The Saving of Benjamin Chambers (The Uni Files) by Anna Bloom Read Free Book Online

pull away I notice that her eyes have a glassy look and for the first time it dawns on me she may be rather drunk. I have not noticed before because, let’s be honest, you bump into the girl of your dreams after months of looking and it is kind of hard to focus on small facts, like sobriety.
    I laugh against her cheek, and it feels amazing. Her body is still pressed against mine, her chest rising and falling with each ragged breath she takes.
    I realise there is little chance she is going to run away from me across campus but I don’t want to let go just in case she falls down, although that could just be an excuse.
    “I think I should take you home,” I whisper into her ear.
    Fiesty Lilah comes out to play.
    “What? No way! If you think I am going to let you take me home so I will have sex with you, you’re sorely mistaken I am not some gir—”
    I like feisty Lilah a little too much. Before I can stop myself, I have grabbed her back in my arms and am kissing her again. She does not put up a huge amount of resistance, and her body is soon melded back against mine, her lips firm as she teases me by trailing her tongue along my lower lip. Is this girl for real? And she just accused me of trying to take advantage of her ?
    “I am not taking you home so I can take advantage of you,” I assure her. “You really are rather drunk, and I think you should let me help you home.”
    Please.
    I can’t help it. I have to push it just a little.
    “Besides, when I do have sex with you,” which I will by the way, “I would rather you were a little more sober.”
    I don’t really mean this. Of all the drunken encounters I have had in my life, this would be the only one I would wake up from and completely embrace the naked conversation the next day.
    I know this is not the right time though. Nine months it’s taken to see her again. Our first time making love has got to be something more, something perfect, and something that she would remember, which to be honest I am not sure she would right now.
    “Where do you live, Lilah?” I ask again.
    She gives an almighty sway, and I reach a hand out to steady her if she needs it.
    Then stroppy Lilah comes out to play.
    “Block B, Floor Five,” she announces.
    I stop and stare.
    Come again?
    She puts one drunken hand on her hip as if to say, Ha! I knew you would never know.
    But instead of giving her time to gloat, I grab her in my arms, flinging her over my shoulder, and start to walk off.
    She starts to shout but it only last for about half a minute before she goes very quiet and I continue my march towards her room.
    She is out cold when I use my key to let us into the dorm. I poke my head through the lounge door as I walk down the corridor and it soon becomes clear why she is passed out over my shoulder. There is an array of champagne bottles, fag packets, and goodness knows what. There is also a bra hanging from the kitchen door. I can’t conceive how that got there but I am pretty sure that I will not be sharing a dorm with a group of male geeks.
    I try her door, find it unlocked, and creep in. It’s like an assault course of discarded makeup and clothes but I finally manage to tiptoe my way to the edge of her bed and lower her down.
    It’s not that graceful and she kind of slumps out of my arms and lands in a heap on the mattress. I manage to stop her rolling back off and onto the floor.
    I can’t help but laugh. I feel bloody delirious. I just kissed her. The one I have been searching for. She is here and I am here and there is, like, all her stuff on the floor. Tonight when I go to sleep I will know exactly where she is. Tomorrow when I wake up I will be able to talk to her, even make her a cup of coffee, and introduce myself for the third time, and I will never have to worry about not finding her again.
    I pull her duvet up and edge out of the door. It is only when I am heading back to the outer door and towards the gig I have abandoned that I think of the headache