Chapter Five
“What time are you getting here? I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I might actually miss you,” I tell River, snorting when Maisie gives me a look from her bunk.
“Is that the hot brother?” she whisper-hisses, giving me a wide smile.
Maisie and Charlotte always talk about how hot River is, though they’ve only ever seen him in the picture that sits on my desk. I think it’s gross. Not because I think River is bad-looking or anything, but because he’s my brother and that’s just... yuck.
“Shhh.” I cover the phone. “Don’t you have soccer practice or something?” I roll my eyes, refocusing on River.
“I’m driving overnight and going to get a hotel and sleep for a few hours beforehand. Don’t worry, I’ll be there for the welcome dinner tomorrow evening.”
“You better be. It’s bad enough that you’re the only one coming to see me on family weekend. I’m starting to see just where I stand on the priority list of this family.”
“Stop it. You know Mom and Dad would come if they could. It’s not their fault Dalton’s friends planned their wedding the same weekend and they have to watch the girls.”
“I know.” I huff. “I just hate that they can’t be here.”
“At least you get me.”
“That’s true,” I agree.
“And I’m a lot more fun than Mom and Dad.”
“Again... True.” I chuckle.
“I expect the whole treatment this weekend. No holding back. I want the full UVA experience.”
“Is that your way of saying you want me to take you to a party?” I groan.
Let’s be real. I don’t have the best track record with parties. The first one I got so drunk I was hungover for two days. And the second... Well, we all know how that ended.
“Um, duh.”
“Didn’t you party enough during your four years of college?”
“Probably.” He snorts.
“He wants to go to a party?” Maisie perks up in her bunk.
“No,” I mouth, shaking my head, already seeing her wheels turning.
“Kappa is having their annual glow paint rave this weekend. We have to take him!” She claps her hands excitedly.
“What the hell is a glow paint rave?” I ask.
“Shut up, they do those there?” The excitement in my brother’s voice is clear.
“Apparently so. Though I have no idea what that is.” I look at Maisie for further explanation, clicking my phone to speaker so River can hear her too.
“It’s a big party they hold at the underground every year.”
“The underground?”
“It’s a huge warehouse they rent out. They charge everyone twenty bucks to get in. It’s like a fundraiser of sorts. Anyways, everyone wears white and paints each other. They have black lights and stuff, so the paint glows. It’s so much fun.”
“You paint each other?” I sound unsure because I am unsure.
“It’s a lot more fun than it sounds,” Maisie reassures. “I went with Jackson last year and had a blast.”
“And they do this on family weekend? Seems like weird timing.”
“They do it on family weekend because people bring friends and siblings with them and they make a ton of freaking money.”
“What about the people whose parents visit? Surely, people aren’t bringing their parents to these things.”
“It’s not like the parents stay the night with their students. It doesn’t start until like ten at night.”
“We have to go,” River chimes in.
“See, your brother is in.” Maisie grins from ear to ear, knowing she’s got me. If River goes, of course I’m going to go. I only have my brother for one weekend.
“Fine,” I murmur in agreement. “But if I do this,” I tell River directly, “you owe me Sunday pancakes before you leave.”
“Deal.”
I can hear the smile in his voice as if he were standing right in front of me.
I take the phone off speaker.
“Be safe on your way here,” I tell him.
“Always. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow,” I agree, waiting until he hangs up before turning my attention back to Maisie. “Thanks for that,” I grumble.
“Stop it. You have to go to the glow paint rave. It’s tradition.”
Char picks that exact moment to walk into the room, a robe tied tightly around her slender frame.
“Did someone say glow paint rave?” She looks between the two of us, kicking the door shut with her foot.
“We’re going!” Maisie squeals excitedly. “And hot brother is coming with us!”
“Seriously?” Char’s gaze swings to me. “What about no more parties?” She crosses her arms in front of herself with a smirk.
I haven’t been back to a party since I had a meltdown on the front lawn of a frat house, and that was three weeks ago. And even though Char and Maisie have begged, I’ve stayed in the last two parties they’ve gone to.
“My brother’s going. I don’t really have much of a choice.”
“Well, whatever the reason, I’m glad for it. It’s not good for you to just sit in this room alone every weekend. This is college. You should be out there living it up while you can. Before you know it, we’ll be old and wrinkled and these days will be far behind us.”
“She’s right,” Maisie chimes in. “Now is the time to be wild and carefree. Hell, it’s the only time in our lives we’ll ever get to be. Do you really want to look back twenty years from now and regret all the things you didn’t do?”
