Chapter 11
eleven
Rowyn Hale
Adventures
Groaning, I stretch out my limbs and immediately notice I’m butt-naked. I freeze, and my eyes pop open to an unfamiliar space. This is not my room. What the fuck? Where am I, and why is Batman staring at me from the nightstand?
I sit up, wrapping my body with the sheet, surveying the area as I think about how the hell I got here.
Last night—what happened last night? I stand from the bed and start looking around the room for clues.
My body aches, but not between my legs, which means I didn’t have sex.
Good. That’s a relief, but I still don’t know where I am.
I know I’m at the dorms, but whose? Spotting the desk across the room, I don’t see my clothes scattered on the floor.
This suite is actually pretty spotless, which doesn’t help me.
Last night. Last night. Why is my brain so foggy?
I don’t understand. The door suddenly swings open, and I jump out of my skin.
Turning around, I’m engulfed by the smell of fresh linen and bacon. That’s an odd smell combination, but what has my eyes widening is who is holding the tray of food and a stack of clean laundry.
“Petal. Are you trying to run out on me?” Elliot asks, and I gulp.
“Not that I was running out. I was just trying to figure out where I was and how I got here and why I’m naked. Also, your Batman is creepy to wake up to.” I laugh as he walks over to me and sets down the tray of food and hands me the stack of clothes.
“Here, go get dressed then I’ll explain since you don’t remember,” he orders, and I nod, walking into his bathroom. He’s lucky to have his own private space.
Shutting and locking the door behind me, I drop the sheet and begin to get dressed.
I bring the clothes to my nose and take a deep inhale.
Everything smells like him. Or his laundry soap just smells that good.
Slipping on my panties, then jeans, I turn around and gasp.
Why is there a bruise on my face? What the hell fucking happened?
Putting my bra on, then my shirt and hoodie, I run my fingers through my hair, then open the door, stepping back into his room and placing the sheet in his basket.
I can’t help but smile because he has our breakfast set up on his freshly made bed.
No one has ever done anything remotely this sweet for me before.
“Why are you just standing there smiling? Come eat. I got you iced tea, pancakes with a few strips of bacon, and fruit,” he states, and my smile widens.
“How did you know I like all of these items?” I ask, and he tilts his head, looking at me.
“I pay attention.” That's all he gives me, so I sit on his bed and place the tray on my lap. Reaching for the cup, I take a huge gulp and moan. I can’t remember the last time I had anything to drink.
He clears his throat and pops a grape into his mouth.
Then picks up another one and raises his brow.
“Open,” he orders, and I part my lips, opening as he tosses the grape inside, making me giggle.
“Thank you for all of this once again. But what happened last night? I saw the bruise on my cheek but I just can’t remember,” I say, taking a bite of my pancakes.
“What can you remember from last night?” he asks, and I sit there for a moment, thinking.
“Well, we went to the football game, and—”
“Who is we?”
“Me and Misti. Professor Strickland made it mandatory for us to attend the game,” I say as I continue to eat my food.
“What else?”
“Hmmm… Going to the bonfire, seeing you with that chick on her knees,” I snarl, rolling my eyes, and he raises a brow.
“Yeah, and you were with that kid by the fire,” he fires back, and my eyes widen. Is he jealous?
“Oh, Mike. Spencer's friend,” I say, and he snickers.
“Mike? That’s his name?” he asks, shoving a piece of bacon into his mouth.
“Yeah, but after meeting him, it’s kind of a blur,” I tell him, and he nods.
“Well, you got a little too wasted, and I’m pretty sure that guy Mike drugged you,” he states, and I gasp.
“He what?” I shout as all the blood drains from my face.
“Drugged, Rowyn. As in he spiked your drink and took you into the woods,” he says, and I’m stunned into silence. What the fuck? “I heard you scream, and I’m just glad I found you in time,” he says, slicing into his waffle.
“Did he try to r-rape me?” I ask with a voice so low I’m not sure he hears me.
“If I were just seconds later, he might have. When I got to you, I scared him off but not before he punched you in the cheek. I tried to go after him but you begged me to stay,” he says, which doesn’t sound like something I would do, but it’s Elliot.
I kind of trust him, so maybe what he is saying is true.
“Then what? Why didn’t you just take me back to my dorm, and why was I naked?” I ask as my lips tremble, and he grins.
“Would you believe me if I told you—you asked to be here? And we hooked up a bit. Not all the way but…” he trails off, and my eyes widen. I don’t respond immediately; in fact, I take another sip of my drink and push my tray away. I’m not that hungry anymore.
“Does Misti know where I am? She has to be worried,” I ask, and he shrugs.
“I tried to see if you had a phone in your jeans but didn’t find one,” he says, and I take a deep breath.
“That’s because I haven’t had the time to get one,” I tell him, and he laughs.
“You don’t have a phone? What human on this earth doesn’t have a phone?” But I look down at my tray, not wanting him to see right through me, but his fingers lift my chin, and my eyes collide with his. “Why don’t you have a phone, Petal?” he asks softly, and I lick my lips.
“I just don’t,” I lie, and he tilts his head.
“Bullshit!” he says, calling me out, and I take a deep breath.
“Well, when your world completely crumbles and you’re left with nothing, sometimes you just can’t afford the finer things in life,” I tell him truthfully, and he nods.
“Okay. Then let’s go,” he says, gathering both of our trays, getting up from his bed, and placing them on his desk.
“And where are we going?” I ask, and he rolls his eyes.
“To get you a phone, silly. Come on. Chop chop,” he orders, holding his hand out for me to take.
“I can’t spend any money right now,” I say, but he ignores me.
“That’s fine. But come on,” he says, and I raise a brow.
“You want to be seen with me in public?” I ask, and he laughs.
“Uh, yeah. Is that a crime?” he answers and looks at me like I’m nuts for asking the question.
“To some it is,” I respond, but I take his hand, letting him lead us out of his dorm. He doesn’t let go of my hand until he opens the passenger door of his matte black sports car that resembles the Batmobile.
“Do you have a thing for Batman?” I ask as I get into the car. He bends down into my space, and I hold my breath.
“It’s more of a relationship than it is a thing, Petal. Don’t mess with Batman. Gotham needs him,” he says in the most serious tone, which makes me burst out laughing.
“Women,” he huffs, petting the roof of the car, then he shuts the door and rounds the hood to climb in.
“Alright, Toots, let me and Bruce take you on the ride of your life. Buckle up for safety,” he jokes, and I put my seatbelt on and giggle.
He starts Bruce up, puts him in reverse, and peels out of the parking lot.
Once we hit the gates, he gives the guard a two-finger salute, makes a right, and takes off.
A girl could really get used to this. But the bitch in my head reminds me that good things never last.