Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

ELIJAH

When there's a knock at the door, I toss my hoodie into the duffel along with everything else I'm taking to Julien's. Ash has a habit of forgetting his keys. Mei has a backup in case I'm out and the RA isn't available to let him in.

"Second time this month," I say, opening the door… only to find David standing on the other side.

"What the fuck, Elijah?"

I step out of the way when he barges inside.

I'm not proud of the way I've been actively avoiding him the last couple of days, but in my defense, I've been busy. April is arriving tomorrow. I've got work and class and have been helping take care of Liz.

After she was discharged from the hospital, she has been staying at the guys' place at Daniel's insistence since he had to fly back to Seattle to take care of his husband, Drew, who is undergoing chemo and radiation for a brain tumor. Liz is doing much better. The neuro she saw yesterday diagnosed her with partial seizures and placed her on oxcarbazepine.

Between class and work and Liz, I'm exhausted and don't have enough energy to deal with the whole David situation. Julien doesn't know what went down. I've tried to bring it up several times, but we've had zero privacy the last couple days.

"Can we talk later? I need to get to Julien's."

David walks over to my bed, his gaze landing on my open duffel before turning around.

"Why was there some chick I don't know doing my session today?"

I asked Director Winters if I could reduce my hours for a few weeks. Partly because of everything going on, partly because I needed a break, and partly because of the whole avoiding David thing.

"Patti is a great?—"

"I don't give a shit about Patti. I don't appreciate you dropping me without talking to me first."

David steps closer, angrier than I've ever seen him. I take an automatic step back. The subconscious reflex pisses me off. I never cowered in front of Marshall, no matter how many times I found myself under his fist. I kicked the crap out of my attacker. So, it confounds the fuck out of me why my fight or flight reaction is now stuck in flight mode.

"I didn't drop you. Patti is helping me out for a few?—"

"You expect me to believe that? I know why you're?—"

Fed up with him cutting me off, I shout, "You don't know a fucking thing, David, because you won't shut the hell up for two seconds and let me talk!"

David's voice rises in frustration. "Let you talk? Are you being serious right now? I text you, you don't reply. I call you, you don't answer. I come by, you're not here. And it's not like I can drop by Julien's place to see you."

"I asked Patti to cover for me because I'm dealing with some personal things. Things that have nothing to do with you."

David scoffs, a bitter edge to his tone. "I think we both know that's a lie."

I shake my head, feeling a surge of irritation at his refusal to listen. Circumventing him, I zip up my bag and lift it by the handle.

"I can't do this right now. If you don't want Patti to do your sessions, fine. We can pick things back up in a couple of weeks."

"You should have called me. A heads up would've been nice."

Going for honesty, I reply, "What you said made me very uncomfortable, and I don't know how to talk to you right now."

When I try to get to the closet because I forgot to pack my running shoes, David sidesteps in front of me, blocking my way.

"I'm sorry I said those things about Julien, but I'm not going to hide my feelings anymore. I never expected to meet anyone like you. You're so amazing and incredibly gorgeous, and I love spending time with you. You make me feel alive. It's the first time I've felt anything since Daimon."

"What about how I feel, or does that not matter?"

It startles me when he abruptly takes my face in his hands and intimately sweeps his thumbs over my cheeks. "Of course it matters."

I promptly retreat a few feet to put space between us. "Please don't touch me like that. You don't get to touch me like that," I calmly tell him.

"Elijah, please."

David reaches for me but is stopped when Ash suddenly appears and inserts himself between us.

"I think it's time for you to go."

Ash is half David's size, but he stands toe to toe with him.

David unwillingly pulls himself away and almost runs down Mei on his way out.

I drop my bag to the floor and spear my hands through my hair as I gather my thoughts. God dammit.

"I'll head back to my dorm," Mei says.

"Stay. I was just heading out," I reply.

Ash plants a hand to my chest to prevent me from leaving. "You're not going anywhere. Park it and don't move." He goes over to Mei and kisses her. "I'll call you later."

Her onyx eyes sparkle. "You better. Bye, Elijah."

"Bye, Mei."

As soon as she leaves, Ash pounces. "What the heck was that? Fallon isn't going to like that David was bothering you again."

With pleading hands clasped together, I implore him, "Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not tell Fallon."

Ash takes two cold bottles of water from the mini fridge and tosses me one. "Have you told Julien what's going on with him?" He gestures at the door with his water before taking a drink.

"Not yet."

"You need to tell him."

I roll the cold bottle along my neck. "Julien is worried about me. He's worried about Liz. He has a big game on Sunday. April is driving up tomorrow. Adding David to the pile of things to deal with will have to wait."

Lining up the empty water bottle, Ash shoots a perfect free-throw into the wastebasket. "I like David, but what he's doing is not cool. It's also pushing the needle toward slightly creepy."

"I honestly don't know what to do, Ash. He won't listen."

"I almost shit my pants getting in the middle of you two. The guy could crush me with his pinkie finger."

"You were badass."

Ash puffs out his chest. "I was, wasn't I?" He sits down at his desk and spins around in the chair a few times. "Have you told David to back off?"

"Pretty much. Several times."

The chair creaks when he lounges back and kicks his feet up on the side of his bed. "Don't play the martyr. Talk to Julien. Keep Fallon in the loop. And no matter what, you always have me to back you up."