I caught myself from reaching up and running my hands over his stubbled chin. “Trip, it’s fine. I’m not going to get caught and what’s the worst they could say about me?” I gave him a smile, but it didn’t change the hardness on his face.
“You don’t know how brutal things can get, and if I have any say you’ll never have to. I’m sorry I invited you up. It was a bad friend move.”
My heart plummeted down to my toes. I smiled even wider, not wanting him to know how devastating his words were to me.
“It’s fine.” My voice had a high pitch sound to it and I cleared my throat.
“No, it’s not. I’ll be better at being your friend. Please forgive me for being stupid.”
I nodded as Trip quickly opened the door and looked both ways before giving me a thumbs-up.
“Text me when you get to your room.”
I smiled again, still not trusting my voice, and made my way toward the stairs. When I got to my room, I texted him that I made it safely and climbed into my bed.
Sleep wouldn’t come. It was obvious the heat I was feeling, the connection I couldn’t ignore was a one-sided affair. Trip truly wanted to only be my friend. He had said it a hundred times, yet my stupid brain refused to accept it. Unable to fall asleep, I climbed out of bed and took a shower before packing and waiting for the sun to come up. All I wanted to do was get on the plane and go home to wallow in my own bed.
