AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I climbed the stairs, then halfway down the hall, I let myself into my room with my key. Piper sat in the middle of her bed with books spread around her. A pencil stuck out from the messy blond bun she’d twisted her hair into on top of her head.
“Finally, you’re back.” Her lips pressed tightly together as she flung down the pen she’d been writing with.
“Ah, yeah. I would have gone to get coffee with you as planned, but you were passed out.”
She waved her hand. “I was—am—hungover. I wouldn’t have been great company. Sorry about that.”
“Okay, so, what’s with the ‘finally’?” I set my bag on my desk chair.
“It’s your phone. It’s been ringing like crazy. I silenced it, but it’s still vibrating and annoying.” She rubbed her temples. “Sorry, just feeling like crap.”
I offered a small smile. I could imagine. I didn’t drink, but it wasn’t like I didn’t know what a hangover did to people. I looked around for my phone, as it wasn’t where I’d left it on my desk.
“I put it under your pillow.”
“Thanks.” I couldn’t blame her. If I were trying to get homework done and her phone was ringing like crazy, I would have been irritated too. I checked the number, worried it might be Brooke trying to get ahold of me.
No contact name, just a number—but I recognized it.Landon.My heart fluttered. My phone buzzed, displaying the same number while I was holding it, and I answered.
“Hey.”
“Winter?” His deep voice sent goose bumps racing over my skin. “It’s Landon.”
“I recognized your number.” I smiled.
“I was worried when you didn’t answer.”
Right, he’d told me he would call later if he could study. And my obsessively checking my phone was why I’d left it in the room. “I forgot my phone in my room when I went to the library.”
“You’re done with your paper?”
“I am.” I bit my bottom lip to keep me from rambling about anything else.
“Do you want to get out for a little while, go for ice cream?”
“Yeah, I would love that.”
“Great.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “I’ll pick you up in five minutes.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
I hung up, and Piper tore her gaze from her computer. “Hey”—she waved toward her desk—“I grabbed those from the RA’s room.”
A handful of condoms filled a small dish on the corner of her desk. “Interesting.”
She laughed. “He keeps a candy bowl full of them for anyone on the floor. Just wanted to let you know they’re there in case you need ’em spur of the moment, because you never know…” She wiggled her eyebrows.
I laughed. “Thanks. I’m heading out for a little while.”
“’Kay. See ya.” Her head was already down, her words distracted by whatever she was reading.
I grabbed my keys and went to the lobby to wait for Landon. With a minute or two until he arrived, I went to my mailbox to see if I’d received anything. A single white piece of paper lay inside, folded up but with my name on it.
It was folded into three sections. I unfolded the top part, and my head swam from the single word in red pen, all caps—killer.
My body felt weak as I opened the note with trembling hands and found the same red ink. My eyes swam with tears at what was printed.
I know what you did.
