Page 103 of His Temptation

“He can be,” I agreed. “But he can also be really awesome too. It sucks not having him around anymore.”

I stayed at Faith’s for another few hours and bingedAngels of Deathbefore leaving around ten that night. Her mom adored me and said I could come back anytime I wanted, even offered for me to stay the night. I politely declined and told Faith I’d talk to her later before getting in my car and driving off.

I drove to the park.

Clouds covered the moon as I walked along the trail toward the bench I used to visit all the time. One I hadn’t had reason to visit in months. But then everything had fallen apart and I’d found myself spiraling and in need of some kind of familiarity.

Once at the bench, I sat and looked at the river. The water was calm and the air was still—no welcoming breeze. The night was quiet, apart from the frogs. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my text messages. I hadn’t been able to delete the ones from Emery. My vision blurred as I read the lastI love youtext.

“Fuck,” I said, my throat closing up. I wiped at my eyes and tried to pull myself together.

Two weeks had passed since Emery had shown up at my work. Since I’d pushed him even farther away from me. I was moving into my dorm tomorrow, which excited me because it meant I was finally getting away from my mom and her loser boyfriend. It also made me nervous. I was about to start a new chapter in my life. A chapter without Emery. And I wasn’t ready to leave him behind just yet.

So, I sat on that bench and prayed for time to reverse so I could spend just one more day with him before everything had gone to shit. One more kiss. One last laugh. One more morning in bed where we’d get lost in each other.

I typed out a message to him before I could overthink it.

Me:Do you remember at War Eagle when we kissed by the river? I wish we could go back to that day.

I put the phone back in my pocket, pain spreading all throughout my chest. Ending things with Emery had been my decision, but I hadn’t seen any other choice. With Ryan being so pissed at me, it would only cause a greater divide between him and Emery. It was best if I stayed away.

If only my heart would get that memo.

When I finally went to the apartment, there was no one home. Good. I was in no mood to deal with anyone’s shit. I unlocked my bedroom door and slipped inside, closing it behind me and locking it back.

My phone vibrated as I collapsed into bed.

Liam:I knew I loved you that day.

A sob tore through my throat, and I pressed my face into my pillow.

Love fucking sucked sometimes.

***

“Nice place,” Faith said, surveying the dorm room.

“Yours looks exactly the same.”

We were living in the same building, on the same floor, but her room was on the right side in the girls’ wing. I had helped her move in earlier that day, and now she was helping me. Team work.

“Yeah, but look,” she said, walking over to the window. “You have a view of the clock tower. So not fair.”

“Hey,” a guy said from the doorway, holding a box under one arm and a duffel bag slung over the other. He was Asian, and his black hair had blue tips. “I’m Vincent. I guess we’re roommates.”

“I’m Cason. Nice to meet you.”

Faith’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head as she looked at him. “Hi! I’m Faith. Totallynothis girlfriend, by the way.”

Vincent smiled at her. “Um, good to know.”

I turned away from them to unpack my laptop and smiled as they continued talking. I had a feeling Faith would be hanging around my room even more than usual. My phone rang, and I frowned at the name.

“Hey, Mom,” I answered, holding the phone between my ear and shoulder as I finished sorting the things on my desk.

“Cason, honey,” she said, before taking a drag off a cigarette and exhaling. “Did you leave any money for the rent?”

“I already paid the rent for this month.”