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ChapterTwenty-Five
Camden drives his car through the gates of the gargantuan, dramatic manor house featured in many of my nightmares.
It didn’t really compute when he drove up the hill that he was heading to his house. I’m used to coming to see Erica. As we crawl along the paved driveway, my heart stops.
I can’t believe he’s brought me back here. He can’tpossiblythink I’d go back into his place after what happened last time I walked in there.
Camden stops the ignition and undoes his seatbelt.
“No.”
One glance, and he winces, finally catching on to the fact that I’m freaking the hell out in the passenger seat. I feel cold all of a sudden, and I don’t doubt my face has drained of color.
“We just need to see the doctor for your feet,” he says in a calm, reasonable tone. “I asked her to meet us here. We don’t have to stay long.”
“I can have it checked out at the hospital.” Getting my feet looked at is completely overkill anyway. No one needs professional care for some blisters. It’s not like they’re going to fall off. “I’m not going in there.”
He sighs, takes the phone from its stand, typing a few words before driving away.
I calm down a little as we leave the billionaire hill behind our back. I hadn’t realized how stressful it would be to return here. Rational or not, I have a shit ton of issues about that last night in town. If I could afford one, I would have gone to see a shrink about it.
“Where are we going?”
“My place.”
I crinkle my eyebrows, confused. “Weren’t we just at your place?”
“We were at the Hunt family home. We’re heading to my house on campus. I share it with my cousins. If you regret not picking the main house later, remember that’s on you.”
“Actually, all of this is onyou. I should be in my apartment, taking a well-deserved nap after a hellish day at work.” Except I’m not even a little bit tired, despite the crazy day—the crazy week—I’ve had. “You’re the one who kidnapped me, remember?”
“Sweetheart, when I kidnap you, you’ll know it.”
It would be funnier if I didn’t believe he was capable of it.
We drive down Main Street, and I’m not prepared for the waves of resentment and nostalgia hitting me all at once. Good or bad, I have a lot of memories from Thorn Falls, with my sister, with my two best friends.
Lola hovers at the edge of my mind, and I narrow my eyes at the guy behind the wheel. It’s a timely reminder. I have to remain on my guard with him—with all the riverside kids. They’re spoiled, rich, and unstoppable.
Camden takes the roundabout toward the campus attached to the city center, and drives past the college, then the dorms, until we reach a quiet avenue with a dozen large freestanding stately homes that look far too elegant to belong near a college.
He drives to the last house—the largest—and parks in the driveway. There are already three cars in there, all as expensive as his.
This time, I get out of the car when he stops.
“Is that like a fancy frat house?”
“There aren’t any fraternities at Rothford U. It’s just a place I bought with the guys when we decided to attend this college.”
“Youbought a place?” I snort. “You’ve never had a job in your life.”
At least I don’t think he has.
“I wouldn’t say that. Silencing nosy little hackers was a job, for example.”
My jaw falls. “You got paid for that?”
He winks. “If you’re good at something, never do it for free.”
