3. Tori
3
TORI
I hovered by a dryer until Jayden’s car pulled away. Then I dropped onto the hard plastic chair, burying my face in my hands. I took a couple of deep, shuddery breaths.
I hadn’t been mentally prepared to see Todd. Even after weeks of staying with Hailey and the big, strong guys she lived with, I hadn’t been able to shake the lingering fear. But aside from trying to call and text a few times, I hadn’t heard from Todd.
And I hoped I never would again, but Langley wasn’t a huge school. The possibility of running into him on campus constantly loomed in the back of my mind.
But it was done. Lucas, Jayden, and Roger had been great. More than just study group members, they felt like real friends—Lucas and Jayden especially. Tonight they’d supported me, and I was grateful.
My phone buzzed, and for a moment, I thought it might be Lucas. Which was ridiculous. Except for the group chat, he’d never messaged me personally. He was too focused during our study sessions to text me like Jayden sometimes did.
It was from Hailey.
Just wanted to make sure you got back okay from your study group , she texted.
Thanks, Mom. I grimaced slightly—my own mom used to check on me like that. Before she met Max.
Did you try the breakfast buffet yet? It’s pretty nice.
Hailey should know. She’d stayed at the hotel next to campus for a week at the end of the summer session.
Yeah, I love the pancakes.
You don’t have to stay there , she said for about the tenth time. You’re more than welcome to stay with us until your new place is ready. I’d told her that I’d secured a spot in a shared apartment with three other girls.
That’s very kind, but I’m good. Only a few more days before I can move in. I’d already imposed upon her enough. She lived with three guys in a bright, cheerful condo close to campus. I’d stayed with for a couple of weeks in August, and while everyone was kind, I felt I’d worn out my welcome.
Plus, I couldn’t quite figure out the situation there. Hailey had her own room with a huge king-sized bed. Then two of her roommates, Grant and Theo, slept in twin beds in the other bedroom. Ian took the couch.
During my time there, I’d slept in Hailey’s room. The bed was so big that I hadn’t even felt her roll over at night. It made me wonder if one of those gorgeous men regularly shared it with her before I intruded on them. Maybe Ian, that handsome medical student, since he was the one sleeping on the couch.
But Hailey had been tight-lipped about their living arrangement, and I’d detected a hint of relief from the guys the night they’d taken me out for a farewell dinner.
I’m fine. The hotel is lovely.
Okay. Sleep well!
You too.
I put my phone back in my backpack. The hotel was lovely—and also expensive. That was why I’d checked out two days ago.
Which wouldn’t have been a big if I’d actually found an apartment like I told Hailey, but that was a lie. Every spare moment had gone into searching for a place, but in a small town like Haverford, housing was scarce—unless you could fork out thousands of dollars a month. Hailey knew that better than anyone, since she’d been in the same situation recently. I’d spent so much time searching for a place that I’d neglected my homework. That was one of the reasons that I’d been glad when Lucas had reinstated the study group.
But not the only one.
With a sigh, I pushed up from the chair and headed toward the small restroom in the back of the laundromat. I used it and washed my face. Then I fished a travel-sized brush and toothpaste out of my pack and used that, too.
Then I trudged to my car. It didn’t take long to drive to the little park. It was nestled between a small neighborhood of single-family housing and the deeper woods that lined the mountains. I’d discovered it after driving around the other day, depressed about the status of my housing search.
It had been so calm and peaceful there that I’d stayed for hours, until well after dark. The calm of the park versus the absurdity of spending over two hundred dollars a night on a hotel had made the decision had been easy. I had checked out the next morning.
I chose the parking space closest to the board at the start of the trailhead. A small light illuminated the map and information on it, and it provided enough light for me to see in the car, but not enough light to bother me all night.
With a sigh, I looked around. There was a pillow and some blankets in the trunk. I’d used them to stretch out in the backseat the past two nights, but the thought of getting out of the car right now was too tiring. All I wanted was to go to sleep and forget I’d ever seen Todd tonight. The man who’d been a classmate. Then a friend. Then a roommate.
And then revealed himself to be a very delusional, possessive creep.
That thought sent a shiver down my spine. I checked the locks twice before unclipping my seatbelt.
Closing my eyes, I felt for the lever on the side of the seat and lowered it down. For tonight, this would do. I’d never seen anyone here at night. And in a town such as this, the most dangerous thing I might encounter out here was a bobcat, and as far as I knew, they didn’t come this close to town. And they sure as hell didn’t know how to pick the lock on a car door.
Folding my arm, I rested it over my eyes. I needed sleep—I could figure out the rest of this tomorrow.
Just as my racing thoughts slowed, I heard a sound. Then a shadow passed across the windshield. My heart lurched as I shot upright. The knock on the window triggered whatever deep-rooted fight or flight instinct I had, but then I heard my name. “Tori, are you in there?”
The voice belonged to Lucas.