Chapter Fourteen
Maisie
I groan, stretching out my stiff body as my eyes flutter open and then immediately close again, the too-bright sun making it almost impossible for my eyes to focus. Rolling to my side, I pull the blanket up to my chin, only for me to realize I am not in my bed, the too-hard surface beneath me making that much abundantly clear.
My eyes dart open, instantly landing on Macallan, who’s on his side, facing me, his lips slightly parted, his breathing slow and steady as he sleeps.
I have no idea how I fell asleep, let alone how I slept through the entire night, especially given the undeniable chill in the air. Even still, I can’t bring myself to get up just yet.
I take a moment to study the lines of Macallan’s face, the cut of his jaw, the fullness of his mouth, a mouth I now remember kissing last night, though I’m still not sure why I did.
It didn’t go beyond that, even if I wanted it to. Macallan was nothing if not a gentleman.
I replay the kiss in my head. The way his hand slid into my hair, pulling me closer. The taste of his tongue as it slipped into my mouth. He wanted me. That much was apparent. But when I tried to touch him, he gently caught my wrist to stop me from doing so.
I wasn’t sure if I was disappointed or relieved as I settled back onto my back, his hand reclaiming mine as I stared up at the night sky, trying to steady my raging heart. But looking at him now, I can say with complete certainty that what I’m feeling now is disappointment.
Because, despite everything, I wanted him. Iwanthim. I’m not sure I ever stopped wanting him. But that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t entirely trust him.
I stare at him for a few more moments, soaking up the ability to drink him in without consequence before finally peeling myself out from underneath the blanket, careful not to disturb him as I roll away and push to a stand.
Tiptoeing across the roof, I slip inside through the same door we entered through last night, using the flashlight on my cell phone to light my way down the rickety stairs before finally pushing my way back outside to find Macallan’s car parked right outside the exit.
Making my way to the passenger door, I mutter a silent curse when I find it locked, my soccer bag still inside. Knowing I’m going to need it tomorrow for practice, I can’t exactly leave without it, but I also have no desire to go back inside and wake Macallan.
I don’t know why, but I feel almost embarrassed about last night. Not just the kiss, but of all the things I revealed, most specifically Lily. I can count on one hand the number of people I’ve told that story to, and why I told it toMacallan, I still don’t know. One minute, we’re talking about stories, and the next, I’m spilling a truth I’ve shared with almost no one.
Shaking off the thought, I round the building, knowing we’re only about a ten-minute walk from campus. Given that I grew up in this area, I have a pretty good gauge of what is walkable and what is not.
It takes me closer to twenty minutes to reach my dorm, which is on the far side of campus, by which time all I want to do is take a shower and climb into my bed to sleep the day away. Despite sleeping the entire night, I feel completely exhausted.
I blow out a sigh of relief when I push my way inside my dorm to find it blissfully empty, though I have no idea where Lana is off to this early on a Sunday. Not really giving it a second thought, I drop my cell phone and room key onto my desk and then proceed to strip out of my clothes and head straight for the bathroom.
“Why?” I groan, slapping blindly at the beeping object above my head. It takes me several attempts to silence the blasted thing, and only then do I realize it’s my cell phone making all the racket.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I lift the device to my face, having to squint to bring the screen into focus. Several messages and three missed calls... Great.
Unlocking my phone, I see one message from Char, two from Lyric, and five from Macallan, who’s also the one who’s apparently been calling me, given that the only missed calls I have are from his number.
Opening the message thread, I smile at the first thing I read.
Macallan: I see how it is. Just leave me on the roof all by myself. I feel used.
Shaking my head, I read through the other texts.
Macallan: I’m afraid I didn’t get my fill of you last night. Can I see you again today?
Macallan: You good?
Macallan: Can you text me and let me know you got home okay? I’m starting to worry.
Macallan: Mais?
I’m seconds away from texting him back when a knock on my door nearly causes me to jump out of my skin.
“Ugh,” I grumble as I throw my legs over the side of my bed, jumping down from my bunk as the knocking becomes more insistent.
“Maisie, if you are in there, you better open this fucking door.”
