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I can’t hold back the sob that rips from me as I say, “I’m back at the dorm.”
“Rory! We need to get to the dorms now. She’s there and she’s upset,” I hear her tell someone, who I assume is Damien. I don’t hang up the phone, I just let it fall to the side of the bed as I break down.
I don’t want to be here. This is not in my plan.
Why couldn’t my mom just wait to get married again? To fall in love after I graduated?
The door to the room opens, and I am not sure how much time has passed, but Addy and Damien walk in and see me curled up in the bed. Quickly, I sit up and wipe my tears.
“Rory! What the hell happened?” Addy is immediately by my side, Damien hot on her heels.
“I needed to leave. Please, I don’t want to talk about it.” I shake my head.
“Did someone hurt you?” Damien’s voice is tight. I look up at him and I can see the anger in his face. He takes a look around our dorm room, and he starts to pace a bit.
I shake my head. “No. Just … I don’t want to talk about it. Please.”
“Rory, you can’t just disappear like that,” Addy whispers. “God, we thought the worst things. You weren’t answering your phone …”
“I … I just need time. Please, I am fine.” They both narrow their eyes at me. “I will be fine. But I just need to just sleep.”
Addy nods. “Okay. I’m going to give you two a moment.” She smiles up at Damien. When she leaves, he turns to me, his face softening for the first time since he walked in.
He crouches down in front of me, his hands placed on either side of me. “I was going out of my mind. If someone did something, tell me. I can take care of it. But I get that you need time to process whatever happened. Just know I’m here for you.”
He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, then stands up and kisses my forehead, and my stomach does somersaults.
I look up at him as he pulls away, and our eyes meet. His flit down to my lips, and I watch him slowly move his mouth toward mine. With a feather-light touch, his lips brush over mine before pressing forward. His mouth softly works against mine in a slow motion. Our lips dancing to their own song.
Damien pulls back slightly and rests his forehead against mine. “I had been wanting to taste those lips again. And as much as I want to continue, you are very upset, and you need your rest. Goodnight, Rory.”
He places another tentative kiss on my forehead and turns on his heel to leave. As he reaches the door, he turns and gives me one last smile.
“Goodnight, Damien.” My voice barely registers above a whisper. He nods, vanishing through the doorway.
A couple minutes later, Addy comes back and, in a flash, she is on me.
“Spill. Fucking. Now.” She hovers over me. “You had me thinking you were in a ditch somewhere, or kidnapped! You at least owe me an explanation.”
I take a deep breath and close my eyes. “I … I accidentally stumbled into Dekker’s room.”
“Dekker? As in your brother’s friend?”
“Stepbrother and yes.”
“How did you …” She stops and her mouth drops open. “Oh my God. That was their frat house we were at. Oh! I am so sorry! I had no idea.”
Shaking my head I cut her off. “Stop. I know you didn’t.”
“What happened?” She looks at me and frowns, knowing the interaction with Dekker can’t be good.
“Just made a fool of me. I’m completely embarrassed by it.”
“What did he do, Rory?” Her features are etched with concern.
I run my hand down my face. “Nothing. I’m more worried about my brother finding out I was there. I just got scared and took off.”
Her eyes narrow. “Then why the shower and why is your skin all red?”