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Shifting from where I stand, I move to usher everyone out of the dorm, desperate for a break.
“No!” Caleb commands. “We don’t know where Ryan is.”
“Maybe not, but he’s not dumb enough to come here,” Taylor counters.
“He was dumb enough to take them in the first place,” Caleb says snidely.
“He won’t come here, Caleb,” Elijah assures him coolly. “Not tonight.”
Caleb turns and stalks over to me, fire burning in his eyes. Once he reaches me, he places both hands on my shoulders, scrutinizing every inch of my body from head to toe, scanning for injuries. His breath is labored and heavy. His nostrils flare when he sees my torn shirt, and my fingers scramble to keep it closed.
“It’s fine,” I say quickly, afraid to look directly into his eyes.
His large hands slide up my neck to hold my face, forcing me to look at him. We stand there, both breathing heavily, drinking each other in.
Before I can comprehend what’s happening, Caleb’s hot mouth is on mine, forcing my lips open with his tongue. His kiss sends scorching fire to my core as he pushes his tongue in strong, languid strokes against mine and presses our bodies together. My hands press against his torso in an effort to push him away, but he just holds me tighter.
“For fuck’s sake,” Elijah mutters and storms out of the room, slamming the door on his way out.
The sound of the door is enough for Caleb to step out of our embrace. His hands release me like he’s been electrocuted and looks away like he hadn’t meant to kiss me.
I look around to see Celeste and Taylor watching us with mischievous smiles in their eyes. Micah obnoxiously cackles before hunching over in pain.He’s got to get some rest.
I ignore the fat fucking elephant that just took a shit in the room and get back to task.
“You guys gotta go. Celeste and I will be fine.” My voice is shaky, and I can’t tell if it’s because of what happened today or from Caleb’s lips.
What the hell is happening to me?
21
Istep out of the bathroom, freshly showered, and walk down the hallway in search of Celeste. I find her sitting at our kitchen counter, toying with an empty shot glass.
“Drinking alone, Cele? Should I be worried?”
She gives me a wry smile and then pours two shots of dark liquor. “I won’t be drinking alone for long.” She turns to fully face me, her eyes bloodshot from crying. “You and me gotta talk.”
I nod my head, taking the seat next to her, and drink the offered shot. “Yeah, I think we do.”
We both look forward into the kitchen like we’re two patron strangers sitting at a local bar, chasing our demons away.
Without making it obvious, I side-eye her and see a single tear roll down her face. I’m not sure how to broach the subject, so I take the bottle of Hennessy and pour another shot.
A year ago, I would have just confronted her with what I know, but that doesn’t quite feel right tonight. Also, a year ago, it wouldn’t have been Hennessey on the counter.
“I should have told you,” she whispers, staring at her now empty glass. “I should have told you from the beginning.”
I nod. “That it was Ryan,” I state into the silence.
It’s not a question. I just know how hard it is to say the whole truth. Sometimes, we just need other people to do it for us so that we can simply agree.
“It was.” Her voice is so low that it’s almost inaudible. “I’m a terrible friend. You could have been hurt. I should have told someone that he’s dangerous…” Her tears flow and she starts to sniffle. “Forgive me?”
My head snaps to her. “What? There’s nothing to forgive. You didn’t do anything.”
“That’s just it. I didn’t doanything.” She flails her hands up and then sags her shoulders. “I should have told you. I should have done something.”
I let her berate herself for thirty more seconds before I stop her.
