Read Crushed (Rushed #2) for Free Online

her. She better not—
    "Absolutely, Morgan." Larry leaned forward in his chair like he was completely attuned to her. "Anything you share is safe here. It won't leave this room."
    She nodded and glanced sideways at me.  
    Ah, shit. I felt the crap about to hit the fan, and there was no way to stop it.
    "It was the Friday night of Homecoming Weekend. My sorority and Mr. University's frat—" She pointed at me.
    I was supremely embarrassed about being a beauty king, and Morgan knew it. It was a joke, not an honor. That was the way the guys saw it. I'd taken my share of ribbing over it.
    "—had just won the powder puff football competition," she said. "And with it, the Greek Homecoming competition. The Tau Psis threw a victory party." She looked directly at me. Her eyes misted over and her lips trembled.  
    I looked like the biggest douchebag in the world. I'd only competed for Mr. University because Morgan's sorority insisted. Our team got points for every guy who entered the competition. The win was a surprise and a joke. The judges had picked me as a way of thumbing their noses at the university. I'd just been picked up for driving under the influence the night before.
    "I got bombed. We got bombed." She paused, and my heart stopped. "And hooked up." She made it sound like in her right mind that would never have happened.
    I sat frozen, dreading the worst and unable to stop it.
    She took a deep breath and stared in her lap, wringing the crowd for sympathy. "When I left the party, Dakota got in his car and tried to run me over."  

Chapter Four

    Morgan
    I felt Dakota stiffen beside me. I'd gotten him good, and he knew it. The whole class was glaring at him while I played the victim.  
    "Shit, Morgan." Dakota scowled at me and looked around helplessly at everyone else. "It's not what it sounds like." He turned his attention back on me. "If you'd let me walk you home—"
    "I don't remember you offering. In fact, I don't remember much at all." I made it sound like an indictment of his lovemaking.
    Our "lovers' spat" had the class enraptured. Which was exactly what I wanted.  
    Dakota's eyes were hard and his jaw was set as he stared at me like he really did want to commit vehicular homicide on my person now.  
    Come on, Dak! I wanted to say. Lighten up and play along. This meeting is going to kill us with boredom if we don't have some fun with it. I winked at him so only he could see, hoping he caught my conspiratorial meaning and played along.  
    "If you hadn't laid down behind my car—"
    "I think we have a pretty good picture of why both Dakota and Morgan are here," Larry said. "Alcohol impairs good judgment. Am I right, Morgan? Dakota?"
    I had a hard time holding down my smile as I nodded. "Totally." I shot Dak a sideways glance.
    "Sure," he said. "It impaired my judgment much earlier than when I got in my car."
    One of the guys sniggered.  
    Larry clipped Dakota's introduction, only allowing him to give his name and crime. I didn't pay much attention to the rest of the introductions. None of them compared to ours, and I think everyone knew it. After introductions, class lapsed into a dry lecture about the effects of alcohol and other drugs.  
    Finally, nine rolled around and Larry dismissed class for the evening. "See you all bright and early at eight tomorrow morning. No hangovers. If I so much as suspect one, you've violated the terms of your agreement with the prosecutor and courts."
    "On that cheery note," I said as I slid my coat on and gathered up my purse and workbook. I dashed out of the room, eager to breathe in the bracing night air and be done for the night with the tension of the stupid class. Done with dealing with Dakota Bradley.
    I raced down the hall toward the exit, walking as quickly as I could, hellbent on escape.
    "Morgan!" Dakota called to me. "Hey! Wait up."
    I ignored him.  
    I wasn't fast enough. He caught me at the door as I stepped outside. "How are you getting home?"
    "Walking." I