Page 41 of Cheap Shot

I kept an eye on the crowd, daring anyone to take out a phone and record this. I heard a few people say my name, but I ignored it and headed to the front door. Once we were out on the front lawn and a good distance from the majority of the crowd, I stopped.

“Thank you,” I said to the helpful stranger.

“Yeah, man. Are you sure you’ve got her? Do you need more help? My car is down the street.” He pointed in the opposite direction from campus.

Haley wasn’t going to be able to walk, and it seemed like a better idea than carrying her back for anyone to see.

“If you don’t mind.”

He nodded and took off at a jog, and I put my arm under Haley’s knees and lifted her against my chest so I could bring her to the car.

I needed to get my phone out and call Ethan and Benjamin, but I didn’t have a free hand. I bent my hand back and waited for a slight vibration of my watch. It took three tries before I felt it. “Call Ethan Clarkson.”

“Calling Ethan Clarkson,” the female voice repeated, and I sighed when the ringing started but he didn’t answer. Where was he?

I pressed the button again. “Call Benjamin Cruz.”

It only rang once before he answered.

“Did you find her?” he asked.

I lifted her closer to me so he could hopefully hear me better. “I have her. I’m on my way back now.”

“Is she okay?”

“I don’t know, but she didn’t want to go to the hospital. I’m bringing her back to my room.”

“It’s past curfew,” he cautioned.

I was well aware of that, but what else was I supposed to do? Getting caught bringing a girl into my room by my RA wasn’t a top concern. “I’m already going to get in trouble for going to that party, I might as well keep breaking rules.”

“I’ll meet you at the back stairwell and help you get her in.”

“Thanks. Did everyone else leave?” I shifted Haley, trying to get a more comfortable grip.

“Yeah, I told them to go home and sleep. I haven’t been able to get a hold of Ethan though.”

I shook my head. Where was he? His constant disappearances weren’t an issue, until now. He came and went as he wished, but it was strange for him to ignore our calls. He was glued to his phone. It never left his hands, so what was going on?

“Did you text him too?”

“Yeah, I told him Haley needs help. I figured that would be enough to get him to call me back, but nothing so far.”

“Thanks. I’ll see you in a second.”

“Okay.” I couldn’t turn my wrist to see if the call ended, but it didn’t matter. Within a few seconds, headlights blinded me, and I climbed in the backseat with Haley in my lap.

“Where to?” Our driver asked once I shut the door.

“Murphy Hall.”

It was a straight shot down the street that took less than a minute. “Thanks so much. I really appreciate your help.”

“Yeah, no problem.” He turned and eyed me. “Hey aren’t you––”

“Thanks again.” I cut him off before he could finish and got out.

Benjamin was holding open the back door for us. I stepped in, and we took the stairs to the second floor, where he opened the next door.