Page 225 of Sorrow & Strangers

“I’m serious.”

“Fine, you didn’t have a date. It wasn’t about that anyway. It’s whatever.”

“It wasn’t?”

“No. It was about the disrespect. It was about the way you made me feel cheap.”

Max winces, shoving his hand in his pocket. “I got a little panicked, and I freaked out so . . . Fuck, I was stupid. I’m sorry.”

I search his eyes and then nod. “It’s fine, Max. Still friends.”

“Yeah?” Max asks on a relieved exhale, relaxing a little when I nod. “I know it’s dumb, but I was more pissed that I acted like an asshole about every­thing, and you stopped coming to the gym too. Even more than the other stuff.”

“I’ll start coming back.”

“Swear?” I nod, and Max pulls me into a hug. “Good. Missed you.”

I hug him back, enjoying the familiarity and comfort of a friend’s embrace.

He pulls back after a long moment. “How was All Souls? As crazy as the rumors?”

“You know, it was pretty good. Why don’t you come around this evening? We can order food, and Rafe can tell you all about the girl he met?”

Max’s eyebrows lift. “Rafe met someone?” he asks as we head back to our table. “A real someone?”

“A real female.”

“You telling him about Rafe?” Alice asks, sliding into her seat.

I nod. “I also invited him around for dinner so they can talk about it, but he’s being annoying and asking me the questions instead.”

“I can’t be curious?” Max asks.

“Are you coming to dinner or not?” I ask, rolling my eyes.

“Yes,” Max says, nudging me.

I know at some point I’ll need to have the discussion with him that I’m now celibate, but there’s no point in doing so until he asks. Perhaps after freaking him out that last time, whatever we were doing has come to its natural end. However, I have no idea how I’m going to bring up that particular conversation with the stranger, or how he’ll react.

“Whatever, I’m going to the restroom before class, and I need to talk to Professor Edwards,” I say, standing up.

My phone pings, and my stomach flutters when I see who it’s from.

Unknown

Missing me, princess?

I slide into the bathroom as I text him back.

Summer

How are you?

Unknown

How am I? You must really be missing me.

I find myself smiling down at my phone, and when I catch myself in the mirror, I shove my phone away. I use the restroom before washing my hands and checking my makeup. Surprise and a touch of fear make me shiver when warmth covers my face, and I’m plunged into darkness, a hard, muscled chest pressing against my back.