Rushed (The Rushed Series) by Gina Robinson Read Free Book Online Page B

Leah said. "Where's Zach?" She looked around for him. "Oh, there he is! The dark-haired one off by himself." She smiled. "Zach's our superhero guardian. He's always saving someone. Last Halloween, we made him dress as Superman for our house party. He was so adorable!"
    He caught me staring at him. There was a hungry look in his eyes. The physical attraction between us rocked through the air, a mini heat wave of our own. He looked away, like he didn't want to face me, and walked off. I had just been snubbed.

    Zach
    I couldn't get Alexis Turner out of my mind while I waited my turn in the cliff-jumping line. I hadn't been able to shake her out since we met in the bathroom. I still had the cut on my forehead to prove she messed with my head.  
    When I saw her get out of the car with Leah, my heart soared and my head warned me I was in deep shit now. Before seeing her, part of me had held the futile, selfish hope that I'd been mistaken and they hadn't offered her a bid. Or that she would turn the Double Deltsies down if they had. Rejecting them would have been gutsy. Being a Double Deltsie guaranteed a girl instant popularity.
    Selfishly, I thought about how if Alexis had declined their offer, she would have been out of the Greek system. I could have dated her. I was in that limbo—not Greek, not Geed, independent. As a guy to date, the Geeds accepted me. I was too loyal to the Double Deltsies for most of the other sorority girls' tastes.  
    My turn finally came. As I stood on the ledge overlooking the river, old, familiar feelings pushed thoughts of Alexis aside. Talking to my mom always made me want to jump off a cliff. I had spent my entire life—that I could remember, anyway—feeling that way, thinking of jumping. Ending it all. Those few seconds of flying and total freedom from earth and then…nothingness. No more pain.  
    When I was younger, I used to think she'd be sorry if I jumped off the bridge by our house and drowned. Now I knew that wasn't true. She would be relieved. Oh, she would play the part of grieving mom. But she would be reveling in the sympathy the whole time, taking in the love and attention of being the poor, tragic mother whose asshole son killed himself. Thriving on it. Selfish bastard that I was, I refused to give her that.  
    My life was worth more. I could make a difference to someone. Help as many people as I could. I wasn't sure anymore that nothingness waited at the end. Maybe there was something better. Something I still had to find.
    Dad wouldn't be any better, except he doesn't love the spotlight as much as she does. I used to think no one else would miss me. Now I think the girls would. I hope they would. I wasn't going to test it and be remembered as that tragic houseboy.
    As I stood on the edge of the cliff, ready to take my turn and jump, my heart soared. This was the perfect solution—a few seconds of flying, a cold splash of reality, and life. A second chance.

    Alexis
    I watched Zach walk away and join the line of cliff jumpers. Though I tried to turn away, my gaze kept drifting back to him, watching him as he moved forward in line. Morgan showed up and kept her eye on me, my personal hawk.  
    Em immediately adapted and was in her element as a group of frat guys approached and offered us beer. The party swung into full action. The group ignored the river and the cliffs, partying as if they were back at the frat house.  
    I wasn't the kind of girl who liked to stay on the beach looking perfect, like the rest of my new sorority sisters. Arching our backs to accentuate our shapes. Living for attention from guys. None of the frat guys interested me. There was only one guy I wanted to see, and he was about to jump off a cliff to escape me.
    After a while, I'd had enough of being hit on and leered at and offered red plastic cups full of beer. I eyed the line of people jumping off the cliffs with longing, watching Zach's broad shoulders and wishing I were next to him. Em was