“Worried you’re going to get involved with that fucking psycho again?—”
“You’reworriedabout me,” I repeat, the idea dawning on me like it’s a completely novel concept. “Ollie.”
I lean in and kiss him, purely on instinct.
There’s no hesitation or hostility in his kiss. He relaxes against me, finally, for the first time all week, and as I kiss him I feel him exhale.
“Can’t have you dead if I want you to be my date for the parties,” he says softly as I pull back, looking him in the eye.
“Callum can’t do a fucking thing to me. But if he lays a finger on you, I will kill him. Without a second thought.”
Already, I know what I need to do.
Oliver isn’t going to like it, and that’s why I’m not going to tell him I’m doing it.
But this needs to end.
“Block Callum on every app,” I tell Oliver. “If he makesother accounts, block him on those, too. His mind will fixate on someone else eventually.”
I’ll make sure of that.
He pulls in a slow breath, looking up at the ceiling, then back at me. “I’ve been looking forward to this formal all year. I just want to have fun tomorrow.”
I slide my hands around his waist. “You’ll get to have fun.”
No one is going to ruin this event for Oliver.
14
Oliver
Oliver, scrolling through Niko’s profile, today
Username: Hercules2210
I check the app.
He hasn’t posted anything new.
On any of his profiles, including this one.
Where is he, right now?
And why do I feel like I’ve lost something that’s mine?
I lookin the mirror for what feels like the hundredth time tonight.
I check my hair, then my tie. I smooth my fingers over the front of my jacket as if it’s doing anything to calm me down.
I’ve been pacing around my room glancing at my phone every minute. But I knew something was wrong when I realized that Niko was going to be late.
He’ssupposed to behere.
The winter formal is starting, and Niko is well aware of that.
Yesterday he saw the messages with Callum, and today he’s been texting me all day about the formal, saying he’ll meet me in my room and we can head over to the party together.
But we’re supposed to leave in three minutes, and I haven’t heard from Niko in an hour.
