Panic hit like ice water.
I shot up, clutching the sheet to my chest, heart slamming so hard I thought it might crack ribs. My phone was on the nightstand, the screen cracked worse than last night. 10:47 a.m. blinked at me.
Shit. Shit shit shit.
Twenty-nine missed calls from Mara. Fifteen texts from Eli.
Eli’s last one, sent at 9:12 a.m.:
Hadley where are you
Mara says you didn’t come home
I’m scared
Please answer
My hands shook so bad I almost dropped the phone. I swiped to call Mara. Straight to voicemail. Tried Eli. Same.
“Fuck,” I hissed, louder than I meant. “Fuck fuck fuck.”
I threw the sheet off, forgetting I was naked, scrambling for clothes scattered across the floor. My jeans were inside-out. Tank top twisted. One sneaker under the bed. I yanked them on anyway, hopping on one foot, cursing under my breath.
The cursing must’ve woken him. Cal groaned, rolled over, squinted at me like I was a bad dream.
Cal groaned, rolled onto his back, arm over his eyes. “Jesus. Volume.”
I spun on him, half-dressed, hair a wreck. “What the hell happened last night?”
“What the hell are you doing?” His voice was gravel, annoyed.
"I have to go.” I yanked my shirt down, fingers fumbling buttons. “My brother, my phone, twenty-nine missed calls. I’m late. I’m so fucking late.”
" Calm down. It’s not even noon.”
“Not even noon?” I spun on him.
“I was supposed to be home by ten! Ten o’clock! My brother is thirteen and autistic and he’s probably freaking out right now because I didn’t come home and Mara’s not answering...”
“Jesus, lower your voice. My head’s killing me.”
“Lower my...?” I stared at him, incredulous.
He cracked one eye open. Hazel, bloodshot. “You’re still here?”
“Excuse me?”
“Look, sweetheart...” He sat up slow, sheet pooling at his waist. No shame. Just irritation. “This was fun. But I got shit to do. Time to go.”
My mouth dropped. “You’re kicking me out? After...after whatever the fuck this was?”
He rubbed his face. “Yeah. I’m kicking you out.” He crossed his arms. “You got what you wanted, right? A night with Cal Ember. Congrats. Door’s that way.”
I stared at him, disbelief burning hot in my chest. “I didn’t want anything from you. I don’t even remember....”
“Then why are you still naked in my bed?” He swung his legs over the side, stood up, completely bare, and walked to the bathroom like I was background noise.
“Door’s that way.”