“I already said I’m going. You don’t have to convince me.” My gaze bounces between the two of them. “But I’m going to need a white shirt. I don’t have any that I’m willing to get paint on.”
“I think we all will,” Char agrees. “We can run to the store later if you’re free.”
“I have soccer.” Maisie pouts.
“We can pick something up for you.” I offer.
“That would be great. Just whatever you two get is fine.”
“Done.” Char crosses the room to her small wardrobe. “We can go after my last class if that works.” She looks at me over her shoulder. “We can get dinner after.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I miss all the good stuff.” Maisie huffs, crossing her arms like a pouty child.
“You’re the one who committed to a sport,” Charlotte reminds her.
“That sport is the reason I get to live on campus. Otherwise, my parents would have me commuting the way Jackson did.”
“When does the season end?” I ask.
“Late November to early December, depending on Championships. Speaking of, you’re still coming to my game next weekend, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I promise.
“Miss cheering on our favorite Cavalier. Not a chance,” Char agrees.
“Speaking of games, are you planning on going to the football game next Saturday?” Maisie asks, looking between the two of us.
“I wasn’t planning on it. Why?”
“I just... thought it might be fun.” Maisie shrugs.
“You thought it might be fun, or you want to go see Macallan?” Char turns, giving her a pointed look.
“Macallan?” I arch a brow in Maisie’s direction. “The guy you hooked up with a few weeks ago? I didn’t realize you two were a thing.”
“We aren’t.”
“But she wants them to be,” Char teases.
“Will you shut up?” Maisie fires back, crinkling her nose at Charlotte.
“I’m just saying what you don’t want to admit,” she singsongs.
“I’m going to suffocate you with your pillow while you sleep,” she warns, humor lacing her words.
“Well, that just got dark.” I laugh, grabbing my phone when it starts vibrating against my desk.
I can feel every ounce of color drain from my face when the all-too-familiar number stares back at me. I deleted his contact, but that doesn’t keep me from knowing exactly who it is.
What. The. Actual. Hell.
My brain struggles to keep up with why he, of all people, would be calling me.
I stare at the phone like it’s a snake rearing back, ready to strike.
“Lyric?”
I glance up to see concern tugging at Maisie’s features.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” I decline the call, then drop the phone face down on my desk as I try to breathe through the sudden wave of panic clawing at my back.
“You sure?” Charlotte asks. “Because you don’t look okay.”
“Just... Someone I wasn’t expecting to hear from. It’s fine.”
My roommates exchange a look.
“It was Leo, wasn’t it?” Maisie guesses right.
I nod only once, swallowing hard.
They both know about Leo, obviously. Though I’ve only ever given them a condensed version of what happened.
“What can we do?” Char is quick to jump into action. “North Carolina isn’t that far. We could be there and back before anyone even knows we’re gone. I’ve never buried a body before, but there’s a lot of ground to work with between here and there.”
Laughter gurgles in my throat.
“I’m in,” Maisie agrees. “I’ve watched enough true crime to get away with murder.”
“I love you, girls, you know that?”
“Of course you do,” they say in unison.
“Seriously, though,” Maisie adds. “Anything we can do?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Nothing blocking his number won’t solve.” Which I promptly do, hoping that if he leaves a voicemail, it won’t go through because honestly, I don’t think I could bear to hear his voice right now. “Now, if you two don’t mind, I have a ton of schoolwork to get done.” I turn, powering on my laptop.
“Is that your way of telling us to fuck off?” Charlotte snorts.
“It’s my way of telling you to keep it down.” I force a smile, turning back to my computer.
I wasn’t lying about having schoolwork. I do. But there’s no chance I could concentrate enough to get any of it done right now.
Why did he call me?
What could he have possibly wanted?
My mind swirls in confusion, anger, and most prominently, pain.
That’s all I ever feel when I think of them.
Gut-wrenching, soul-sucking pain.
I keep telling myself that I’m over him. That I’m over what they did to me. But clearly, I’m not. Not when one phone call shakes the very foundation of the facade I’ve managed to construct around my life.
It’s not like I’m still in love with him. I’m not. And I’d never take him back, under any circumstances. I have way more self-respect than that. But what he did... What they did... It has destroyed my ability to trust myself. To trust the world around me. And because of this, I find it impossible to give my whole self to anyone.
Even with Maisie and Charlotte, I hold back. Two months living together and they still only know a fraction of who I really am. They know me on the surface, but the only people who know me on a deeper level are my family, and even them I find myself hiding from, only sharing what I think they want to hear and not what’s actually true.
