I quirk an eyebrow. “Homophobic much?”
Her face goes slack. “It’s not like that. I getundressedhere. How’d you feel having to strip down in front of a guy whether you wanted to or not?”
I laugh, clapping a hand over my mouth when Melissa throws me an indignant look. “Sorry, I’m not laughing at you. Just…” I twirl a finger by my temple. “This, uh, random thought—Okay, so I get it. She made you uncomfortable. But, come on…” I sweep a hand down my body, self-deprecating smile on my mouth. “I don’t?”
She shrugs. “I can get used to a lot. Even the smell.”
“Thesmell?” My head thumps as annoyance builds pressure behind my eyes.
“That perfume or whatever you’re wearing lately. I hate sandalwood.” She flips her hand like my stench is a minor issue. “And if you must know, I didn’t have a choice. Hillary said you’re in, so you’re in. So I’m just trying to make the best of our…situationship.”
She sniffs. “At least you’re funny when you’re drunk.”
“What doesn’t kill you, right?”
Melissa sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose like I’m the one givinghera headache.
See, this is why I shouldn’t go around questioning people’s motives. Now I know Melissa isn’t my friend—she’s just putting up with me. Bastian doesn’t want tosave me, he wants to build me up, and then tear me down like the antithesis of a DIY project.
And Kai?
A sneer pulls at my mouth.
Kai doesn’t hate me for calling him a loser and leaving Agony Hollow like a thief in the night. Hehates mebecause someone got it in his head that I’ve slept with just about every guy in this town…except him. And I guess that rubs him the wrong way,because when I gave him the chance to sleep with me, he wasn’t into it.
I glance at the pills. “So, uh,totallyunrelated…but what would happen if I took the whole bottle? Also, could I have a really, really big glass of water?”
Melissa carefully reaches for the prescription pills.
“God, Melissa, I’m joking!”
“I can bring you more.”
“How? You’re not going to be here.”
She hesitates, then leaves the pills on my nightstand.
“Sure you want to stay here by yourself? Everyone else is in classes until this afternoon. Even our houseboy won’t be in until later.”
“Good,” I mutter. “No one to hear me scream.”
At least that gets a small purse of her lips, but before she turns to leave, her eyes still linger on me with something that might be genuine concern.
Wouldn’t know, really. Never encountered it in the wild.
I dry swallow two of the pills and snuggle back into bed, willing them to get to work so I can drift off and get some much needed sleep. But my eyes keep popping open again, so I roll over and grab my phone to check the time.
A new message notification…from Bastian.
@rooke.bastian
Morning, Miss Lee. Just checking in.
Remember, I’m here if you need to talk.
I scoff, dropping the phone face down on my chest. The only talking Professor Rooke does is things like, “don’t spill my coke,” or, “you like that,” and, of course, “don’t speak.”
…it’s time someone fucked this pretty girl…
