“It’s not just you. I have other… obligations.” His tone says he’s hiding something.
I roll my eyes. “Like being Mr. Hart’s on-call mob doctor?”
I need to remember that no matter how much I want Lex, he’s dangerous and will probably drop me when the next hot chick walks past.
Although, he’s still sending me gifts, and he leaves me a sweet voicemail every night. At first, I wanted to throw his presents away, but the pixies needed the bluebells to warn them ifpredators got too close. And then I couldn’t leave Princess Paisley’s castle in the front yard. It’s not safe outside of the fence.
“Now, my flight leaves in a few hours. Is there anything you need before I go?”
“I’ll be fine.”
I am not fine.
Who am I kidding?
I can’t do this. I’m too scared.
I’ve been huddled in my bed, jumping at shadows and flinching at every noise. Brendan’s only been gone two days, and I haven’t slept at all. This is getting ridiculous. I should have taken up Vera on her offer to stay at her place, but she lives right next to campus and I’m still scared of being there.
“God, why am I so pathetic?” The tears start falling, and I can’t stop them. I just wish that I could go back in time and warn myself to not stay at the library so late. Then I would’ve never run into those jerk-faces, and I could still be a functioning adult. I could finish school and help people, and maybe someday find a partner of my own, but how could I trust?—
Was that a knock at the door?
Nope, not at this time of?—
There it is again!
Who could it be?
Is it Chad coming to get revenge?
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I pull myself tighter and rock back and forth.
“Rory?” a voice calls out. It doesn’t sound like Chad. “Rory, please let me in.”
Lex.
Lex is here.
Why is he here?
He can’t be here.
Now I’m hearing things. I’ve really lost it.
“Rory, baby boy, please let me in.”
No, he’s here.
“Daddy?” I sigh.
He’ll make it all better.
17
LEX