Leo stole my ability to connect with people, to truly let them in, because deep down I’m scared that if I do, they’ll hurt me the way he did. The way she did. And I simply can’t let that happen... ever again.
“Your brother is so much hotter in person.” Maisie leans in, practically screaming to be heard over the loud music that pulses around us.
“Are you trying to make me nauseous?” I crinkle my nose in disgust.
“I think Char has a crush on him.” She giggles, the alcohol making her more brazen than she already is.
“Don’t tell me that.” I choke out a laugh, shaking my head.
“Admit it. You’re having fun.” She smiles like a lunatic, swinging my arms as we dance, if dancing is what you’d call what we’re doing. I’d say we’re more swaying than dancing, but you get the idea.
“I admit it.” I stick my tongue out at her, laughing at the splatters of paint that cover her otherwise flawless face.
So yeah, they weren’t kidding about the whole glow paint thing. They literally squirt paint on you as you walk through the front door and then give you squeeze bottles of paint to squirt at each other. Every single person in here is a mess of bright colors that glow beneath the black lights that illuminate the otherwise dark room.
“We got shots!” I turn toward my brother’s voice as he and Charlotte appear through the crowd, both of them carrying four shots each.
My smile widens at the sight of him, even though he just left to get drinks less than five minutes ago. It wasn’t until I opened the door yesterday and he was standing there with that goofy smile of his that I realized just how much I’d missed him and how much more I’m going to miss him once he leaves tomorrow.
“Two for you.” Char hands Maisie two bright pink plastic shot glasses, while my brother passes me two neon green ones.
“Two?” I arch a brow.
“As tightly wound as you are.” He grins. “Trust me, sis, you need them.”
I bite back the comment that threatens to spill out, in which I tell my brother, whom I love dearly, to fuck right off, which tells me I’m not as drunk as they’d like me to be, considering I can still hold my tongue.
I’m trying to pace myself, but with the way these three are shoving drinks in my hand, I’m not sure I stand a chance. In truth, River is the only reason I’m even drinking. One, because he said he’s always wanted to get drunk with his baby sister. And two, because I know I’m safe with him. Even if I end up so drunk I can’t walk out of this building, he’s got me. And it’s only because of this that I toss back the first shot, grimacing as it burns a new pathway to my stomach.
“What is this?” I hold up the second shot, inspecting the liquid. “Battery acid?”
“Oh, shut up and drink it!” Charlotte scolds, pouring both shots into her mouth, one after the other.
“Cheers, sis.” River clinks one of his plastic cups against mine before throwing it back.
“Cheers,” I murmur, braving the second shot, which burns even worse than the first. “Awful.” I cough, covering my mouth with my hand when the liquid threatens to come back up for a split second.
After handing my cups back to River, he collects Maisie’s and Charlotte’s as well before leaving to dispose of them, then returns only seconds later.
Most of the night goes on the same way, though I tap out after shots seven and eight, not able to hang with people who clearly have way more drinking experience than I do. The eighth one does me in, the floor starting to sway in time with the bodies so tightly packed on the dance floor that they’re practically moving as one.
When Maisie excuses herself to go find Mac, I use that as my opportunity to step away to use the bathroom, i.e., get off this freaking dance floor before I puke all over it. River warns me to stay with Maisie, whom I lose almost immediately, while Charlotte seems all too happy to see me go. I try not to think too much about that at the moment, though. I have bigger problems than her trying to bag my brother, like getting through this thick wall of people before I throw up.
I stumble over feet. Knock into shoulders. Trip, regain my balance, and then trip again. By the time I reach a clearing, I’ve been stepped on, elbowed, had beer spilled on me, and been kissed by some random girl who grabbed me and laid one on me as I was trying to squeeze past her.
I think it’s safe to say this has been a very interesting night.
Looking around, I try to remember where the bathroom is that Maisie took me to earlier, but I’m completely turned around. This place is massive, with random hallways and rooms I don’t dare venture into.
I wander aimlessly, trying to find my way around through the thick buzz of alcohol that makes my entire body feel like it’s overheating from the inside out.
Realizing I’m most definitely going in the wrong direction, having found myself back toward the entrance, I turn, every fiber in my body seizing, freezing me in place, when I see a pair of blue eyes staring back at me, and he’s way too close.
Kai...
My heart leaps at the sight of him.
It feels like I haven’t seen him in forever and even though my sober brain would never admit it, my drunk brain has no problem acknowledging that I’ve missed looking at his Adonis-like face.
