Read You Make Me for Free Online Page A

into my seat as I made it to the steps.
    “Oh, thank God,” Aubrey breathed. “I can’t feel my legs.”
    “Be right back.” I trotted down the stairs and picked my way across the stands and on down to the concession area. I saw Ethan in his nylon jacket pacing in front of the hot dog line.
    “Hey,” I said, giving him a smile.
    He didn’t smile back. He took my hand and pulled me to the side of the building, away from everyone standing in line.
    My stomach clenched. “What’s wrong?”
    He pulled a plastic drugstore bag out of his jacket and handed it to me. “Here, put this in your pocket.”
    “What is it?” I took it and stared down at it. There was a small box inside the bag from what I could tell.
    Leaning in right next to my ear, he murmured, “Emergency contraceptive pill. Go in the restroom and take it. That way we know it’s fine.”
    I shoved it inside my jacket immediately, afraid someone had seen, even though it was impossible to tell what it was through the plastic. My face went hot. “Do you think I need to do that? You didn’t…” Why the hell could I never say ‘come’ out loud? But I wasn’t Aubrey. I couldn’t talk about sex casually.
    “Chances are less. But there is sperm in pre-cum. It’s a possibility.”
    Awkward.
    But then Ethan tucked my hair behind my hair. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I drank too much but that’s no excuse. I think it’s better to take the pill and not have to stress about it, and I promise that will never happen again.”
    I couldn’t fault him for that. He had stopped as soon as I had asked and I knew why he’d been so aggressive. And now, true to form, Ethan was trying to make up for it. He was looking out for me.
    “Okay,” I said, giving him a quick kiss. “Maybe I should look into better birth control.”
    “Only if you want to. I don’t want you doing anything you’re not comfortable with. I can control myself better.”
    See? Perfect.
    I went in the restroom and I took the pill.
     
    After the game and dinner, Ethan walked me back to the sorority house. We were holding hands and despite all my advice to Aubrey, I was shivering slightly. With the sun down, it was windy and brisk.
    “Am I coming in?” Ethan asked as we hovered on the sidewalk in front of the house.
    I knew what he was asking. Were we having sex. Was he staying over. But my headache was back and I was feeling emotionally overloaded. I just wanted to crawl into bed wearing fleece pants and sleep. I couldn’t have sex with him. I just really couldn’t. “Actually, that pill gave me cramps,” I said. “I don’t feel all that great. Do you mind if I just go to bed?”
    “Of course not.” He put his hand on my stomach and massaged me through my coat. “I’m sorry. Take some ibuprofen and get some sleep.”
    “Thanks.” I took a step back and as I did I saw movement behind Ethan, on the side of the house.
    A figure stepped out behind the bushes and I jerked a little as I realized it was Heath. I’d recognize that posture, that walk, anywhere. I knew his expressions, his gestures, his movements, as well as my own.
    But before I could say anything, like WTF, he put his finger to his lips in the universal request for silence. Then he shook his head.
    So he didn’t want Ethan to know he was there. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but to buy myself time, I pulled Ethan in for a hug, opening my eyes wide at Heath over Ethan’s shoulder to try to indicate I had no idea what he wanted.
    He held up a piece of paper, folded into a small square and tossed it under the nearest bush. Then he gave me a smile and retreated backward into the dark.
    “Let’s get you inside.” Ethan led me up the walk. At the front door to the house, he gave me a kiss on the forehead. “Nite, baby.”
    “Goodnight.” I opened the door and went inside. I waited. And waited. There were a couple of girls in the lounge and they glanced over at me and waved. I waved back.
    I patted my coat.