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“When does summer session start?” I force myself to ask, because the only thing I want to ask is if anything happened between him and Sadie last night. It’s my dad’s words eating at me. I have no reason to believe they’d betray me like that. But I keep seeing her things there, next to the bed they shared.
“Monday.”
“Connecticut, huh?” I say, despite knowing why he chose to attend the school. We’ve already discussed it. But I can’t get my brain to focus. It keeps returning to that stupid mattress with the two pillows.
“It made the most sense.” He gives me a curious look, like he’s worried about me.
“It’s a nice campus.”
“Not far from the water either.” His tone is sarcastic. Now he’s mocking me. “Are we going to talk about the weather next?”
Ignoring him, I nod toward the girls running drills on the soccer field. “What’s going on there?”
“Soccer camp.” Collin stops in his tracks and turns to face me, his brows creased. “Okay, dude. This is weird. You’re acting so off. Even for you. Speaking of, where’s the little weirdo?”
I check my phone. “Parking.”
A soccer ball rolls in front of our feet. Before either of us can bend to pick it up, a girl runs up.
“Sorry,” she says, her dark hair slicked back into a ponytail. Her cheeks flushed bright red.
Another girl, her red hair in two braids, catches up to her. She smiles at us. “Hi.”
The brunette grabs her arm and pulls her back toward the soccer field. The redhead glances over her shoulder like she was just getting started with the conversation.
Collin laughs. He’s always been amused by how girls respond to me. I don’t give it much thought. My genetics aren’t my fault.
“Omigod. You’re so embarrassing!”
“Did you see him. He’s like… seriously, Em. The hottest guy I’ve ever seen.”
“Still have fans,” Collin says, laughing.
The only fan I care about is running across the field, holding up the edge of her skirt in one hand and clutching her sandals in the other. I’m hoping that radiant smile’s for me…
What the fuck is wrong with me? Collin’s right. I am off.
“Collin!” can be heard across all of the athletic fields.
“Don’t you dare jump on me,” Collin tells her, holding his hands out to protect himself.
Sadie tosses her arms around his neck, and he spins her around. When he sets her down, she reaches for my arm to steady herself. I pull her back against my chest instead, wrapping my arms around her, maybe a little too possessively. I kiss the top of her head.
“Can’t believe I left to get us breakfast and you didn’t wait to give me the tour too. After all I did for you. I’m never hanging curtains with you again.”
“Wow. You are so vicious now. Are you sexually frustrated or something?” Sadie opens her mouth to answer, and Collin instantly takes it back. “Don’t want to know.”
I force a smile, fighting to release the tightness in my chest.
"I promised you’d be the first to know!” Sadie says, nearly bouncing in my arms. Collin raises his brows, like he’s afraid to know what’s coming next. She holds out her hand, the sun setting the stone ablaze. “We’re getting married!”
My reverie is shattered by a violent scream. I’m on my feet and up the stairs just as another cry bellows through the closed door.
“Emma,” I call to her in a steady voice, not wanting to make it worse. I consider entering but know that could make it worse. Not to mention crossing a line that I’ve already been caught skating along, unintentionally.
I can hear her labored breaths. She’s fighting to come to the surface, but still trapped in the dreamscape. I can feel the panic in my chest.
“Emma!” My voice is louder. Her whimper cuts off, followed by quick, uneven breaths as she acclimates to consciousness, struggling to settle her nerves.
