No freaking way.
“You’ll take my room, at least for now until we figure out a long-term solution.”
Alek stands up and walks over to Abi. She snakes her arm around his waist. I want to smile at the tenderness between these two but my blood boils from Alek’s “decisions” on my behalf.
“You’re starting your final football season. You have preseason games and camp.” I pause, making sure I don’t reveal I’ve kept up with his stats and seasons. I watched all of his games on the university’s website. But he doesn’t need to know that. “You’ll need to sleep comfortably. Your training is grueling. Your idea is not sustainable, Alek. I’m moving to the dorms tomorrow, if not tonight.”
I doubt I’ll be able to get my dorm key from the Student Life office this late in the evening or even tomorrow, but it’s the principle that matters here.
The strong masculine scent I detected in the bathroom is now right behind me. I sense Victor walking up, but I don’t turn, which does nothing to prevent the spicy-hot, sharp scent from penetrating every brain cell in my head, fogging my thoughts.
Alek frowns. “You’re not going to the dorms. Over my dead body. End of story.”
I scoff and give him a furious look, which involves squinting my eyes in a death glare. Although I’m not planning to stay on campus, my brother has no right to talk to me like that. This argument is not about the stupid dorms.
It’s about my freedom.
“Why can’t I just be free to do what I want now that I’m finally out of the shithole? Why am I supposed to be next to your ass all the time?” The last part I mutter more to myself, but Alek’s eyes widen.
I was relieved when he left the house three years ago. He was going to better himself, pursue his dreams, and I was fully supporting him. But during that time, he’s been partying and enjoying his freedom, while I was constantly on the lookout for abusive men or anxious about what would come next or who would walk into the apartment or whether I needed to barricade myself in my room. I’m not blaming him, but this one time I want to do something for myself.
“You won’t be next to my ass,” Alek emphasizes each word slowly, “since I have games and camps, but Abi and Victor will keep an eye on you.”
So he trusts me with Victor, but not completely? Victor walks up and stands next to me, drinking from a bottle of water. He takes a gigantic sip and swallows.
“I’ll watch over her.”
My head snaps in his direction. He’s not helping. He doesn’t even try to hide it. Obviously, the boys are on the same page.
But Abi is now frowning. She removes her arm from Alek and steps back.
“Alek, Tia is safe now. She’ll be okay. The dorms are so close.”
Yes!I already like Abi.
Alek shakes his head so many times that I’m scared it will dislodge from the rest of his body. Then he stops and puts his hands over his face.
“I’m trying to forget what I walked in on in Mom’s apartment. A dirty-looking fucker on top of Twinkle hitting her…” His voice is trembling. “She. Is. Not. Going. Anywhere.”
Victor shuffles next to me, and my gaze meets his. Dark brown—the same eye color I saw upstairs in the bathroom.
No. No. I can’t sleep here.
They don’t know. I draw air into my lungs but nothing gets in. I try again.
They can’t know about the nightmares. No one will get any sleep in this house. I don’t want to scare and concern them even more once I scream during the night. Then Alek’s interrogation will start again.
At home, Mom never comes to check on me when the screaming starts. The nightmares will raise more questions. And I’m pretty sure that after a day like this one, I’ll have one. Anxiety is a trigger. I started having sleep issues about a year ago. The stress accumulates, and the nightmares are a sure sign my body can’t handle things much longer.
Suddenly, I sense the absence of Victor. I hate that I notice that.
My eyes are looking for him, finding him near the kitchen countertop. He’s put on a black T-shirt with some gym logo, and he’s staring at the floor with his arms crossed around his chest. His face is unreadable.
Does he want me to be here or out of the apartment? I’ll interfere with his training… and his drinking—earlier it seemed like he was doing a marathon training with beers. Their apartment is not that spacious, and he could be annoyed with the change.
“Victor…” As he lifts his gaze to me, tingles appear in my stomach and I forget how to function. Bright green eyes pierce my icy blue ones, and I gasp. The changing hues of eye color is making me dizzy. “Would you mind if I stay in this apartment? It’s yours as much as Alek’s. And Alek didn’t even ask you.”
Maybe Victor will say no, and I’ll have more leverage to go to the dorms or a hotel.
