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I climb into the bed, snuggle beneath the warm comforter.
“Is there anything you need?”
“Maybe some water?” I suggest.
He nods. “Of course.”
I place a hand against my head as he walks out, leaving me alone. For a while, I’ve known that my plan to get him to fall for me has gone wrong. Because I’ve been falling for him too, despite everything.
He returns with the water and places it on the nightstand. “Anything else?”
I shake my head. “No, thank you.”
Archer strips off and I hate the way I instantly heat at the sight of him half naked, as if I don’t have control of my urges. He gets into the bed and pulls me against him so that my head is on his chest. “I’ll look after you, baby girl, don’t worry.”
I swallow hard, as the fact he’s being so caring is what’s worrying me. He needs to return to being that arrogant asshole who won’t accept no for an answer.
“Thanks,” I murmur.
He pulls my chin up and then kisses me. A kiss that is soft and gentle, but sets my world ablaze. I am stuck in my head. “I’m sorry. I really don’t feel like it right now.”
He shakes his head. “I know. Just because I kiss you it doesn’t mean I expect sex.”
I nod in reply and go to turn over when he grabs my hand and squeezes. “Adrianna.” He looks into my eyes with such meaning it only makes more dread tighten around my heart. “I love you.”
Those three words hit me hard. The moment I hear them, I tense. No one has said those words to me before, not even my family. And instantly, I feel my shields locking into place as I clench my jaw. “Are you insane?”
My response wounds him. I see it in his eyes.
“No, I care about you. Don’t pretend this means nothing to you.”
It doesn’t mean nothing to me, but I don’t have space for anyone else. I’ve always been alone in this world, and that’s how it has to stay. I shake my head. “I can’t do this right now, Archer. I thought I was clear about what this was.” Quickly, I lie down and turn over so that he doesn’t see the tears building in my eyes. There is no way to break the steel around my heart. I’m a lost cause and I don’t deserve his love, even if actions at the start of our relationship were questionable.
I love him too. I think that is the sickening feeling in my stomach. I just can’t admit it, not to him or anyone.
33
ADRIANNA
Adrenaline has been racing through my veins since I woke this morning.
It’s sickening, but today is the day. Graduation is this afternoon and then all my friends and I will go out to celebrate. My father agreed to my plan and told me he’d booked into a hotel twenty miles away in the nearest city, as he’s above the little inn in town and the motel near here. It actually makes the plan easier, as he won’t be nearby when I make a run for it.
However, after the celebrations are through, Archer and I will disappear. Our friends will know that we’ve left for good, but not where we are going. No one knows that, not even I do. I’ve let Archer figure the entire thing out and where I’m going to go.
It’s been hard trusting him in this way, as I’ve always relied on myself alone. He can’t disappear with me, though. He has a life here at the academy, and so he’s going to set me up with my new life and then leave. That’s the part I’ve been trying to avoid thinking about entirely.
I’m not sure how I’m going to say goodbye to him.
“Hey, you wanted to talk to me?” Camilla says, sticking her head through the door into my dorm room.
I nod. “Yeah, I sent a text to Eva and Nat, too. They should be here soon.”
Camilla smiles and drops onto the sofa next to me. “You look troubled.”
“Do I?” I say, swallowing hard. “I guess I am, and it has something to do with what I’m going to tell you guys.”
Camilla groans. “Why do people always insist on waiting to spill the gossip?”
