Page 157 of The Illicit Play

He belongs with them.

Teah may have broken it off, but it’s clear her parents would much rather have their daughter with Grady than the guy with all the piercings.

Grady Newman is the stable one. The sensible choice.

He’smychoice, but that’s not up to me now, is it?

Biting my lips together, I shuffle quietly down the hallway.

Grady’s still caught up in conversation and doesn’t notice me slip away.

That’s a good thing.

It’s probably best that I quietly disappear into the ether and let him get on with his life.

It’s better this way.

For him.

He deserves uncomplicated and easy.

All I’ve brought him is lies and secrecy and drama. I’ve potentially destroyed one of his closest friendships, forced him into situations he didn’t want to be in. He got a fat lip rescuing me from a party I shouldn’t have been at.

I even made him sleep with me when he didn’t really want to.

What kind of bitch does that?

He deserves better than me.

So I’m just gonna go. The only person who can figureout my life is me, and I shouldn’t be pulling Grady into that just because I’m too weak to deal.

Slipping out of the hospital, I realize I’m still holding Grady’s keys, so I walk back to reception and quickly explain the situation. The woman behind the desk seems annoyed at having an extra job given to her, but I write a note and tell her that he’ll come looking for them, so she doesn’t even have to move from her chair.

She rolls her eyes and lets me do it. Then I dart out of the hospital and nearly bump into Teah’s boyfriend.

He’s waiting outside, leaning against the hospital wall and smoking a cigarette. He looks agitated. His face bunches into a harsh scowl as he blows a stream of smoke into the air.

Yeah, he really is the opposite of Grady.

No wonder Teah’s parents want him gone. He’s gotwild bad boywritten all over him.

I gaze at him for a second, trying to figure out his story. Is he as lost as me? Was Teah helping him find his way home? Has she been the same beacon Grady’s been for me?

Obviously sensing my gaze, his head turns in my direction, and I quickly spin away, not wanting to connect with him.

Our two sorry asses standing in this parking lot pitying ourselves isn’t going to achieve anything.

I kind of have to admire the guy for not leaving, though.

He may have been kicked out of the hospital, but I’ve got a feeling he’s gonna stand guard outside its walls until they let him back in. Even if it takes all night.

A cold breeze whips across my body and I cross myarms, hunching my shoulders and walking down to the main road. I don’t have my phone on me, so I can’t order an Uber. All I can do is walk and hope I’m going in the right direction.

Thankfully, I end up passing a taxi around the other side of the hospital, and I’m able to wave it down. He drives me back to Football Frat, then has to wait for me while I run inside and get money for him. He’s really nice about it, so I give him an extra-large tip.

When I go back inside, I pause in the entryway, listening for voices.

I didn’t hear any when I rushed in, and I can’t hear any now.