That is until my fuzzy brain registers the look on his face.
Is he... angry?
“What the fuck are you doing?” he scolds, leaning in so I can hear him better. “You should not be walking around by yourself.”
Don’t breathe. Don’t breathe. Don’t breathe. I repeat the mantra in my head. But it doesn’t work. Despite everything, I inhale deeply, pulling in the scent of him. A scent I could tattoo on my skin and never tire of smelling.
“Because I’m too weak and frail to walk myself to the bathroom.” I smile, despite myself, way too drunk for this conversation and clearly over my need to be sick, at least at this immediate moment.
“You’re drunk,” he states flatly. “And given that you’ve been wandering around for the last twenty minutes, I’d venture to say you have no idea where the bathroom even is.”
“Lookie there. You are observant after all.” I let out a noise that sounds like a mixture between a hiccup and a laugh, not questioning for a second how he seems to know my every move. I don’t have the mental capacity to unpack that tidbit at the moment.
“Come on.” He shakes his head. “I’ll take you home.” He reaches for my hand, but I pull it away just in time.
“I’m not going home.” I look him up and down, only now realizing that not only is he not wearing white like the rest of us, but he also doesn’t have a single drop of paint on him.
“Like hell you aren’t. Do you know what happens to girls like you in places like this, when you’re not sober enough to fend them off?”
“My brother is here. He wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”
“You mean the brother currently so distracted by your roommate he doesn’t even realize you ventured off alone?”
“Last time I checked, you’re not my bodyguard or my babysitter. Actually, now that I think about it, you’re not my anything. You’re not even my friend.” I smile again, though this one isn’t meant to be friendly. “So fuck off.”
I can tell by the way his eyes flare that I’ve not only surprised myself with my language, but him as well. But that makes no sense because he doesn’t know me well enough to know I almost never curse.
“Careful,” he warns, his gaze dropping to my mouth for a brief moment, almost daring me to say it again.
“Or what?” I challenge.
“I’m just trying to help you.” He steps into me, the size of him overwhelming my personal space. I can’t bring myself to step back, even though I know I should.
“I don’t want your help.” I stand my ground.
“Too bad.” He grits his teeth in a way that’s way sexier than it should be.
“Why?”
“Why what?” He dips, his face so close to mine, too close, and yet still way too far away.
“Why do you care?”
“Who says I do?” His words sting, but I don’t let it show.
“Then why not just leave me alone?”
“I wish it were that simple.” His forehead creases in a way that makes me want to reach up and smooth my thumb across it.
“Why?” I ask again.
“Why what?” The corner of his mouth tips.
“Why isn’t it that simple?”
He leans in even closer, our lips a whisper apart, and I swear I stop breathing.
“Because I can’t seem to stay away from you.”
That’s all it takes.
That one sentence.
That one look.
And I’m putty in his hands.
“Then don’t.” My words barely break the surface, but he hears them just the same.
“Keep looking at me like that, and I won’t be able to stop myself.”
His words don’t deter me. If anything, they egg me on.
“From doing what?” I ask simply because I want to know what he’ll say. The way he’s looking at me is pretty clear.
His lips move to my ear.
“From taking you into one of these back rooms and fucking you until you can’t walk straight for a week.”
A full-body shiver runs through me.
“So do it then,” I practically beg.
I know I’m not in my right mind. Even drunk, I can think of a million reasons why I should walk away right now, but for the life of me, I can’t get a single muscle to move.
“Lyric.” God, the way he says my name. Like silk and barbed wire, smooth but jagged at the edges. “You don’t mean what you’re saying.” He pulls back just enough to meet my gaze.
“What if I do?”
“You don’t.” He shakes his head, causing a dark strand to fall across his forehead into his eye.
I can’t stop myself from reaching up and pushing it away from his face, taken by how soft and silky the strands are.
“Or maybe you’re just afraid that I do.” I continue to push, to what end, I do not know.
It’s not like I’m actually going to sleep with the guy... right?
“Why would I be afraid?” He challenges, something in his eyes wavering.
“You tell me.”
“There you are!”
I jump at the sound of Charlotte’s voice, turning to see her and my brother approach.
When I turn back toward Kai, I’m met with his backside as he’s already walking away. Disappointment settles deep in my gut, but I do my best to tuck it down where I keep everything else buried that I don’t want to think about.
“Who was that?” River asks, gesturing to the spot Kai occupied until only moments ago.
