Page 78 of Sweet Venom

“Nah.” She hugs me. “You’re my only friend.”

I hug her back. “We’re meeting on weekends like this, and you can come home on holidays.”

“Or maybe you can apply to GU?” She pulls back, her eyes sparking. “I know it’s a long shot, but maybe…”

“I don’t think that will ever be possible.” I’d never study at the same campus as Jude. It’s enough hassle that he comes all the way here.

Though he hasn’t since I creeped him out with the reason behind my blowjob skills.

That was three weeks ago. Mario said he hasn’t been around, because he has family obligations and has been busy with resuming training ahead of the start of the hockey season.

I feel like Mario is trying to console me or something.

But for some reason, I canfeelJude everywhere in this tiny place. Even when he’s not there. Like a damn ghost.

I don’t want to get in touch with him, especially now that I don’t have to since he stopped bugging me to watch his hockey games.

But I can’t help but be worried about the whole thing with Dahlia and GU.

It simply can’t be a coincidence.

As she said, they rejected her application a few years ago, so it’s unusual that they’d change their mind out of the blue right before the start of classes just because a previous scholarship student dropped out.

I mean, they could have, and Dahlia is seriously smart and hardworking, so they might have been dazzled by her grades, but still.

This entire situation is giving me a bad feeling.

Dahlia is humming as she goes to return the first aid kit. As I wait for the broth to finish cooking, I pull out my phone and stare at Jude’s name, then at the counter where I keep seeing images I’d really like to forget.

It’s been weeks, and yet those erotic dreams won’t leave me alone. I swear I’ve used my vibrator the past couple of weeks more than I have in years.

Is this a sexual awakening or something equally ridiculous?

After much deliberation, I type out a text.

Me

Did you have something to do with Dahlia’s acceptance into GU?

My heart jumps when I receive a reply right away.

Stalker

What happened to hello?

Hello. Are you behind my sister’s scholarship?

If I wanted to offer someone a scholarship, wouldn’t I have offered it to you instead of your sister?

I don’t know. Maybe you want to control me through her and make sure I always know you can get to her whenever you want.

I can get to her whenever I want now. If I wanted to threaten her life, I don’t need to offer her a scholarship.

Is that supposed to make me feel better?

Not sure. Did you text me to feel better? Or because you’re now alone, with no support to distract you from yourself or me?

How does he even know that? How can he recognize that I’ve been feeling low since Dahlia moved to the dorm at GU two weeks ago? I try to put up a courageous front so as not to spook her, but, truly, I miss her so much, but I don’t want to be selfish andsabotage her once-in-a-lifetime chance just because I can’t be a grown adult and simply exist on my own.