"I love you too, Olivia Brennan."
"Thanks for waiting for me," I say sincerely.
"I'd have waited a lifetime—but I'm glad I didn't have to," he admits.
Our kiss is heating up, hands are roaming, our breath turning to pants when Bash's phone rings. He pulls back, cursing.
"I have to get it. My mom wants to make the plans for the weekend," he tells me and I just smile, hugging into his side.
"Smith," he answers, without looking. Immediately his body gets stiff and tense. "When? I'll try but I can't guarantee it. All right."
He hangs up and backs me up to sit in the chair. He hunkers down in front of me.
"What's wrong? I ask, my stomach plummeting.
"Nothing'swrong, but I need to ask you and Alexa to go somewhere with me that you're not going to want to go," he tells me, the dread sinking deeper.
"Lex!" I call out and she walks over.
"What's going on?" she asks cautiously.
My lover looks so uncertain. I don't like it. I want to comfort and soothe him just as he does me.
"Bash needs to take us somewhere," I tell her.
"Where?" she asks.
"I don't know. It doesn't matter, let's just get our boots and jackets on," I tell her. She gives me a look like "what the hell is going on" and I just shrug. We'll find out soon enough.
When we arriveat the frat house, I want to turn and run in the other direction—but then I remember, nothing here can hurt me anymore—my past can't hurt me anymore.
There are three police cars and campus security all over the place.
"What is going on here?" Alexa murmurs.
I just shake my head.
Cam steps out the door, talking to a police officer, and I cringe. When he sees us standing there, he smiles cautiously. He nods to the cop one last time and heads over toward us.
"Ugh," I mutter and Bash tightens his arm around me.
"It'll be all right. I promise."
With those words, I relax. I trust him like I've never trusted anyone before—completely and without hesitation. Alexa cocks out a hip and rests her hand on it.
"Thanks for coming," Cam begins.
"What do you want?" Lex hisses.
"I wanted to let you know that Alison was just arrested for paying someone to attack you, Liv," Cam says and my breath backs up into my lungs. I lean against Bash for support and try to breathe.
Bash pushes my head down between my legs. "Breathe, Livvy. Slow and easy. That's my girl. Breathe," he coaxes. My eyes flip up to Cam who watches us with worry, caution, remorse, but most of all confidence. I realize in this moment, he's never going to be anyone but this Cam.
I slowly stand up, my breathing under control.
"How?" I ask, unable to think of anything else to say.
Cam shrugs. "I basically used her. Got close to her and last night when she'd had a little too much to drink, I mentioned you when we were in my room. I had everything set up to record her and she didn't disappoint."