“Nobody. Just some guy.” I brush it off, not trying to unpack Kai Elliot with my brother, of all people. I’m just about to ask where Maisie is when she appears seemingly out of nowhere.
“Is it just me or does this party suck all of a sudden?” she slurs.
“Everything okay?” I ask, looping my arm through hers to give her some stability when she stumbles slightly.
“Boys suck.” She groans.
“Girl, don’t I know it,” I murmur under my breath. “I’m ready if you are.”
“Do you mind if I stay?” Charlotte asks, her gaze bouncing between me and Maisie.
“I’m not leaving you here alone,” I tell her, shaking my head.
“I’ll stay,” River offers.
“You sure?” I give my brother an apprehensive look.
“Yeah, this is probably the last time I’ll ever get to attend one of these. I can hang out and make sure Charlotte gets home safe.”
“Really?” Char claps excitedly. “I mean, if that’s okay with you.” She gives me the biggest pretty-please smile I’ve ever seen.
“Okay,” I reluctantly agree.
It’s not that I have a problem with them staying. I just hope they don’t end up hooking up or something because that would be painfully awkward for me.
“You’re good to get home?” River asks.
“I know how to order an Uber.” I give him an exasperated look.
“Text me as soon as you’re back at the dorm.”
“Yes, dad.”
“And don’t ever call me dad again.”
I laugh.
“You ready?” I ask Maisie, who nods.
“Yes, please.”
After saying goodbye to River and Char, Maisie and I make our way outside arm in arm. I can tell something is bothering her, but I don’t push. I know when someone doesn’t want to talk about it, and I can tell she most certainly does not.
“Stand here and I’ll order us an Uber,” I tell her, releasing her arm, allowing her to lean against the outside wall as I dig my phone out of the back pocket of my ripped-up jean shorts.
“You ladies need a ride?”
I tense at the sound of his voice.
“Hey.” Maisie smiles at him and I’m reminded that the two have known each other for a long time. “Are you leaving?” She sways slightly against the wall.
“I am. Want me to give you a lift?” He catches her by the elbow to keep her upright when she steps toward him.
“Actually, that would be great.” She hiccups. “Doyouhaveanubercoming?” The words come out all jumbled together like one big word.
“No, I drove.”
“You haven’t been drinking?” It’s my turn to speak.
“No,” he states flatly, giving me a look like I should know better, but really, how would I know better when I don’t actually know him?
“Since when do you come to a party and not drink?” Maisie leans into his side, allowing Kai to guide her toward the parking lot. She’s far more drunk than I realized earlier.
I mean, I’m not exactly sober either, but at least I can walk a straight line... I think. I look down at my feet just to be sure. Seems pretty straight to me.
“Since I had other priorities.” He throws me a glance over his shoulder, and I swear I feel that look all the way down to my toes.
Certainly, he’s not talking about me .
“Because that’s not cryptic or anything,” she slurs. “Care to elaborate?”
“Not really.” He smiles down at her.
“Men and your secrets.” She shakes her head, though I doubt she’s talking about Kai anymore.
She hasn’t been very forthcoming about what’s going on with her and Macallan, if there even is anything going on. She acts like there’s not but then take tonight for example: she leaves to find him in a great mood and comes back just a few minutes later upset and ready to leave. I highly doubt that’s a coincidence.
Kai leads us to the parking lot—which is in need of a serious new pave—that sits around the side of the building, and I try to look anywhere other than at his back and the way his shirt tugs and moves against his broad shoulders as he walks.
Given the number of people inside, the lot is barely half full. Then again, a lot of people likely carpooled or are getting a car to take them home. Stopping beside a black, sporty-looking Nissan, he tugs open the back door and helps Maisie inside.
I cross around to the other side, preparing to join her in the back seat, when Kai cuts me off, opening the front door instead of the back.
“You’re up front with me.”
My gaze flies up to meet his.
“No, I’m sitting in the back with Maisie.”
“Maisie needs to lie down or she’s going to end up puking all over my car.” He steps back just enough to give me room to climb into the car. “Hence why you’re up front with me.”
Right. Of course. Because why else would he have me sit in the front? I feel stupid for even entertaining the idea that it could be because he wanted me to.
“Fine,” I grumble, giving him a dirty look as I climb into the car. “We’re going to get paint everywhere,” I warn him, secretly hoping that we do just that because, apparently, I’m spiteful when I drink.
He settles into the driver’s seat next to me, and suddenly, the car feels a million times smaller.
