Dear Diary by Nancy Bush Read Free Book Online Page A

eyes. He wanted to draw her into his arms but sensed she wouldn’t let him. He felt the way she’d frozen in his arms earlier. As ever, she erected a shield that no one could pierce.
    “J.D.’s an ass,” he said.
    Rory didn’t answer.
    “A complete ass. And worse.” When she still didn’t respond, he added, “At least you nailed him. That’s worth something.”
    “He wouldn’t stop touching me.”
    “He deserved worse than the slap.”
    Rory finally focused on him. Her bottom lip was quivering and she bit down hard on it. Nick’s heart went out to her, but when he moved forward she shrank away.
    “I need to… get myself together,” she said unevenly. “I think I’ll go to your room. Oh, God.” Her voice broke. “Is it empty?”
    “No one goes in my room but me.” He stretched out a hand to help her to her feet. She ignored him and struggled upward by herself.
    “Are you coming with us, Rory?” Jenny asked brightly from behind him.
    Nick turned. Jenny had witnessed everything. Her dark eyes were alive with curiosity.
    “No… thanks,” Rory answered with a shake of her head. “I’m tired.” She made a beeline for the stairs.
    Jenny looked askance at Nick.
    “I’ll be with you in a minute,” he told her, following after Rory. “Just give me a minute.” Then he bounded up the stairs two at a time after Rory.

    Why did I come? Rory asked herself, slamming Nick’s bedroom door and leaning against it. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire! She needed help getting over Ryan, not a come-on from another loser guy on the make.
    Clenching her fists, she gritted back a scream of anguish. Damn! Damn, damn… .
    The door opened behind her and she stumbled forward.
    “Rory?” Nick asked in concern.
    “Go away,” she said on a half-laugh. “Go be with Jenny. I’m fine. Really. I’m just… tired. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t have come, but I’m okay. Let me go to sleep and I’ll be gone by seven o’clock tomorrow morning.”
    “I gotta apologize. J.D.’s such a–”
    “No, no. It’s okay. I’m over it.”
    “I tried to cancel this party. As soon as I knew you were coming.”
    “You don’t have to drop everything for me. I didn’t give you any notice.”
    “But I’d like to be with you,” he said honestly.
    Rory felt treacherous tears gathered behind her eyelids. Nick just seemed to get her and so few people did. “Thanks, but you should take Jenny somewhere. I really would like to be alone.” He’d brought up her sleeping bag and now she started to unroll it. “You can bring me something back. I don’t care what time. Two a.m.? Later? Whenever.”
    “Don’t leave.” Nick was firm.
    “I’m not going to take off for Pullman tonight. I’m not that crazy,” she assured him.
    “I’ll be back before you know it,” he said, closing the door behind him.

    Beneath Rory’s head the floor reverberated with sound. She was certain she would never get to sleep. It didn’t help that with every breath, she inhaled Nick’s scent from the pillow she’d taken from his bed. She turned her face into it and filled her lungs. God, he smelled good. Had Ryan ever smelled like that? She couldn’t remember.
    The room was dark save the faint outline of Nick’s bedroom window and the glowing aquarium. She calculated Nick had been gone about an hour. She waited and then drifted off to sleep, then woke up suddenly.
    Below her, the party was winding down. The music, though throbbing, was softer; the voices, a murmur rather than a deafening scream. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she propped her arms behind her head, idly watching the tropical fish.
    Maybe this trip had been the ticket after all. Though her thoughts constantly touched on Ryan, the hurt was less acute. She wasn’t in love with him. Whatever insanity had possessed her was gone. She wouldn’t be so foolish again.
    Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and she braced