Page 63

“You’re fucking adorable, you know that?” Trevor asked, hugging me tighter before releasing me as we hit campus. “Only you would be nice to someone who was all over you, thinking you might create an international incident.”

“I’m a nice person,” I said lamely. “Really? That was Delia. Huh.”

I’d seriously believed she didn’t speak English the whole time. And just as suddenly as she’d started paying attention to me, she seemed to disappear. Not that I was sorry to see her go.

“Where are you meeting Mom and Dad?” I asked Caitlyn.

“The quad,” she said. “Come on, Andy. Please come with me.”

“Look at me,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t want to hear about it. Please. I’ve talked about this fight way more than I ever wanted to. And I don’t want to have it out with them in front of people. Just tell them I’m busy with priest shit. They’ll love it.”

“Well, I hate you,” she said, turning on her heel and heading off toward the center of campus.

“Making friends everywhere you go,” Trevor teased. “Don’t worry, Princess. I still like you.”

“Well, that’s all that matters now, isn’t it?” I said, grinning at him. “But you don’t have to keep me company. Go see your folks. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Positive,” I said firmly. “Go. I’ll see you later.”

He hesitated and for a minute I was terrified he was going to kiss me, but instead he gave me a small wink, then jogged off to find his family.

Honestly I was considering sneaking back to the apartment. I doubted Caitlyn would take our parents there, so it would be a safe place to hide.

It wasn’t that I didn’t love my parents, I just…didn’t like them very much. And that was reciprocated. I’d always been a disappointment to them. The only time they’d ever seemed to be happy with me was when I’d told them I was going to be a priest. And even that had just resulted in a handshake from my father and…well…not much else.

“Excuse me.” I felt a hand grab my arm and when I turned I was shocked to see Mark Tafta’s brother, grinning at me. “I thought that was you. How are you?”

“Uh, I’m good,” I said, my head turning to see if Mark was anywhere nearby. “How are you?”

“Good.” He raked a hand through his hair and chuckled. “God, I’m shocked to see you.”

“Same,” I admitted.

“I’m here visiting my brother,” he said. “I assume you go here?”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “I actually know Mark.”

“Oh.” He nodded, his smile slipping. “You didn’t tell him…”

“I didn’t have to,” I said quietly. “You should probably talk to—”

“Get the fuck away from him,” Mark growled from behind me, making me jump.

“Hey!” I said, holding my hands out defensively in front of myself. “We were just talking.”

“Don’t talk to him. Don’t look at him. Don’t even fucking think about him,” Mark said coldly. “Did you not learn your fucking lesson last time?”

“Whoa!” his brother said, grabbing Mark by the collar and dragging him away from me. “What the fuck is wrong with you.”

“He’s what’s wrong with me,” Mark shot back. “Christ, Leo, he’s a fucking freak.”

Leo. Good to know.

“What do you know about it?” Leo asked, a harsh edge in his tone. “What did he tell you?”

“He didn’t tell me anything,” Mark said. “I saw you. I saw what he made you do to him.”