Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Danika
I’m surprised that Arden isn’t in my bed when I wake up but I’m more shocked at how disappointed I find myself feeling.
I am the only one who made the “no sleepovers” rule so I shouldn’t be shocked that he’s following it but, last night was the first time we hooked up in my bed and I thought he would’ve taken the opportunity to break a rule or two.
But he didn’t.
And that’s fine.
When I leave my room, Sydney is laying on the floor, having already cleaned up all the bedding and sheets, stretching like the fitness maniac she is. There’s no Margot in sight, or Arden for that matter.
“I think they went out early this morning.” Sydney shrugs, releasing her left knee and pulling her right knee up to her chest.
“Went where?”
“No idea. Can you pass me my water bottle?”
I bring her the pretty green and orange bottle and she takes a healthy gulp.
“I’m sorry, Sydney,” I say, sitting cross-legged on the floor next to her. She sits up and looks at me questioningly. “I feel like I’ve been so wrapped up in my own stuff this year that I’ve barely reached out to you or asked about your sister. How is she doing? What have the doctors been saying?”
Sydney looks at me and for a while she doesn’t say anything. Oh, no. “It’s just that…” she starts and I give her all the space she needs to tell me what’s going on. “I just…”
Just as she opens her mouth again, the door opens and in walks Arden and Margot, coffees in hand.
I see the panic in Sydney’s eyes, and I can tell immediately that she doesn’t want to talk about this anymore. Not now. I give her back a rub of reassurance before getting up from the floor to greet them.
“Thanks for the coffee, Mars,” I say as she hands me the warm cup.
“Don’t thank me,” she nods her head behind her and my eyes land on a sheepish looking Arden. I nod my head in gratitude and he gives me one of those smiles. You know, the one the devil loves. The one that could cause me to abandon my whole stance against having a real relationship with Arden.
His eyes sparkle at my attention and I can’t help but think about what it would be like to have his attention on me like this all the time.
I used to dream about it as a teenager. My crush on Arden was undeniable but that’s all it was, a crush.
I never thought I’d have an actual shot with him and now that I do, I’m scared to death.
“We should do something fun today!” I cheer, suddenly needing to get some fresh air. All this close proximity is making my head spin.
“I have a meeting on campus at four so I can do anything before then. Just, please no paintball,” she says and I enjoy the reminder of our junior year exploits when Sydney and I were lowkey trying to push her and Alex together.
She doesn’t know we orchestrated it that way, but of course we did.
She never would’ve made a move otherwise. And look at them now.
See, devil brain, I’m not always so diabolical. Sometimes I use my evil for good.
“What about you, Syd? What time do you have to leave?
She shrugs. “I’ll leave when Margot does. No rush.”
“Yay!” I cheer, clapping my hands together. “Let’s go do something fun!”
Five minutes later, we’re sitting on the couch all at a complete loss on what’s fun around here that doesn’t involve drinking or exercise of any kind—much to Sydney’s chagrin.
“We can—”
“Oh my god, I have the perfect idea. But we need four people.”
All eyes shoot to Arden who’s been cleaning up the kitchen while we brainstorm on the couch.
I’m not sure if it’s for my benefit or if he’s showing off for his sister but Arden’s cleanliness has increased tenfold over the past few weeks.
My wishful thinking hopes it’s the former but I’ll take either as long as the dishes are clean.
“Ardy,” I call toward him, patting my eyelids aggressively. “You coming with us?”
He puts his hands on the counter and straightens his arms, the movement showing off his pecs and biceps beautifully.
Not that I noticed that. He’s looking at me like he’s not sure how to answer.
He could easily say he’s working a shift and can't come but it seems like he’s torn between wanting to come along and knowing if it’s a good idea or not.
With a wink, I sweeten the deal and his head drops with a smile.
“Yeah, I’m in,” he says, resigned. But I know he’s happy to come along. He isn’t going to miss a chance to hang with his sister, plus, I think he wants to hang with me too. He just won’t admit that. Or you won’t.
“Perfect! Everyone get ready, we’re hitting the road in fifteen minutes.” I run into my room to change my clothes and as I do, the mutter starts behind me.
“Ready for what?”
“No way.”
“Yes way.”
“There’s nothing else we can do today? What about-–”
“Nope. This is what we’re doing.”
North Side Escape Rooms stands before us and I grab Margot’s arm to pull her through the doors. Arden and Sydney follow with appeasing smiles.
“Have I ever told you I’m claustrophobic?” Margot groans as we get to the counter.
I roll my eyes. “You haven’t told me that because you aren’t and also it’s not like we’re actually locked in. Right?” I turn that question toward the teenager behind the ticket desk.
“Right, you can leave the room at any time if you want,” he answers happily. “Do y’all have a reservation with us?”
“We do.” Because I booked it on the way here under the cover of my sweatshirt sleeve. “Name is Danika for four people.” He looks at the screen and smiles.
