I nod weakly.
Chloe hugs me goodbye while Damon somehow balances a large cardboard box in one arm and my suitcase in the other like he’s physically incapable of struggling with anything.
“You’d better text me,” Chloe says firmly.
“I will.”
“And if he murders you?—”
“You’ll never find the body,” Damon deadpans.
Chloe stares at him, desperately hoping he’s kidding.
“He’s kidding!” I exclaim.
Chloe points at him immediately. “See? This isexactlywhat I’m talking about.” Damon looks completely unrepentant, and a laugh slips out of me before I can stop it.
A few minutes later, the three of us head downstairs, stepping out into the crisp Chicago air, as students flood the pathways between dorm buildings. Chloe heads to class, and Damonleads the way to the nearby parking lot, carrying nearly all of my belongings despite my repeated protests to help.
His SUV sits parked beneath a row of trees near the edge of campus. He loads everything into the back effortlessly while I hover nearby, pretending not to admire his forearms flexing beneath pushed-up sleeves, which is difficult.Very difficult.
Once the last box is inside, Damon closes the hatch and immediately turns to face me and pulls me into him. A startled laugh leaves me as my hands land on his chest automatically.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m still upset with you,” he informs me, seriously, “that you wouldn’t give me the opportunity to have the college experience on the tiny dorm bed.”
“Oh my God,” I choke on a laugh, “my roommate wasnotleaving me alone with you.” I shove lightly at his chest. “I’m pretty sure she’s currently calling the FBI to see whether there’s been a recent prison break.”
Damon laughs quietly, the sound low as it rumbles against my chest. God, I love hearing that from him.
His hand slides gently into my hair, tucking a loose strand behind my ear before kissing me softly.
“Hey,” a familiar voice interrupts. We both turn, and my stomach flips clean over when I see Gabe standing a few feet away. His hands are shoved self-consciously into the pockets of his jacket while his eyes bounce briefly between the two of us.
Damonstraightens slightly beside me. “When I texted, I didn’t think you’d come.”
Gabe exhales softly through his nose. “Truthfully? I wasn’t going to.”
Hurt flickers across Damon’s expression.
Gabe shrugs one shoulder awkwardly. “But… I’m here.”
Damon nods once. “I’m glad.”
The few seconds of silence that follow are painfully awkward.
Gabe huffs a laugh and rubs the back of his neck. “I’ll be honest,” he says. “This is still weird as fuck.”
“For me, too.” I giggle before I can stop myself. “You aren’t the one who’s made out with both of you.”
Gabe barks a startled laugh. And for the first time since all of this started, I see a glimpse of the easygoing boy I first met at Westbridge before everything in my life became complicated. “I guess it’s a good thing we never slept together, huh?”
Damon’s head turns toward me slowly.
“Wait.” His brows lift. “You made out with him?”
“Oh my God.” I slap him lightly on the chest. “Stop it.”