“From the looks of it, that paint has been dry for hours.” He gives me a once-over. “Your shoes aren’t as lucky as my car, however.” He gestures to my low-top white Converse that are splattered in various colors of paint.
“I think they look amazing,” I disagree.
“How many pairs of those things do you own anyway?” he asks, firing the engine to life before dropping his cell phone into the center console.
“Not enough,” I grumble. “Nice phone.”
“Yeah, had to get a new one after my old one got broken.”
“I was there,” I remind him, turning my head to look out the window, effectively ending the conversation.
Ten minutes ago, I was basically begging this man to have his way with me. Now I can barely look at him. Then again, that’s probably why I can’t look at him. Because I feel stupid.
We drive in silence for several minutes. The only sound for miles has been Maisie softly snoring in the back seat. Pretty sure she fell asleep before we even pulled out of the parking lot.
“I’m sorry about earlier.” He finally breaks the silence once we’re back on campus.
“What about earlier?” I chance a glance in his direction and instantly regret it when his blue eyes meet mine for the briefest of moments.
I feel my defenses wain.
“I had no right to tell you what to do.”
“Well, that’s something we can both agree on.” I’m careful to keep my voice low so as not to disturb Maisie.
“You should really stay away from me.” This time when I look his way, he doesn’t look at me.
“Easier said than done when you won’t stay away from me, ” I hiss.
“You’re right.” He nods slowly. “I don’t know what it is about you, Converse, but I find it damn near impossible to stay away from you.”
His admission steals the breath straight from my lungs.
“I—”
“I shouldn’t have told you that.” He’s quick to cut me off. “Forget I said anything.”
“No.” I shake my head.
“No?” The side of his mouth quirks in a smile.
“No,” I confirm. “You do not get to say something like that to me and then take it back.”
“Why not? It doesn’t change anything. I’m still me and you’re still you.”
“And that’s a problem?”
“That’s a very big fucking problem.”
“Why?”
“Because when I say I’d break you”—he slows next to the curb, putting the car in park as he turns and looks me straight in the eye—“I mean it. Do not ever look at me the way you looked at me tonight. Do not tempt me or dare me. Do not ask me for anything. Because if you do, I may not have the strength to tell you no.” And with that, he kills the engine and climbs from the car, leaving me in the passenger seat, stunned.
He’s already got Maisie out of the back seat and onto the sidewalk before I’ve gotten fully out of the car. I try to digest his words, but none of them make sense. It’s almost like he’s saying he wants me but doesn’t want me. Or he does want me, but he doesn’t want to hurt me... Am I getting this right or have I completely misinterpreted this whole situation?
I can’t be certain of anything. Not with the buzz of alcohol still flowing through my veins and my heart jackhammering inside my chest like the traitorous witch she is.
Maisie wakes but only enough to move her feet. Her head lulls from side to side as Kai leads her to the front door. Realizing he can’t get in, I quickly catch up, slipping between them and the door to scan the badge that’s tucked in the clear case of my cell phone. The lock clicks and I push my way inside, holding the door for Kai.
“Don’t tell Jackson about this,” Maisie slurs so heavily it’s hard to make out her words as her head continues to lull.
“Not a word,” Kai promises. “Your brother would have my ass if he knew I let you get this drunk anyway.”
When we reach our dorm, I quickly unlock the door and again hold it open so that Kai can get Maisie inside. He stops just inside the door, looking around the small room.
“Pretty inconvenient time for loft beds,” he grumbles, and I quickly realize the dilemma.
“Probably not safe to put her up there in case she gets sick,” I agree. “Is there a way to pull her mattress down?”
“That could work.” He nods. “Can you take her?”
“Yeah, of course.” I slip in beside her, allowing her to lean into me, though given that I’m not really all that stable on my own feet at the moment, it’s a lot harder than it should be.
Kai pulls the mattress off Maisie’s bunk without ever asking which one belongs to her, which I find a little odd but don’t question. I’ll just add it to the growing list of unanswered questions I’ll take away from tonight.
He pushes the mattress against her bunk frame so that she won’t get hit by the door when Charlotte gets home and then together, we help her into bed. She curls up on her side, and I no more than pull a cover over her, and she’s out.
“Well, that was fast,” I say more to myself than Kai.
“I should go.” He immediately starts for the door.
“I’m not as fragile as you seem to think I am,” I say, watching his back go rigid as he freezes mid-step.
“Maybe not.” He glances over his shoulder, meeting my gaze. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t hurt you all the same.” With that, he tugs open the door and disappears into the hall.