In Too Deep Read Online Free PDF Page B

to UT Knoxville in January. We only had to go one semester as a long-distance couple.
    “What’s wrong?” Noah zipped his bag and threw it on the floor.
    “I just—”
    He threw a couple blankets, a fan and some socks into a box on the floor.
    “Hand me the packing tape?” He looked up just as a tear rolled down my cheek. “Whoa, whoa. Gracie-girl, why the tears? You’re coming to visit in a month, right?”
    I nodded, embarrassed I was crying in front of him. I kept my head down and wrung my hands trying to focus on swallowing the lump in my throat so I could speak.
    “Listen. I’m not going to get to Knoxville and forget you. Is that what you’re worried about?”
    “I guess, a little.” I whispered just as a sob slipped out.
    “Gracie,” He tripped over the box in his urgency to get to me. “Gracie, look at me.” He held my head so all I could see was his face. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone. You’ve got nothing to worry about. I will be counting down the days until you get there. I love you.”
    I completely inhaled the next sob when he said those three words.
    “I do, Gracie. I love you hard. I am yours. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
    I thrust myself to my toes and threw my arms around his neck. “I love you, too, Noah.”
    I laid my head on his chest and he rocked me from side to side for I don’t know how long.

    I crumpled the note I found on my headboard into a tiny ball and threw it across the room. What was he thinking? As much as I’d love to see her, I couldn’t do lunch with his mom. I ran to the bathroom, dry heaved then ran upstairs to Jake and Sam’s apartment.

Five

    “Wait, what did you just say?” Jake rubbed the sleep from his eyes. I looked at his alarm clock. It was only 9:30.
    “I’m sorry. It’s early. I will just come back later.” I started to climb out of his bed when he sat straight up and grabbed my left arm.
    “What did you say?”
    I climbed back on, sat closer to him than before so I didn’t have to say it too loud. It felt less embarrassing if I whispered. “Noah…Ivy…he cheated?”
    “Wait, what do you mean cheated ? He slept with her?” He twisted toward me. The covers fell and I was momentarily distracted. He was shirtless, and even with more stubble that usual and serious bed head, the guy was gorgeous.
    “No, he let her blow him! In Sam’s bedroom. During the party! While I was right in the next room!” I fell into his bare chest and fell apart. I was so thankful Jessica had either left the night before or really early that morning. I was sure she would have had a fit seeing me covering her almost naked boyfriend in tears. I sobbed and sobbed, and Jake wrapped his bare arms around me. He held on and rubbed my back as he rocked me a little. He knew there was nothing he could say to make it right. I knew there was nothing he could say.
    Before too long, Sam came into Jake’s room and listened to me relive the last nine hours of my life in between sobbing, blowing my nose, and throwing myself down on Jake’s pillow.
    Jake and Sam had known Noah longer than I had, and they had seen his shenanigans with Ivy. Neither of them ever expected it to go beyond playful joking. Sam stood there stunned. “Oh, Gracie,” was all he could muster.
    “So, now I have…”—I looked at Jake’s clock—“an hour to get ready to go to lunch with him and his mom.” I sighed and wiped my nose with my t-shirt.
    “You’re not really going, are you?” Jake and I were lying on top of his covers, staring at the ceiling. Feeling awkward with nothing to add that Jake hadn’t already said, Sam left to go clean up the mess that was their living room but not without reaching for my hand and squeezing it. His sweet heart warmed mine.
    “How can I not? I adore her. She will know something’s up.”
    “So, what if she knows something’s up? He’s a stupid ass and you broke up with him. Let him do the explaining.” He turned his face toward