Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

Ruby

College Lesson #3: Stop reading into things when everything is okay.

" H ey, baby," Chase says, but the smile still isn't hitting his eyes. He's been off lately, almost distant. And it's making me sick to my stomach. I don't understand what's going on with him. When I ask if everything's okay, he always says yes, but I can tell something's wrong.

"How was your day?" I ask, taking a seat on my bed.

"It was fine." He shrugs. "Nothing to report."

And that's another thing. He used to tell me every detail of his day, making me feel like I didn't miss a moment of his life. He'd tell me funny stories about the guys in his frat house, filling me in on Hunter and all his jerky rules and the stupid things he says, but now, he barely talks. The conversation has become very one-sided.

"How was your day?"

See? This is exactly what I'm talking about.

"It was fine. Nothing to report." I don't even feel like talking right now. His mood shift has me worried.

"Really? That's all you're going to give me? No updates on Charity or your tutoring?"

"You're not talking, so why should I?"

He breathes out a low sigh. "I'm sorry, babe. I don't know what's wrong with me. It's just getting really hard not being with you."

Please tell me he's not about to break up with me. I can handle just about anything else. But not that.

"I'm struggling, Ruby. All the guys are planning the big Halloween party, and I can't even get excited about it. I don't even want to go because I can't take you. I miss you so much, baby."

"So then why don't you ask me to be your date?" I was saving up my tutoring money to surprise him for his birthday, but I could come a week early and be his date for the party.

"Are you telling me you'd come? With everything you have going on at school, you'd really be good with coming for a visit?"

His eyes are lighting up; it's the first spark I've seen in him in a week.

"Yes. I was going to come and surprise you for your birthday, but maybe we can celebrate early?"

"But if I buy your plane ticket, would you come in for both? My birthday and the party?"

Finally, the smile is back on his face. I think the distance was just getting to him. I know it's been getting to me too. I've been trying to tutor like crazy to distract me from my sadness.

"Yes, I'll come in for both. But I'm paying for my ticket for your birthday."

I know he loves to buy everything, but I wanted to do this as part of my gift to him, and I don't want him buying his own birthday present.

"Okay, fine," he agrees. "But I'm only letting you pay because I really want to see you as much as I can."

And once again it feels like I was worrying for no reason. He doesn't want to break up with me, he just misses me.

"So, what's the theme of the Halloween party?" I ask.

"Superheroes. Do you know who I think you should dress up as?" He gives me a cheeky smile and I'm waiting to hear what fantasy girl he wants me to bring to life. "I think you should go as Wonder Woman."

I'm not sure how I feel about wearing an outfit that short or tight, but if it means seeing Chase excited, I'll wear anything.

"I honestly can't wait," I tell him, finally feeling happy for the first time in a week.

"Me neither, baby. God, the things I want to do to you."

I snuggle into my sheets. "Mmm… Tell me more."

"Hold up a sec. I need to go put a sock on the door."

It's so embarrassing, knowing that if Matt comes back to the room, he's going to know we're having phone sex. When I meet him at the party, I'm not even going to be able to look him in the eye. At least my roommate is out for the night.

"Okay, baby. Where were we?" He comes back on the screen, getting himself tucked into his bed. I wiggle off my leggings and slide my hand between my legs, twirling my fingers in my curls just like Chase does.

"You were about to tell me what you're going to do to me first when you see me."

His lips form a wicked smirk and tingles prickle all over my skin. "I think you know what I'm going to want first, babe."

A blush creeps up my cheeks. I know exactly what he wants. "You want these, don't you?" I pull up my shirt and reveal my chest to him. His eyes immediately grow hot. His tongue licking over his lower lip. I can see his arm moving on the screen, setting off a flood of need between my legs.

"Fuck, baby. I miss them. I want to suck on your fat nipples while you ride my fingers." God, I love when he lifts my shirt and just latches on. He'll tuck his head under my sweatshirt, like a nursing baby then slide his fingers between my legs and take me right over the edge.

I run my fingers over my breasts, sliding down the line of my cleavage, circling around my nipple. Arching up into the camera as the feeling takes hold.

"Pinch them, baby. Pinch them nice and tight." My fingers squeeze, tweaking the pleasure until I'm moaning. "That's it. Fuck, my dick is so hard."

"I want to see." I open my eyes.

Right as he turns the camera toward his perfect cock, there's a banging coming through his phone.

"Warren, quit fucking whatever chick you've got in there and get your ass downstairs. Freshmen are on cleaning duty."

"Shit!" Chase grunts, squeezing his cock hard before the camera flips to his face. "I'm sorry, babe. I completely forgot that we're on chore duty. I don't want to leave you hanging, but Hunter will make me scrub the toilets by myself next time if I don't get downstairs."

"That's okay. You can call me later. These will be waiting for you." I give myself another pinch.

"Fuck. They're so perfect." He bites down on his fist. "I'll be calling as soon as I'm done. Love you, babe."

"Love you, too."