Chapter 76: Bryn

Crap, this is worse than I thought it would be. I expected there to be people staring and whispering, but surrounding Tabitha’s car to get a picture of me is not what I thought would happen. Now this really cute TA is rescuing me again like I’m a damsel in distress, and with him as my hero, I think I can be okay with my role in this. I mean, sure, I’m all about the power of the woman, but sometimes it’s nice to have someone looking after you. What’s wrong with letting a guy feel important by letting him take care of you? I mean, if he’s not one of those toxic guys, then enjoy it, right? I mean, look at Zach. He would kill for my sister and niece and treats them like queens. My sister is not a damsel, but she knows how much Zach needs to feel like he is taking care of her, so she lets him.

So if this TA wants to rescue me, then I’m happy to accept his help. Plus, I’m pregnant and I don’t want to accidentally get hit or shoved by the crowd.

“Come on. I’ll walk you to class.” He says once I’m out of the car and standing in front of him.

Why are all these guys so tall? Just like with Sawyer and Maddox, I have to tip my head back to look up at him. His intense eyes are focused on me, and it makes me want to quickly look away. His intensity looks more like annoyance and that isn’t an expression I want to see pointed my way. He’s holding my elbow and turns to lead me away, but I pull myself away.

“Thank you, but I can get there on my own.” I tell him and give him a tight smile.

I lean down and grab my bag and wave a quick goodbye to Tabitha and close the door. The security guys are holding the crowd back and some people seem to have lost interest and left. There’s a big enough opening in the crowd for me to walk through, and I take the chance it will be safe enough to walk through. I don’t bother acknowledging the TA still standing off to the side, watching me. His eyes are following me as I walk away and it feels like he’s burning a hole in my back, but I don’t turn around. Nope, I keep my head low and walk through the crowd and onto the path leading to the medical buildings.

“What’s wrong?” I hear someone say from behind me.

It’s the TA and in the corner of my eye I see him jog forward so that he’s walking next to me. I want to ignore him after the way he looked at me. Maybe I’m being too sensitive, but he looked upset about helping me and I don’t want someone to do anything for me they don’t want to do. So why is he talking to me?

“What do you mean?” I grumble.

“I mean, I was trying to help you and you pulled away from me,” He says plainly.

He’s one of those people who doesn’t like to beat around the bush, I see.

“You looked a little put out by it, so I figured I could handle things on my own.” I reply going for pure honesty.

He’s quiet long enough that I glance his way to see what his face looks like now. Honestly, he looks confused or angry…maybe both. His forehead is furrowed and his lips are pulled slightly downward.

“I must have given you the wrong impression.” He says finally.

I scoff. “You could say that. Unless you meant to come off as a jerk.”

I watch his frown quirk up a little. “I was not trying to be a jerk. Honestly, I was annoyed with those people. Not you. You have done nothing wrong. I’m sorry if I upset you.”

He sounds genuine, but I stop and turn to face him so I can see for myself if he looks sincere. I let my eyes move over his face in search of any sign that his words don’t match his actions, but I don’t find anything off. His eyes are taking me in as well and I feel my neck warm like it always does when I feel shy or overwhelmed emotionally.

“Okay. Thank you.. I guess.” I blurt out and turn back around to continue down the path.

“I’m sorry you have to deal with those people.” He says quietly.

I shrug. “I’d have to get used to it if Sawyer and Maddox get contracts. Sawyer is expected to become a very high paid, well-known player, and that means his whole life will be in the spotlight, including me.”

“That doesn’t seem fair. Why should you suffer for his career?”

That has me stopping again. I turn my body toward him and glare up at him.

“It’s not fair? Sawyer has worked his whole life to be a professional hockey player. When he got hurt, he almost lost that dream, but he’s still here, working his butt off. I don’t care about any of this besides the fact that it could hurt his future.” I tell him.

My voice doesn’t falter once because I mean every word. Sawyer’s dreams are mine too, and I will do anything I can to help him.

The TA guy tilts his head to the side and looks at me with those intense eyes. “Who worries about your future? Who sacrifices for you?”

His questions take me by surprise. I blink at him, feeling a little lost for words. Those aren’t the sorts of questions people ask.

“Sawyer is very good to me.” I make sure to point out. “And Maddox has been just as kind to me. They make sure I eat and sleep well.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t mean who takes care of your physical needs. Who takes care of all the other things? Do you let them see any true feelings, or do you talk about your dreams for the future?”

Again I’m stumped. Sawyer supports me well and never asked me to give up anything for him, but this guy sort of has a point. I will whine here and there about having a lot of homework or being tired, but everything else I keep locked down. Not that I don’t think Sawyer would care, but I don’t want to put that on him. Maddox seems like he would be more open to those kinds of talks, but we aren’t there yet. We jumped into bed together but haven’t done much getting to know each other yet.

The TA nods. “That’s what I thought. You might have two men in your life but are gaining more love and care or just another person you have to pretend with?”

Who does this guy think he is? “I do not pretend with them!”

He raises a brow at me and then reaches down to take my hand. I look down at where he’s touching me and then he tugs on my arm and places it under his and wraps my hand around his bicep. He starts walking again with me holding his arm like we’re in a regency film and he’s escorting me to a ball or something.

“Why did your boyfriend want you to be with another guy?” He asks and I’m learning quick that he has no filter.

So I blow out a breath and let my body relax. I guess I’ll spill all my secrets to this guy today.

“He says he’s worried about when he goes pro. He’ll most likely end up on a team out of state and that would mean he would leave me behind while I finish school. He thought it would be a good idea for me to have people to look after me. I mean, that was not his original plan, but once he saw how Maddox and I clicked, it must have given him the idea.” I try to explain.

The whole idea of Sawyer’s matchmaking is still confusing to me.

“I have to say his offer surprised me, given that we hadn’t spoken more than a few words to each other.” He points out.

“Yeah, but to him you would keep me healthy given you’re a doctor of sorts.” I try to explain.

“I see.” He nods and says nothing for several seconds. “My sister thinks I should have gotten your number.”

My head snaps his way so fast I feel a slight pain in my neck. “What?”

He laughs awkwardly, and the sound is almost sweet. “She saw all the news about you and I mentioned meeting you and she said something about you being her girl crush.” That makes me snort out a laugh, but I bite it back the best I can so he can finish. “I didn’t know what she meant, which led to me asking her some overdo questions.”

He’s babbling now, and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Mr. Intense eyes is a bumbling hottie. Interesting…very interesting.