Although there’s no one around, I feel too conspicuous out here.
Could be the football jersey I’m wearing like a dress. My messy hair. My bare feet, one crudely bandaged.
Like the sole survivor of a zombie apocalypse, limping away into the unknown after an evening of headshotting the undead. As if every limping step of my walk of shame is being monitored,my disheveled state recorded, every bad choice I’ve ever made, judged.
Because that’s exactly what’s happening.
I spin to the side, hands on my hips. “I’m not five anymore!” I yell.
To the casual observer, my sanity appears shredded. Until someone steps out of the bushes beside one of the frat houses.
Kai doesn’t even bother looking ashamed as he stares at me across the deserted street.
“Anything can happen,” he calls back, shrugging.
“It’s broad daylight, Kai!”
He squints, arms on his hips as if he’s mocking me. “Should have let me walk with you.” He grins, but it’s too wide, with too many teeth on display. And there’s a flicker in his green eyes—something defiant he’s trying to smother with his signature brand of couldn’t-care-less bullshit.
“Oh my God, fine!”
He’s already jogging across the road, grinning like an idiot. How can he possibly be so chipper? My musclesstillhurt. Was it the blowjob?
I smooth away a smug smile.
Asshole got what he deserved. Maybe now he’ll think twice about stealing my stuff. Although…putting a thumb up his ass doesn’t seem like much of a punishment.
As we get closer to the GAZ house, Kai grabs my wrist and tugs me to face him. “Listen, Haven, about that photo thing…”
I cock my head, waiting, trying to keep my breathing as normal as possible. But there’s already an acidic heat building in my stomach, and I know it’s only going to get worse the more he speaks.
“If it is a fake, then?—”
“If?” My eyebrows shoot up to my fucking hairline. “If?”
I yank my hand free and punch him in the stomach with it. Not that it does more than make him grunt and bow a little.
Should’ve aimed lower.
I storm down the sidewalk, gritting my teeth against the pain. Every step feels like I’m standing on a nail, even when I’m hardly putting any weight on my foot.
“Haven!”
I give Kai the finger without turning around.
His feet slap against the paving as he comes after me at a jog and falls in step beside me again. He grabs my wrist again, turns me to him again.
“I’m going to see Ezra at the hospital.” Green eyes the color of new moss narrow as he searches my face. “Come with me.”
There’s venom in my laugh. “Not enough money in the fucking world,” I spit, tugging my hand free.
Trying to.
He’s holding on a lot tighter than before.
“Please.”
“Fuck that.” I flick the fingers of my other hand at him like I’m shooing a fly. “I told you, I’ve got stuff to do.”
