Beg You to Trust Me (Lindon U #2)(101)

I can’t conjure up anything to say to that.

He scratches his stubbled cheek. “Also, I just wanted to give you a heads up about something. One of our teammates is in some trouble and there’s a chance he could talk to you and your friends. Lash out or something, I don’t know. The dude can be unpredictable. I’m sure Danny mentioned something already, but I figured it’d be good to bring it up while I saw you.”

My brows pinch. “What are you talking about? Danny and I have barely spoken. He…” I scrunch my nose. “I thought you wanted to talk to me to end things for him.”

“What?”

“We got into a fight. I just assumed…I don’t know. I know his shoulder has added a lot of extra stress to his life, so I haven’t wanted to butt in where I didn’t belong and make it worse. I’m not sure what to say to him to make it better.”

Caleb looks dumbfounded. “He’s told me you guys talk almost every day.”

“We do,” I admit sheepishly. “But it’s like what you’d text your parents when you want to check in to see how they are. It’s my fault. Not his. I’m in a weird place and he wants to fix me. But…” Why am I telling him any of this? “Its fine, Caleb. I’m a big girl and can handle it. Obviously there are worse things that could happen. I just wish he would do it himself if he wants to break up.”

He slowly shakes his head. “I think you’ve got it all wrong. He—”

I hold up my hand. “I’ve had a really bad week. A bad semester, honestly. And maybe this is for the best anyway. He’s graduating. I’ll be here for a while. Probably.” I cringe, knowing I want to stick out Lindon until graduation but not knowing if I’m mentally capable after the shit show this year has been. “I have to go. I’ll see you around.”

Before he can say anything, I turn around and find Olive before heading out.

She bumps my arm. “I’m proud of you.”

I find myself smiling a little. “I am too.”

“But,” she adds, “I think Danny deserves to know what’s going on. You’ve been avoiding him more than he’s been avoiding you. It’s not just on him. Somebody has to step up and start the conversation, Sky.”

My lips twitch. “I know.”



The text comes hours later.

Danny: We need to talk





I stare from the paper with a B-written in the top corner to the text waiting unanswered from me. I’d sent him a simple ‘hi’ after Olive called me out at the library, then put my phone on silent for the duration of class so I didn’t have to think about it.

Me: Ok

Danny: Bea’s?





I nibble my bottom lip and glance at the time on my phone.

Me: Meet you there





Forty-five minutes later, I’m sitting across from Danny at our usual spot in Bea’s Bakery. It’s not as packed as usual, but the quiet atmosphere doesn’t make me feel any less uneasy since I walked in.

“Is everything okay?” I finally ask.

When I walked in, he was already at the table. As soon as I came over he pulled me into a hug and pressed a kiss against my temple that made me think my worries about us were all in my head.

Until the silence came.

The apology is at the tip of my tongue. For everything. For shutting him out. For our fight. For not giving him what he’s wanted. Yet, I swallow the words.

Danny picks up his pastrami sandwich and brings it to his mouth. “How’s your salad? If you want something else, let me know. That doesn’t look like much.”

I frown at the chef salad Bea made for me. It’s bigger than most salads I’d get on campus, but I don’t tell him that. “This is fine, but thanks. Are you sure that you’re—”

“Don’t worry about it, Skylar.” His tone has a cool edge to it, making me believe he’s definitely not fine. Blowing out a breath once he sees me stare open-mouthed at him, he scrapes a palm down the side of his face. “It’s nothing that you need to worry about. I want to spend time with you. To talk to you since we’ve been giving each other space. I want us to enjoy ourselves.”

“I’d enjoy myself better if you told me what’s bothering you. I know that’s a lot to ask when I haven’t been doing the same, but maybe we can change that. Is it me? Am I what’s wrong?”

He curses under his breath, pushing his plate of half-eaten food away. “It isn’t you. I swear. Caleb told me you saw him and I…do you really think I’d end things through my friend?”

I hesitate. “I don’t know.”

His eyes narrow. “I wouldn’t.”

“What am I supposed to think, Danny? I don’t know what this is. It seemed like you wanted to date when we were in Boston. Then we…” My eyes go to the few people at the tables around us. “Then we got into that fight. I felt awkward trying to make something work if it was doomed from the start.”

“Doomed? That’s what you think of us?”

“I…” I swallow.

“And we didn’t fight, Skylar. We had a disagreement and things got awkward for a while. But don’t you think it’s time to work that out? We gave each other space and I didn’t like that.”