Take Me for Granted

Chapter 18: Aribel

Ever since Grant had left my apartment without a word three days ago, I’d been sleeping like shit. I knew that I shouldn’t agonize over what had possibly gone wrong, but I couldn’t figure out what had happened. The only thing that stuck out was the fact that I hadn’t slept with him. That must be it. He must have thought that after just one date, I’d give it up, and when I hadn’t, he’d moved on. I couldn’t think of another explanation.

And I was amazed, quite shocked actually, that I was physically and emotionally beating myself up about it. For a minute, I’d wanted to rush over to his house and offer myself. The logical side of my brain told me that wouldn’t keep him around any more than me denying him had, but it was difficult to keep myself in check.

Deep down I’d known it was happening. When I had agreed to go on a date with Grant—maybe even before then when I had called him to help with my car—I’d known that I was falling for him. But I’d thought that one date would prove that he was everything I’d thought he was—an arrogant, conceited, manipulative, asshole, playboy rocker who cared for nothing but which bed he was landing in. While that image hadn’t wavered because he was absolutely every one of those things, I’d managed to find that there was more to Grant McDermott…and that had been my downfall.

I’d really thought we had some kind of moment, a connection even, but it all came back to sex. How could I ever think I would hold someone like Grant McDermott’s interest? What did I have to offer that he couldn’t easily get somewhere else? Just thinking about it was irritating me all over again.

And look, I hadn’t even been paying attention to my chemistry professor, so I had missed the entire slide with the homework assignment on it.

I caught up to Kristin as she exited the classroom. “Hey!”

Kristin stopped and waited for me. “What’s up?”

“I forgot to write down the homework assignment. Do you think I could get it from you?”

“You? What?”

Yeah. Great. Just point out the fact that I’m not myself. “So, do you think I could see it?” I asked.

“Um…sure, hold on.”

She pulled out her paper, and I started scribbling down the pages and pages of work I needed to read and all the problems I had to finish before lab on Thursday.

“So, not to be nosy or anything, but after Grant got your number last weekend, did he, like, actually call you?” Kristin asked.

Ugh! Grant.

She must have seen my grimace because she quickly said, “Never mind. He was probably just trying to get some ass, like always. You shouldn’t feel bad that he didn’t call you.”

Breathe in, breathe out, Aribel. Think before you speak for once in your life. “Don’t feel bad for me. Grant McDermott is as likely to get some ass from me as I am of getting a B on the next test.”

“Wait, you mean he didn’t have sex with you at the League?”

“Who told you we did?” I asked carefully.

“Everyone. I mean, everyone was talking about it. Something about a quickie in the back room.”

I saw red. I didn’t even know what to think or do about the situation, but it felt like in one easy swoop Grant McDermott had ruined my carefully constructed reputation.

“I didn’t have sex with Grant. You can tell that to everyone else who asks you, too.”

Kristin looked at me skeptically. “But you were backstage with him, right?”

“Just because I was backstage doesn’t mean I had sex with him!” I snapped.

A few people glanced our way, and I reminded myself to breathe. I scrawled the last few notes into my notebook and then passed hers back. “We didn’t have sex.”

“Okay…you didn’t have sex.”

I ground my teeth together at the disbelieving inflection in her voice. I didn’t even know what else to say, so I just turned around and walked away. I hadn’t bothered thanking her for her notes.

I snatched my phone and dialed Grant’s number. I couldn’t believe that I was giving in and calling that bastard again.

He picked up on the third ring. “Hey, Princess.”

Cocky, conceited, arrogant prick. I wanted to wipe the smirk right off his face. I wanted to forget ever going on a date with him or kissing him or letting him do more. I wanted to forget the last three days of exhaustion, wondering why he had snuck out of my house and why he hadn’t called me back. I’d never had those thoughts before, and I just wanted him out of my life, so this could all stop.

“You told everyone that we slept together?” I asked, nearly hysterical.

“What?” I heard the genuine confusion in his voice.

“You told everyone we slept together!” I repeated. “Congratulations! You have single-handedly ruined my entire reputation. Now, everyone thinks I’m some dumb groupie slut. I can’t believe I trusted you. I can’t believe that I was foolish enough to go out with you. Why didn’t I see this coming? I must be so naïve. You couldn’t get any from me, so you just told everyone that you did.”

“I would never do that.”

“Then, why is everyone saying that, Grant? Hmm? Do you think I’m stupid? I told you I didn’t want to play this game.”

“Ari, would you slow down for one second? I never told anyone that we had sex. Who did you hear that from?”

“My friend Kristin told me that everyone was talking about it.”

“Well, they’re probably just assuming that it happened since you came backstage with me. I didn’t tell anyone that. I haven’t even told anyone I’ve been seeing you.”

I didn’t know why that bugged me just as much. “I’m so glad that not only does everyone think we slept together, but I’m also your dirty little secret. Fantastic.” I reached my car and wrenched the door open.

“Ari, you need to fucking chill the fuck out right now. I’m trying to tell you what’s going on, so shut your smart mouth for one goddamn second and actually listen to me.”

Oh, he did not just go there. “Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot.”

“No one in the whole fucking world could think you’re an idiot, Ari. Just calm the fuck down,” he growled. “You know what? Fuck it. Let’s just meet up. I’m tired of you yelling at me through the phone.”

“Fine. I’ll just yell at you in person.”

“I like my women vocal,” he said with a chuckle. “Your place or mine, sweetheart?”

“Ugh! You’re so exasperating! Just forget it.”

“Princess, you should learn to take a joke. Just be at The Coffee Bean in fifteen.”