If he gets away with this … I swallow hard. No. I can’t think about that.
But fuck. It’s all my mind wants to think about.
“I have a friend who works at the hospital. He can’t give me details, HIPPA and all that, but he’ll give us a heads up when they get ready to discharge him.”
“Okay. That’s … that’s good.”
“Yeah.” Julio rubs the back of his neck again, a nervous gesture. “So, uh, your parents have been calling. A lot.”
I freeze with my coffee cup halfway to my mouth. “What?”
His smile is apologetic. “Your dad’s the mayor,” he says. “Someone down at the precinct let him know his daughter was assaulted yesterday. When he couldn’t get a hold of you, he started blowing up Gabriel’s phone.”
The mention of my parents' attempts to reach me sends a pang of guilt coursing through me.
“Shit.” I groan. “I left my phone on campus.” They must be so worried. I didn’t even think about letting them know about what happened. Hell, I didn’t even bother to text Mom that I wouldn’t be home last night.
Stupid. That was so freaking stupid.
Julio pulls a slim black phone out of his back pocket. “Adriana helped me out by grabbing your things from your locker when I went back last night. I turned it off,” he apologizes. “You were asleep and you needed the rest. But I spoke to your pops. He knows you’re here with Gabe and that you’re okay.”
With a mix of gratitude and trepidation, I accept my phone from Julio, its screen dark and silent, a stark contrast to the cacophony of missed calls and messages that are undoubtedly waiting for me.
“And my dad was okay with that?”
He sighs. “He wasn’t happy about it. I had to talk him out of coming here to get you, but …” he hesitates. “Your parents loveyou. They know you’ve been through a lot and this, it’s scary for them. But I promised them you were okay, and when I told them you were sleeping, your father agreed it was best to let you rest and recover. Though I’m sure he’s expecting a call this morning now that you’re up.”
“Thank you,” I tell him. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“It was no problem.”
A comfortable silence stretches between us and we each drink our coffee. I contemplate powering on my phone, but something tells me it’ll only push me into motion, and I’m not ready for my day to start just yet.
Mom and Dad can wait. As can the rest of the world. I still need time to wrap my head around all of this.
Finishing my cup, I rinse it in the sink before loading it into the dishwasher. I’m about to return to the living room and see if Gabriel is awake, but Julio’s soft voice stops me.
“He really cares about you,” he says, voice pitched low.
“I know,” I tell him, not sure of what else to say.
The scrape of his chair on the floor has me turning back around to face him. Julio rises to his feet, dark eyes troubled as he refills his mug. “I don’t want to see him hurt. After the first time—” He shakes his head and, without looking at me, takes a drink of his coffee. “If you’re leading him on?—”
“I’m not,” I assure him.
“Then what is it?” he asks. “You two aren’t back together, are you?”
I shake my head.
“Then what are you doing? Because you’re acting like you are, and Gabriel isn’t capable of casual. Not when it comes to you.”
Ducking my head, I avert my gaze. I know that. At least, I do now. But?—
“I don’t know,” I tell him, my voice little more than a whisper. “I thought we …” I shake my head. “I don’t know what I thought.”
“And now?” he asks.
I tuck my hair behind my ear, hating the direction of this conversation. “What do you mean?”
