Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 111685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Everything had changed.
Siobhan knew. Trent knew. I knew other guys like phone guy would be in my face. My housemates didn’t understand what the word ‘discreet’ meant, so I had a couple choices to make. Either stay and deal, stay and hide in the library, or leave.
I chose door number two.
Right then and there, hiding in the library seemed the best option.
I shook my head at Wyatt. “I’m good. I’m, uh, I’m going to try to catch up before classes.”
“Okay. We’ll see you later, then.”
He and Mia headed off. Nacho started after them but stopped and looked back. Lisa was still in front of me. She was biting her lip. “We’re doing a party tonight to watch Stone’s game. Are you…” her eyes swept behind me. “Do your friends want to come?”
I heard a quiet squeak from Siobhan, but was already shaking my head. “I’m actually going to the game.”
“Oh!” Lisa’s head shot up. “Right.” Her face cleared up. “Duh. Of course, you are. It’s at home and Monday Night Football. Right on.” She punched my arm. “Have fun. I’m jealous.”
“Liss!” A shout from Mia.
“Right.” She began backing up, but grinning widely. “Have fun. Don’t forget the little people.” And with that, she turned, laughing at something Nacho said. He didn’t put his arm around her shoulder, but he did place it on the small of her back as both hurried to catch up.
Then it was the three of us.
I was ignoring a few onlookers still, trying to adopt my housemates’ ways.
Siobhan and Trent were both fixed on me, both pale. Trent kept blinking, chewing the inside of his mouth, and a whole look that he’d just tasted something he couldn’t identify kept shifting on his face. His nose was twitching.
Siobhan wouldn’t look at me. Her eyes were fixed steadfastly on my shoes.
A deep breath. “I—”
Her head jerked up, blanching. “I have to go!” She began backing away, and once she started, she picked up speed.
She couldn’t get away from me fast enough.
“Wha…oh. Okay. I should go, too.” Trent started, but he wasn’t fast enough.
Siobhan had a good grip on his shirt and she tugged him behind her.
They were almost sprinting away from me, almost as fast as my stomach was sinking to the ground.
Shit.
That’d gone the worst way I could’ve imagined.
Then it was just me. Again, I was still ignoring any gawkers.
My phone beeped. I lifted it.
Stone: How’s the first day back?
Miserable.
Me: Totally fine. It’s nice to be back.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Library.
Class.
Talk to the professor. Reassure them I was okay. I could handle the classwork again.
Library.
Stop. Backtrack. Stop at the coffee hut.
Then Library.
Class.
Again, reassure the professor I’m good to go.
That was the rest of my afternoon, until it was three in the afternoon and I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. Not wanting to make Stone’s driver come all the way to campus to take me back to Stone’s house, be there for maybe an hour and have to drive all the way to the other side of the city, I chose to walk to my house instead.
No one was there. This was one of my greatest mysteries, where were the housemates when they weren’t partying? I didn’t think Monday at three was party time, especially because they’d be partying in a few hours. That was it. They were probably getting ready for the party, but I had the house to myself. Heading downstairs, I tried to focus and study for the first hour.
I gave up.
I was distracted because in two-and-a-half hours, I’d see Jared again. I had so much guilt for not getting up there before now. An ache was digging in my chest, and lying on my bed, I rubbed that spot. Guilt and regret were going to eat a hole inside of me, literally.
My phone buzzed and I sat up, reaching for it at the same time as I brushed a tear away.
Georgia: We landed!! Jared’s super excited to see you. We’re going to the hotel now, then we’ll meet you at the stadium. Door 8, right?
Me: Yes. How was the flight? I’m excited to see Jared, too.
I wasn’t. I was, but I was petrified. My hands were shaking as I typed that text out.
Another buzz.
Georgia: The boys are both bouncing off the walls. They told everyone on the plane they knew Stone and the Kingfishers were going to dominate tonight. Okay! We’ll see you at door 8. So excited!
Excited.
My hand never stopped shaking. All the way through taking a shower, changing. The button on my jeans kept slipping. Took me four times to secure it. Then, my hair. My whole arms were shaking now.
A knock and my door was pushed open. “You here—oh.”
It took me forty minutes just to get my clothes on. I had thirty minutes left to finish dressing before Stone’s driver would be outside waiting for me. I’d already sent him the text.