night together. Well, not together , but side by side.
    Last night it had felt innocent. We were just two friends comforting each other after our breakups.
    But this morning, it felt completely different.
    A rush of something went through me. No, not a rush. A rush is fast, and this was slow and sweet, like honey.
    Even though my head was foggy, my body felt wonderful. Warm and safe and…
    Alive.
    I wanted to stay like this forever. Will’s presence seemed to drive away all the miserable emotions of yesterday—the fear and anger and sadness and guilt, and the horrible overwhelming sense of