AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I scoff. “And then you’ll disappear again. You’re good at that.” He doesn’t reply, and honestly, what could he say anyway? “I can get myself home. Don’t follow me.”
His lips press into a firm line before he shakes his head and sighs. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m being ridiculous?” I ask indignantly. “Coming from the guy who ended our friendship because of some silly words on a page.”
“Silly words…” Creed’s eyebrows scrunch together as he trails off. “I don’t think that’s how I’d refer to what I read.”
“Exactly.Youread. You shouldn’t have been looking at my journal to begin with, Creed.” I take a wobbly step toward him. Creed doesn’t move, standing his ground as I take another step in his direction, bringing me directly in front of him. “That was private, and you had no right looking at it.”
Creeds sighs. “You left it open. It wasn’t like I went in there looking for it.”
“That’s not the point. Yes, it was open, but you stayed and read it even after realizing what it was. You shouldn’t have done that.”
He opens his mouth and then closes it again. Just when I think he won’t respond at all, Creed groans. “I’m sorry, okay? It just happened so fast. And honestly, what I was reading didn’t really even register until you walked in. Maybe it was shock, or surprise? I don’t know, but I’ve never purposely invaded your privacy.”
I can see how the words would have blindsided him, but my anger stems from his reaction after the fact. “That doesn’t change anything between us. You completely walked away from me. You cut off our friendship like it was never important to you in the first place.”
“Not important to me?” Creed’s dark eyes pierce mine, appearing black in the shadows. “That’s bullshit and you know it, Jake. You were my best friend. But what the hell was I supposed to do? I had no idea you were gay. I had no idea you had feelings for me. How was I supposed to react in that situation?”
He might have a point about being put in a tough spot, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’d severed our friendship without even talking to me first. “We could have talked about it at the very fucking least.”
“It was a lot to process. I didn’t know how to handle any of it. I just reacted.” He scrubs a hand over his face. “I thought it was best to put some distance between us while I sorted everything.”
“Best forus?” I know my voice is rising again, but I don’t care. Is he serious? “You didn’t even talk to me, Creed. You mean you thought it was best foryou.”
Creed sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know what you want me to say, and this probably isn’t the best time to have this conversation. I doubt you’ll remember it tomorrow.” He gives me a pointed look.
“When is the right time then?” I ask, ignoring the real possibility I won’t remember the conversation in the morning. “Do you need another year?”
Creed lets out a harsh breath, and I realize how closely we’ve ended up standing together. He’s so close that the rush of air from his lips coasts over mine. A hint of liquor topped with mint lingers on his breath. Creed has been drinking but doesn’t appear drunk. Although, I’m likely not the best judge of that tonight.
I’m staring at his mouth, I realize, and quickly draw my gaze back to his. Creed’s nostrils flare, and then his dark stare dips down, hovering on my lips. If I didn’t know any better, I would think Creed wants to kiss me, but Idoknow better. Creed is straight.
The longer he stands there with his eyes glued to my mouth, the more I start questioning what the hell is going on in his head. Or mine. Maybe I’m hallucinating. The question burns on the tip of my tongue until the whisper bursts free. “What are you doing?”
Startled, Creed drops his gaze to the ground and he takes a step back. “Nothing. I think we should get you to your room.”
Confused, I can only stare at him as he avoids looking at me. I want to demand answers, but whatever openness he’d shown seems to be sealed behind a locked door.
Now is the opportunity to explain himself, yet once again, he’s closing me out. I remember the year of silence and decide I won’t wait for him to talk to me. I need to accept I may never get answers and move on with my life without the bitterness that creeps in when I think about my ex-best friend.
My nose and cheeks have grown numb from the icy wind. Now, if my heart would freeze as well that would be great. I can’t see that happening in the next five seconds, so I need to escape. This is too much. It’s not enough. I begin stepping away from him and shake my head. “I’m leaving. Don’t follow me this time.”
I expect some sort of argument, but Creed just gives me a nod without saying a word. I don’t believe him. Creed is a stubborn bastard and has already decided he wants to see me safely home. But as I stumble along the path back to my room, Creed gives me enough space that I can almost pretend he isn’t there at all.Almost.
My dorm building comes into view beneath the moonlight, and I pick up the pace. I want to lose my self-appointed bodyguard. Some may consider what he’s doing a thoughtful gesture. I’m too conflicted to see it as anything other than frustrating.
The dorm lobby is quiet when I step inside, and I resist the urge to look back outside for any trace of Creed. Thankfully, no one is around to witness me staggering along on my way to the elevator. After a couple of tries, I press the button and the door immediately slides open. I step inside and press the number for my floor before slumping against the mirrored wall.
When the elevator glides to a stop, I wobble out into the hallway and pass a guy who’s heading toward the bathroom.
I stumble to my room and unlock the door, pushing it open and lurch inside. After closing it behind me, I toss my keys in the general direction of my dresser. Exhausted, I turn around and fall back onto my bed while still wearing my hoodie and shoes because I don’t have the energy to remove them.
My eyes close and the world suddenly tilts and begins to spin. I immediately regret drinking as much as I did. My stomach is never going to forgive me.
Tonight had not gone the way I’d expected at all. I was looking for an escape. Instead, I’d run smack into the very person I was running from.
CHAPTERFIVE
