Chapter 209

Tessa’s POV

I knew I was really drunk, but it sounded like my best friend just told me that Carter confessed to her about being a vampire.

I couldn’t have heard her correctly; Carter couldn’t have been that stupid.

As I stared at her figure, which was starting to double as the tequila weighed in my mind, I started to think about my last interaction with Carter. It was on the beach during the bonfire the other night. He seemed a little off and I could tell right away.

My stomach clenched at the thought.

Why would he tell her something like that? Especially over the phone?

Obviously, she was going to think he was lying. I could only imagine what was running through her mind right now.

“I don’t want to talk about stupid boys anymore,” Ruby pouted, grabbing a hold of my arm. “Let’s go dance.”

I wanted to pull her back onto the stool and talk to her more about this. But I knew my best friend was hurting and she just wanted to forget about her problems for a little while. The last thing she needed was for me to keep bringing up the very topic that was hurting her.

So, I smiled and allowed her to pull me to my feet. Though I almost fell over from how drunk I suddenly was, I managed to land on my feet and stagger to the dance floor with Ruby’s arm draped around my shoulders.

Together we danced and we let loose. For a moment, I allowed myself to forget about everything. The alcohol was buzzing, and the music was amazing.

I couldn’t remember the last time I laughed this hard.

Before I knew what was happening, an unfamiliar pair of hands gripped my hips, and soon, someone was pressing against my back.

My entire body froze at the unwelcome touch. I didn’t like this stranger putting their hands on my body.

Ruby was dancing with her back turned toward me and I found it difficult to move properly with this large being holding me in place and grinding against me.

When the pair of hands started moving my hips and up my stomach, I managed to glance down and see two very large and incredibly hairy hands.

“Let me go,” I said through my teeth, trying to wiggle out of their embrace.

“Come on, Baby,” a deep voice said in my ear, causing chills to run up my spine and make me shiver. It was an unpleasant feeling. “It’s just a dance.”

“Get away from me,” I said louder, trying to wiggle from him again, this time much harder.

It seemed to have gotten Ruby’s attention because she turned around and when she saw the man that was holding me, her eyes widened.

She looked at the man and then to me. Her eyes narrowed as I tried to plead with her through my eyes for her to help me. I hoped she could feel my desperation as this man continued to run his hands up my body and grind himself into my back like I was his. Like he had a right to touch me in this way.

I felt sick to my stomach, and I was far too drunk to see, think, or move. Everything was doubled and I was seconds away from passing out.

But still, this man won’t let me go.

“Hey!” Ruby yelled through the loud music; her face was red, and her eyes shined with fire. “Get your gross hands off my friend!”

Soon, Ruby had my arm in her hands, and she was yanking me away from the man who wasn’t prepared for the sudden force being ripped from his arms. He froze as he stared down at a small Ruby who stood with one hand on her hip and the other clutching my arm.

Then, to my utter surprise, I watched as Ruby’s black heal went straight into the man’s crotch and he went down like a rock. People all around us gasped in shock as this huge man whimpered from being kicked by Ruby.

My mouth dropped open.

Ruby tightened her hold on my arm, and we went running through the crowd of people.

“Hey! Stop!!”

A man yelled from the distance, and I knew without looking at him that he was a security officer. My heart was racing at lightning speed as I allowed Ruby to drag me through the club. Thankfully, most people were parting ways for us to get through and the music seemed to have gotten louder, drowning out the whimpering of the man and the yelling of the officer.

Ruby pushed through the door, and we were finally able to get outside. The bouncer at the door seemed startled to see us, but we didn’t spare him much of a look before we took off down the street.

“I need to catch my breath,” I gasped, trying hard to keep my pacing.

“They are going to come after us. We need to get far enough away,” Ruby said, sweat forming on her forehead.

I looked behind me and I saw the security officer running through the door and freezing once he got outside. He seemed to have turned around and was looking around to try and find us.

The bouncer started to speak to him and then he was looking in our direction.

This made me want to run much faster.

“What about your car?” I asked as we picked up the pace.

