Beg You to Trust Me (Lindon U #2)(71)

“Sorry if that was blunt,” he apologizes quickly, misinterpreting my reaction.

My sigh is probably too quiet for him to hear over the voices and music. “No, you’re right. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s trash-talking me right now to whoever will listen.”

Anger takes over his eyes. “She do that often?”

“She and I seem to remember the football party differently,” is how I reply, my words careful as I replay her words. “Becca told me she and the girls were trying to find me before they left, but I’d already disappeared with…” My nose scrunches. Does my roommate know who it is I walked away with? “Whoever I was with that night. But I don’t remember that at all. One second I was with them, the next I wasn’t.”

Danny is quiet, quieter than I expect. “Do you remember anything else from that night? What room you were in?”

I nibble my inner cheek. “I could probably show you sometime. It was empty when I woke up, obviously, so there’s not much to go on. But no. I don’t recall much else other than what I’ve already told you.”

He hums.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.” His hard tone doesn’t convince me, though.

“Tell me,” I prod, resting my chin on his shoulder and staring at him until he admits whatever he’s thinking.

“I don’t want to ruin the night,” he grumbles, tipping his head back and letting out a heavy breath. “I’m thinking about the bad things that happen at parties, and the last thing I want to accept is that something bad happened at one I was partly responsible for.”

His response makes my brows furrow. “I don’t think you can take responsibility for what other people do, Danny. That’s putting too much pressure on yourself. It’s not fair.”

The first song moves flawlessly into the next, and we keep going. Not picking up the pace like others or slowing down like a few couples who’ve joined in.

Danny eventually looks back down at me, brushing hair out my face and brushing the pad of his thumb across my cheek until a lone shiver travels down my spine. “I know it’s not completely my fault, but I was there—”

“So were a lot of others,” I remind him. “We didn’t know each other. I wasn’t your responsibility. As much as I wish I could blame Becca and the girls, I wasn’t theirs either. I chose to drink. I chose to dance with random people. And I…I chose to go upstairs. Trust me, I know what you’re feeling. But the blame isn’t on you. It never was.”

“It’s not on you either.”

“We all have to own up to our choices,” I murmur.

This time, he says nothing for a long time. His chin rests on the top of my head after he guides my cheek to his chest.

Sometime later, he mumbles, “I wish you were treated better by those girls. You don’t deserve the shit Rebecca says to you.”

“They’re just words.”

His answer is felt deep in my bones, soaking into each one slowly. “Words can hurt too. Sometimes more than physical blows.”

“You’re right,” I whisper.

“I’m not close with all of my teammates. Caleb and Aiden are the two I’d probably call my friends. Justin, too. The rest? We get along fine. But none of us are openly dicks to each other without justifiable reasons. Not like your roommate is with you. It pisses me off.”

Danny always seems to get along so well with everybody, so I’m surprised he’s not very close with the guys I’ve seen him hang out with around campus and at their house.

“My sister told me I should find somewhere else to live next semester,” I admit. I haven’t gotten around to telling him about Alba or Ellis Hall yet.

“Serena?”

I nod, smiling that he knew which sister I’m referring to. “Yeah. I’ve been distracted for a lot of reasons this semester, but constantly being around Becca when she’s in a mood doesn’t help.”

He sets his drink down on an end table and puts both hands on my hips. “She’s not wrong. I could help you try finding something off campus if you want.”

“I appreciate it, but I think I want to stay on campus. Even though I don’t go out and do much, it’s kind of nice to be part of the lifestyle. Plus, it’s closer to the dining hall and academic buildings.”

He relents. “If you change your mind, let me know. If nothing comes up, I have a few options in mind.”

One of my brows quirks. “Already?”

His grin is sheepish as his fingertips twitch on my hips. “Aiden is leaving after this semester. He’s got some intense training before the Combine in February. His girlfriend will probably stay downstairs, but we’ve got room if there’s nothing else available. It’s just something to consider. I don’t want you to be miserable with your roommate, but I know the house isn’t your favorite place right now either.”

“Isn’t Aiden a senior? I thought his last semester is this spring.”

I feel his long exhale. “Yeah, we’ve all told him to finish it out but he’s deadest on dropping. The school will probably give him an extended leave of absence and let him reenroll to finish his degree if he wants to later on. College has never been his thing, though. He never really wanted a degree even though he’s smart as hell. He’s only ever been here for football.”