Parker: And if blackmail doesn’t work, you can always use my basement, Adler.
Me: You’re a man above men.
Me: No Drama Llamas UNITE!
I set my phone down, a no doubt insane grin on my face when I realized…I’d become just as crazy as those motherfuckers.
Outside, I heard movement, soft footsteps, and then the rattle of a key card sliding against the door. My pulse jumped, heat flashing through my veins.
I kicked off my shoes and pushed up onto her bed, ignoring the cum still drying on the sheets.
My muscles tensed with anticipation as I leaned back against the headboard, hands behind my head, eyes fixed on the door.
The handle turned.
My grin deepened.
She was here.
OPHELIA
“How—how did you get in here?”
My voice came out thin and unsteady. I couldn’t stop staring at him, at the impossible sight of Matty Adler sitting on my bed like he didn’t have a worry in the world.
He smiled almost lazily. “You’re not happy to see me?”
“You know that’s not it.” My fingers clenched around the strap of my bag. “Matty…how long have you been here?”
“Long enough.” His eyes flicked up, lingering on the wall above him…the wall I could barely look at. “So,” he said quietly, almost conversationally, “how long have you been watching me?”
My stomach turned over. “What?”
“You heard me.” His voice had dropped, and it was the kind of tone that left no room for pretending. “How long?”
“That’s just…that’s just a silly collage, and?—”
His gaze hardened, the faint smile dying on his lips. “Don’t lie to me, Ophelia.”
My throat went dry. Every instinct screamed to run, to disappear, but my legs wouldn’t move.
He shifted forward on the bed, elbows on his knees, eyes locked on mine. “Tell me the truth,” he demanded. “All of it.”
The words landed heavy between us. The air felt too thick, like it was closing around me. I wanted to speak, to explain, but nothing came out—just the sound of my heartbeat crashing in my ears.
Matty didn’t move. He just sat there, waiting, gaze steady, like he could outlast every silence I had.
And the terrible thing was, he probably could. I didn’t think I could deny him anything at this point.
Even if it destroyed me.
“I came here because of you.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them. My pulse stuttered, but once they were in the air, there was no pulling them back.
His brow furrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…” My throat tightened, and I pressed a shaking hand to my chest, forcing the words out. “You’re the reason I came to this school.”
