Page 68 of His End Game

Punching my fist into the pillow, it’s near impossible to get comfortable, let alone fall asleep. I replay the earlier events and my gut twists as I picture Shane’s face as I asked him to bring me home—all for a guy who wants me in secret. I turn the television on at the same time my phone rings. It’s a number I don’t recognise, and my hands shake, thinking something is wrong with Rayna.

I answer immediately.

“Hello?”

“Hey.” His voice has me sitting up.

“Leo? I thought something had happened with Rayna.”

“Why would you think that?”

“I didn’t recognise the number and it’s late. How are you calling me right now?”

“I managed to get my hands on a cell.”

That would explain why he’s speaking so quietly.

“I heard you didn’t make it to your drink.”

I don’t say anything. There’s nothing I want to say to him on the matter.

“Holly, I’m not going to apologise but I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

Am I okay?

I’m lonely.

I’m afraid all the time.

And it’s time I admit to myself, I’m depressed.

But I say, “I’m fine. I just changed my mind, that’s all.”

“You got the alarms on?” he asks, out of left field.

“Of course.”

I find it insulting he still has to ask.

It goes quiet again. I have no idea what to say to him. My mind is always so full of questions for him but tonight, I’m so tired, I can’t think of anything.

“I think about you a lot, like, every day, and when I close my eyes at night, you’re all I see,” he finally says.

And just like that, the darkness isn’t so dark anymore.

“I suppose you do have a lot of time to do that.”

“Yeah.” He snorts. “But it’s more than that. Every night I lie in my bunk, knowing you’re alone and there’s nothing I can do if you have a nightmare. I don’t like not being there for you.”

I don’t want him worrying about me. He has enough to deal with. My stupid need for him to be okay bubbles to the surface.

“I haven’t had a nightmare since you were arrested. I’ve been too busy during the day to dream at night.”

“Is that right?”

“Why would I lie?” I cringe.

“Because you don’t want me to worry about you.”

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