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I shook my head. “I couldn’t do that. I hardly know you. Besides, I like it here. It’s quiet and peaceful.”

Tristan looked amused, like the fact that I enjoyed being in the abandoned attic made me some kind of eccentric. “How did you even end up here at the hotel?” he asked, curious.

“My sister works here,” I said, and his eyebrows shot up. Despite not knowing him very well, I could tell Sloane’s fears about getting fired were unfounded. Tristan was too nice a boy to ever do something like that. “I came to talk to her about Graham after her shift. That’s when we fought, and I was just kind of aimlessly wandering when I found this place.” I left out the part about searching for a private spot to have a cry. I was still upset that Sloane had only tried to call me once since our conversation. Did she even care where I was sleeping?

Tristan’s gaze wandered over me, and I shivered a little under his intense stare. This boy was no older than me, but there something so confident about him. He was sure of himself in a way I’d never been, and it made him seem older, wiser somehow. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but the silence had self-consciousness creeping in.

“I’m sorry for being here. Please don’t tell anyone. I’ll leave now, and I won’t come back.”

“But where will you go?”

My gut twisted with dread. There was only one option, but I didn’t think I could face it. “Home, I guess. I’ll have to make up with Sloane and just tolerate Graham again. I was so upset the other day when I packed my bags. Maybe I was too hasty.”

“You shouldn’t have to live with someone like him.”

“We don’t all get the luxury of choosing,” I told him sadly as I began to gather my things. Tristan was quietly observing me again, and I started to worry he’d tell his friends he’d found me here. Then it would be all over the school that I was homeless. It would eventually get to the teachers, and one of them might inform social services. I’d turned eighteen a couple weeks ago, so technically I was an adult, but I wasn’t entirely sure what would happen since I was still at school. The thought of having people there know my situation was humiliating.

I paused my packing to grab Tristan’s hand. His eyebrows shot up, and I felt a little zip of awareness go through my palm at our touch. He glanced down at our joined hands then back up. “Will you promise not to tell any of your friends about this? I couldn’t face going to school with people knowing.”

“Of course, I won’t tell,” Tristan replied earnestly. “It’s our secret. You have my word.”

“Thank you,” I said gratefully. A moment of silence fell as I let go of his hand. “You’re being so understanding about all this.” I looked away, shoving my old laptop into my bag before bundling up the charger.

“Erin,” he said, and I glanced back at him. His expression was serious.

“Yes?”

There was a brief pause, then, “Was that Laguna Beach you were watching?”

His unexpected question had a giggle escaping me. “Uh, yeah,” I tucked some hair behind my ear. “It’s my favourite show.”

“Mine too!” Tristan exclaimed, smiling wide, and I thought for a second that he was joking.

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not. My sister and I watch it together all the time. Ask me any question about the cast, and I bet you I’ll get it right.”

I studied him a moment, still wondering if he was joking when I said, “Okay, tell me the name of the three characters who are in a love triangle.”

Tristan smirked in a very charming way that made my pulse flutter. “That’s an easy one, Stephen, Kristin and Lauren.” A moment of silence fell as he asked, “What? Still don’t believe me. All right, ask me another one.”

“Who’s Lauren’s best friend?”

“Lo.”

“What name does Lauren also go by?”

He smirked again. “LC.”

His answers made me chuckle. “I’m so surprised you watch it.”

“I should be the one who’s surprised,” he countered teasingly. “You don’t exactly strike me as the type who watches reality TV.”

“Appearances can be deceiving,” I replied with a chuckle. Was I flirting with him? A flush crept over me at the realisation.

“Are those peanut M&Ms and popcorn?”

“Oh, yeah, not very healthy, but I didn’t have a lot of options from the vending machines downstairs.”