7
Riley
Then
Forfuck’ssake.I’mnot high,” I reply vehemently, but I cringe internally at the lie. Though in all fairness, the sight of Steph after so many months apart has succeeded in sobering me up pretty damn fast.
How the hell did she find me?
I feel sick at the thought of her being in this place—of her coming here—andalone. Of her being around thesepeople.
Seeing this life.
Seeingme.
My panic is rising swiftly. I can’t have her here.
When I’d looked up and seen her standing there, looking lost, but so goddam perfect, I’d thought I was seeing things. Then, once I’d realized she was real, all I could think about was getting her out of there. Out of that apartment.
She needs to go.
But fuck, I’ve missed her.
She’s so beautiful, so … Steph. And regardless of our surroundings, and the distance I’ve attempted to put between us these last few months, my body’s still reacting to her like it always does in her presence.
I just … can’t let her go quite yet.
“Was that Lucky?” she asks. “The … guy, uh … snorting something beside you?”
My eyes flare, and fear twists in my gut. Yep. I’m really fuckin’ sober now.
“How do you know about Lucky?” I ask slowly. She can’t know. She can’t—
“Answer the question.”
I feign nonchalance, offering her a shrug. “He’s just a buddy letting me crash for the summer.”
“Letting you … crash,” she repeats, and I watch as her eyes rove slowly around the space. Watch as realization dawns across her lovely face.
“H-here?” she stutters, eyes widening in disbelief. “On this … mattress?”
I bite the inside of my cheek but refrain from answering.
“But there’s not even a window! Isn’t that, like, a safety violation or something?”
That makes me snort. “Not sure if you noticed this, Sunshine—”
“Don’t call me that,” she snaps, avoiding my gaze.
I wince but continue, “Not sure if you noticed this, but this whole building is a safety violation.”
“I did, in fact, notice,” she says through clenched teeth and then throws her hands up in frustration. “Some of the units don’t even have doors, Riley. Do you want to explain to me what you’re doing here?”
I don’t know how to respond. There’s a reason I’ve been avoiding her and everyone else I love.
“And why did you get kicked out of the dorm? Why didn’t you go home?” she pushes.
I sigh, murmuring, “It’s a long story.”
