Page 43 of Resist

“He just ran off like the roadrunner,” Josh finished saying.

Noah pointed at us. “Level four, he is.”

Lucas stepped into the cart and carefully maneuvered me out of harm’s way. “Hey,” he said with an upward nod, as if me being in his arms was as natural as waking up in the morning. “Level seventeen, please.”

Josh poked the corresponding number.

“Watch her foot. Her toe might be broken.”

“It’s not broken,” I huffed. “You can put me down now.”

“Not until you’re safe and comfortable in your room.”

“What about the banana room?”

Matthew turned to Josh. “The banana room?”

“Yep. That’s where we were supposed to rehearse.”

Brad shrugged. “Cool name. I like bananas.”

Noah scoffed. “I bet you do.”

“Shut up, dickwad.”

“Miss the sexy pixie, he does.”

I crooked an eyebrow. “Sexy pixie?”

Both Josh and Lucas answered with “Em.”

“Oh.”

The elevator stopped at level twelve and everyone but Lucas and I exited.

“WAIT!” My hand shot out to block the closing door. “Josh, where do you think you’re going?”

“To my room to fuck Cori.”

“No, you’re not.”

“What? Why?”

“Because your rehearsal with Lucas is still on. It’s just changed locations.”

“To where?”

“My room.”

“Your room?”

“Yes, it’s big enough. Sort of.”

Josh grunted and stepped back into the elevator, and I inwardly sighed with relief. To be alone and immobile in my room with Lucas wasn’t a good idea. I was too emotional for that, and bad, regretful things happen when one is emotional.

“So,” I said as the elevator stopped on my level and we all made our way down the hall to my door. “I was thinking maybe ‘Hot For Teacher’ by Van Halen.”

Lucas gave me a quizzical look.