Hope for Her (Hope #1) by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle Read Free Book Online Page B

clear. You want a ride?"
    The thought of spending another minute in his presence sounded liked the best and worst idea in the world.
    "Uh, no. I'm fine." I headed down the steps. "The walk will do me good."
    "Okay," he said.
    As I passed him in the hall, I inhaled his scent, and it calmed my stomach. It took all my strength not to jump him on the stairs.
    As he passed, he rubbed my arm. "See you around Carrington."
    I swallowed as tears sprung in my eyes. I blinked them away. His declaration sounded final.
    I headed out the door and down the steps. The air did nothing to clear my head.
    When I reached my dorm room, I found Melinda passed out on the floor next to her bed. I tiptoed over to Jessica's bed, but backed away when I noticed her boyfriend smashed up against the wall behind her.
    I grabbed my bathrobe and a towel and headed to the shower.
    I turned the shower up on high and waited for the room to steam up before I stepped in the stall. Last night, two guys wanted me—and twelve hours and several shots later, neither of them wanted anything to do with me.
    My stomach turned as I thought about them. Fun college times didn't include getting caught up in a weird love triangle between best friends.
    The real nature of Jackson and Josh's relationship fascinated me. Jackson appeared easygoing, laidback, and funny. 
    Josh was sensitive, intense, and serious, with a dark humor.
    I wondered what they had in common.
    I turned off the water after twenty minutes and stood pressing my forehead against the shower tiles.
    How did I get myself into this mess?
    I needed to talk to someone. When the steam dissipated, I wrapped myself in my white fluffy robe and crawled into my bed, ignoring the movement from the other side of the room. Jessica and her boyfriend had woken up and started making out. When the moans and slurping sounds started, I grabbed my headphones and cranked the music loud. I pulled the covers over my head and nestled into my bed, resolved not to come up for air for the rest of the day.
    ***
    Joshua Elijah Griffin, IV
    When I woke up, my brain was pounding in my skull. I felt hung over, but it was due to Carrington's antics and not alcohol consumption.
    What a fucking lousy first date, if you would even call it a date, but it was memorable. The rehab counselors discouraged us from getting involved in a relationship until we hit a year of sobriety, and I was beginning to think maybe they were right.
    Watching Carrington almost hook up with one of my frat brother made me want to drink.
    I rolled over to check on her, but she was gone. The only sign she had ever been here was a faint smell in the air along with my t-shirt hanging over the bathroom door.
    I headed out the door to survey the damage from last night.
    "She didn't even stay to clean it up. Bleuch ... and ran off," Brandon said as I walked into the kitchen.
    "Who are y'all talking about?" Randolph asked following me.
    "That really hot black chic with the light brown hair. You saw her Randolph. You were dancing with you for a bit," Brandon said.
    "Oh yeah, she was hot, but weird. Besides, she’s a virgin."
    "No way man," Brandon said. "Not the way she grabbed my dick. She knew what she was doing."
    "And then she threw up on you," Jackson said. "I wouldn't go around telling people that story if I was you."
    The guys laughed.
    I headed back upstairs, figuring she made it out safe, when I noticed Jackson following me.
    "You got class today?"
    "No, I'm heading back to bed. You?"
    "No, but the team leaves around four for the hotel." He followed me up the stairs. Before I entered my room, he stopped me.
    "Your friend, Carrington, she snuck out at about six am," Jackson said.
    "You know her?"
    "I met her a couple of days ago. She's a cool chick."
    He watched my expression. His face scrunched up as if he was trying to figure out my intentions with Carrington. He liked her, otherwise, why would he mention her? He wasn't about to admit it.
    "She's amazing. But, you know