I sigh. "Yeah, okay."
I miss him already, too.
"See you later, baby."
"Bye."
I cross the street toward campus, and Nolan runs in the other direction toward the fitness center.
I have an exam in history, which I can confidently say I aced. I've spent a lot of time in the library avoiding the house, and I haven't been going out and making friends, so that leaves a lot of room for studying. And Nolan said staying busy helps keep the trauma at bay.
Mom would be so proud. Or maybe not—considering the crime.
I don't see Elias when I walk into psychology. I'm sure he's sleeping off his hangover; not that I mind. Quite frankly, I don't care where he is. Maybe he won't show up.
I take out my laptop and open my notes just before someone sets a coffee on my desk.
"Hey, princess."
Dax sits on one side of me, and Elias on the other.
"What are you doing here?" I ask Dax.
It feels like someone has my heart in a vise grip. He smiles at me and runs his fingers through my hair, and my instinct is to rub up against his hand like a fucking kitten, but I don't. It takes all of my willpower not to climb into his seat, curl up in his lap and cry.
I think I'm in love with him. I also think he spent the night with someone else, and I don't know how he could act the way he does with me when he doesn't want me the same way I want him.
I also wish he'd teach me how to do it.
"I'm not staying," he says. "I just wanted to see you because I missed you. And I wanted to bring you a coffee just in case the nightmares kept you up last night."
If he was so worried about my nightmares, then where was he?
"I actually slept okay," I tell him. "But thanks."
"You're welcome, baby." He smiles and then kisses me on the lips. "I have to go, but I'll see you at home, okay?"
"Okay."
"Bye, Ripley. Have a good day."
"Bye…"
He kisses me again, lingering for a few seconds this time, before grabbing his bag and leaving.
And I'm left feeling like I barely survived the encounter. I blink back tears as my face burns hot. I want to know where he was last night. I want to run after him and beg him to love me back.
I want to forget about him and never talk to him again.
I close my eyes, exhaling slowly, hoping to regain my composure. And beside me, Elias laughs.
"What's so fucking funny?" I ask flatly before taking a drink of my coffee.
"Oh, nothing," he says, continuing to chuckle.
He smells like smoke and looks like he's still drunk; there's no way he even changed his clothes, let alone showered. Still, I watch girls walk by and turn their heads to get a better look at him, and he flashes each of them one of those incredibly misleading golden boy smiles as they file into their seats.
"You stink," I mumble just before the professor starts class.
