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“She couldn’t hold her liquor, I guess.”

There we go. I knew she wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk shit.

I have yet to see Kota drink at one of these. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if she couldn’t hold her liquor. Her tiny ass probably has no tolerance for it.

So Kota might be—probably is—sick, and Guy’s still down here, prepping his dick for another bitch? Not just another bitch, the bitch, the one who makes fun of his girlfriend right out in the open.

Now motherfucker’s eyeing me, obviously waiting for me to join in.

I should kick his ass. One haymaker is all it’d take, I just know it.

But right now, I’m needed elsewhere. If he didn’t walk Kota up, then there’s no guarantee she even made it to her room. Or that she locked her door. Girl is way too damn trusting.

The scoff I give isn’t forced. Neither is my scathing tone as I say, “Fucking pathetic.”

Assuming I’m referring to Kota, Lisann stupidly says, “I know, right?”

This earns absolutely fuck all of a response from Guy.

“What a pussy,” I add on while looking him dead in his fucking eyes.

Lisann’s snicker makes my top lip turn up. She makes my top lip turn up. They both do.

One day, he’ll realize I wasn’t talking about Kota, and I hope to God he confronts me about it.

I’m not waiting around for that to happen though.

Spinning on my heel, I stride away, motioning to Dex on my way past that I’ll hit him up later. I’m out.

“Kota? You in there?”

Ear pressed to her door, I don’t hear anything on the other side, so I knock again.

My hand hits the handle as I drop it, making it jiggle. That doesn’t sound locked.

I try twisting it, and sure fucking enough, it’s not.

Pushing the door open slowly, I call out again, “Kota?”

Answer me. Cuss me out for barging into your room. Give me a sign you’re alive.

If it weren’t for the nightlight plugged into the wall, it’d be pitch black.

It doesn’t look like anyone’s in here, and the bathroom door is open, the light off.

“Are you in here, Kota?”

The lighthouse’s beam cuts between the curtains, revealing a lump on the bed.

One swipe of the locks covering her face and I see Kota. A finger under her nose proves she’s breathing.

Goddamn it. She passed out during a party and left her door unlocked. Anything could’ve happened to her.

I look down at her body.

Anything could’ve already happened to her. I don’t know how long she’s been up here all alone for.

Clenching my teeth so hard my temples ache, I go and lock the door. I turn on the light, too, but she doesn’t so much as stir.