“I’ll come back for it tomorrow,” she said through gasps of breath. “We have to get out of—”

Her voice trailed off and soon I was running into her and nearly falling to the ground. Just when I caught my balance and regained my focus, I was about to ask her why she stopped running so suddenly, but then I saw what had her mouth hanging open.

“Get in,” Joseph said from his car as he pushed the passenger door open.

“Joseph?” I asked, breathlessly.

“I said get in,” he said more forcibly.

With a racing heart, we didn’t waste any time getting into Joseph’s car. Ruby made herself comfortable in the backseat while I scrambled in the front seat, shutting the door quickly. Joseph didn’t wait for us to get our seatbelts on before he peeled away.

“Someone want to explain to me why a bunch of security officers were chasing you?” Joseph asked, fixing his attention on the road.

He was clutching the steering wheel tightly and I noticed his knuckles were growing white from how strongly he was holding the wheel.

“I thought there was only one…” Ruby murmured, gazing out the window.

“There were a few when I passed by. I drove faster to see what they were chasing and imagined my surprise when I saw you two running.”

My face instantly heated from his words.

I’m sure I’m probably as red as a cherry.

“I kicked some jerk in the nuts,” Ruby told him.

Joseph’s brows rose quickly.

“What jerk?”

“Just a guy,” I muttered, not really wanting to get into it or tell him that some man had his hands on me.

“He had his hands all over Tessa and he wouldn’t let her go,” Ruby said simply.

I wanted to slap my forehead, but I just sighed.

“Someone was touching you??” Joseph asked and I knew it took everything he had not to look at me.

“He wanted me to dance with him…” I breathed; my head was still whirling from the tequila shots, and I thought I was going to pass out in the car.

My eyes were growing heavy, and I was seeing double.

“He was way too aggressive,” Ruby shrugged. “She looked uncomfortable, and she was trying to get away from him. So, I helped her.”

Joseph took a steady deep breath and his body seemed to have relaxed. He glanced at Ruby through the rearview mirror, and I watched as he gave her a nod before fixating his attention back on the road.

“What were you even doing here?” I asked, staring over at him.

“I was on my way home to grab something,” he said, shaking his head with dismay written all over his face. “I was passing by the area when I saw the security officers running.”

I didn’t say it out loud, but I was glad he was there. I was glad he helped us.

Joseph brought Ruby to her apartment and even helped her inside because of her drunken stagger.

Then, instead of going home, we went straight to his Villa.

My eyes were practically closed by the time we pulled into his driveway. I had my head leaning against the door and my entire body was relaxed as sleep started to take over. But then I felt his incredible and warm arms wrap around me and lift me out of the car.

I rested my head on his chest and nuzzled my face in him, basking in his scent and loving every second of it.

He took me inside and went up the stairs until he reached his bedroom where he placed me gently on the bed, putting blankets over me.

“Are you joining me in bed?” I asked before he could walk away.

“I will soon. I have some business I have to work on in my study. But I’ll come back soon and hold you,” he assured me, leaning down and pressing his lips against mine.

The kiss was passionate and incredible, but it ended too quickly. He gave me a wink before he turned and left the room.

I’m not sure when I fell asleep, but I was soon being woken by a ringing.

Realizing, after my grogginess wore off, that it was my cell phone, I quickly got out of bed and grabbed my phone off the nightstand.

I frowned as Dean Miller’s name flashed across the screen.

That was strange; he had never called me before.

I took a deep breath before sliding on the green talk button.

“Hello?” I asked, trying to sound unbothered.

“Miss Campbell. It’s Dean Miller. Hopefully, I’m not disturbing you this evening.”

“No, of course not,” I said, a little awkward as I ran my fingers through my hair. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m afraid the student committee got themselves in a little over their head while planning the graduation in a couple of weeks. A few members even dropped out of the task,” Dean Miller sighed.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, furrowing his brows together and unsure what that had to do with me.

“So, I’m calling and wondering if you’d be a stand-in?” He finally asked, hopeful in his tone.

“A stand-in?” I asked, confused.

“I’m looking for volunteers to help prepare for the graduation party,” Dean Miller explained. “So…. Would you like to volunteer and help plan the graduation?