“Got you right here. If y’all take a second to sign the waivers, we’ll get you right in,” he says, handing us each a clipboard with a piece of paper on it.
“Of course Danika would bring us somewhere that requires a waiver,” Sydney comments with a chuckle, grabbing the clipboard. We all fill out our information and within minutes, are guided down a long, dark hallway by an “escape artist” named Sammy.
Arden and I trail at the end of the group as Margot and Sydney walk ahead of us.
“You didn’t need four people for this. You big-brained three would’ve been just fine on your own,” he comments in my ear.
I turn to answer him but the action brings out our faces nearly flush together and I find the words leaving my brain entirely.
He looks at me sideways, like he’s confused that I’m affected by him this way.
Don’t worry, I’m confused too. And worried. And alarmed. And intrigued.
“I…” can’t form a coherent sentence. What is wrong with me right now? Is it the way the darkness makes it feel like we’re alone? Like I could reach out and touch him if I wanted to and no one would know? Should I?
I move my hand to grab his arm, not sure why or what I want with it but suddenly I’m feeling like I need contact as much as I need my next breath. My fingertips graze his skin and I’m jolted to reality by a loud commanding voice.
“Alright, folks.” The clapping of hands breaks me from my reverie and I jolt backwards, away from Arden. I can tell he’s still looking at me like I’ve lost my mind but I refuse to meet his gaze, afraid of what I would see. Or really, what I would show.
“Welcome to Escape Room Four, the “treasure hunt”. Your dear old grandfather has left you too soon and with him, his treasure hidden somewhere in his cabin. Don’t worry though, he did leave a map to help you find it. All you have to do is follow the clues, find the treasure and escape the room.”
“The door isn’t actually locked, right?” Margot asks and I’m starting to think maybe she is a little bit claustrophobic. After the staff member shows there’s not even a lock on the door itself, she relaxes.
“Any questions?
“How much time do we have?” Arden asks, and I realize he’s a lot closer to me than he was a second ago.
He slips his arm around my waist, pulling my back against his front.
I stifle a gasp at the action. He runs his thumb up and down from the bottom of my chest to my belly button.
I wouldn’t have thought that the feeling of a soft hand moving up and down my stomach could be erotic but here I am, almost panting at the attention.
“You have one hour. You also have unlimited hints available. I’ll be watching from this camera,” Sammy points toward a small black object in the upper right corner. “So if you need anything, holler in that direction and I’ll put a hint up on the screen for you.”
The girls nod in front of us. Arden nods too–I can feel the movement–but I’m stuck. Suddenly, I’ve never wanted to be alone with anyone more in my entire life. I wish we had booked this room just for the two of us, covered the camera and never escaped.
“Ready?” Sammy asks and Arden leans down so his lips are next to my ear.
“Let’s do this, brat,” he kisses my neck and then releases me immediately. I stumble backwards and Arden chuckles as he walks around me, following Margot and Sydney into the room.
Shit, I need to get my composure or I’m going to be a panting mess throughout this entire event. Pull yourself together. Think about something else. Anything else. Anatomy lab. Dead bodies. Cadavers. Nico.
Okay, I’m officially unhorny.
Taking a deep breath, I enter the room and the door is closed behind me. Arden gives me a look that says he’s ready to play.
Fuck. There it is again. This is going to be the longest hour of my life.
“I didn’t realize it would be so dark in here,” I comment as we move from one room into the next. As a team, we were able to get through the first puzzle but now we’re headed down a hallway toward the next puzzle space and I can’t see a thing except for a distant light in front of us.
“Scared?” Arden says in my ear and I jump but only because I didn’t realize he was so close…again. He keeps finding these excuses to get close to me and I keep finding myself wanting him to.
“There, ahead!” Sydney cries and her and Margot jet toward the lighted doorway. I go to follow but I’m pulled backward by a grip on my shirt.
He’s having way too much fun being in charge here, it’s my turn.
As I get back in his grasp, I turn my body around before he can touch me again and make me go loopy in his arms. Grabbing his neck, I pull his face down to mine and kiss him with all the force of a person whose best friends aren’t a hallway away.
He doesn’t hesitate to grab me back, meeting my lips with his tenfold. I want to keep going, I want to open my mouth and allow his tongue all the access it’s asking for but…we are on the clock and I don’t like losing.
“When we get home,” I whisper against his lips. “I’ll finish what you started, but until then…” Moving my mouth, I drag my tongue from the collar of his t-shirt to the tip of his earlobe. Arden’s head goes back and I can tell he’s holding back a moan. “It’s game on.”
Pushing out of his grasp, I turn and run down the hall after my friends, fresh off the promise of two victories at the end of this. One from escaping the room and the other from having Arden so on edge he’s going to be thinking about nothing but me for the rest of the afternoon.