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“Yeah?” I ask as I glance back.
Our eyes connect, jolting me with electricity. Cole looks as bad as I feel. His eyes are ringed with dark circles and his skin is pale, and he looks like he’s living on as little sleep as I am.
Everything becomes white noise around us, the laughter and chatter, footsteps on the pavements, the purr of expensive cars roaring to life. It all drowns out until I can hear nothing but the thud of my heart against my chest.
“Nothing,” he finally says, dashing the foolish flicker of hope I’d felt at hearing him call after me.
Doesn’t he realize he only needs to say three little words to fix this mess?
To fix us?
Without another word, I turn away and take off toward my dorm building. I won’t beg him to love me, not again. Not when I know that sometimes love isn’t enough.
It wasn’t enough for me and Tim, and it isn’t enough for me and Cole.
Maybe that’s my destiny, to never be quite enough.
Tears sting eyes, but I try to keep them at bay. Once I’m in the safety of my room, I’ll let myself break. Only as I reach the building, another voice calls out to me.
“Hadley, wait up.”
“Not now, Conner.” I hurry toward the door, desperate to get inside.
&
nbsp; “Just give me a second, please.”
I scramble to get my key out of my bag, but I’m not quick enough. Conner snags my wrist and pulls me gently back. “I just want to talk.”
Slowly, I lift my face to his.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, concern shining in his eyes. “Tell me what happened.”
The dam breaks and tears roll down my cheeks.
“Fuck, Hads, come here.” He pulls me to his chest, hugging me tight. “Shh, I got you. I got you.”
But it shouldn’t be Conner consoling me, it should be Cole.
“Tell me what you need?” He coaxes me from his chest and holds me at arm’s length. “Tell me who I’ve got to hurt?”
I manage a small smile at that. Conner always makes it so easy. “I need sleep. I’m so exhausted,” I admit, instantly feeling like a weight has been lifted.
“You’ve been having more nightmares?”
I nod. Conner knows all about my haunting dreams, because he stopped by to check on me the other night.
“Come on, sneak me in and you can sleep.”
“Conner, I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking.” He gives me a small smile. “I’m offering.”
“But—”
“Hey, it’s no strings attached, okay? You shouldn’t be alone right now, and lucky for you, I don’t mind taking an afternoon nap.”
“Thank you,” I say, because the thought of getting some decent sleep is everything. “I might snore.”
