Page 95 of Wherever You Are

I smile so much that tears brim.

Garrison might not know it, but his love is keeping me afloat here. Every time I think of him and talk to him.

“Sorry,” Salvatore says, seeing my reaction and realizing the flowers were mine. “I didn’t know.” He sounds sincere.

I nod, accepting the apology. Maybe easier than most would, but I’m not here to cause more friction. I just want to survive this semester.

Salvatore sits up, ruffling his hair. “Can I buy you more?”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Yeah, let me. It’s the least I can do.” He glances at the sleeping girl, and then he slips out of bed. He’s buck-naked.

Oh my God.

I spin on my heels. My back to the naked man.

I saw…I saw his dick.

Salvatore grabs boxer-briefs off the ground.

“Really, Salvatore, I don’t need more flowers—”

“It’s not a problem, Willow.” Before he comes closer, I shuffle out of his room. Putting more distance between us, and for the third time, I tell him firmly that I’m okay and donotneed more roses. And I quickly dial Garrison and find solace in my bedroom, sinking on the edge of the mattress.

My face is burning in embarrassment.

I’m dead.

I’ve died. I put a hand to my forehead.

“So what happened?” Garrison asks.

“Uh…I think…” I inhale. “So I kind of saw Salvatore naked and—”

“What?” His voice is hot and confused. “How?”

I rehash everything and thank him for the card, but Garrison is understandably stuck on the Salvatore part.

“He’s a fucking douchebag, trying to buy youflowerswhen he knows you have a boyfriend. I don’t even care if they’re replacement flowers—”

“I know,” I cut him off in agreement.

Garrison is quiet.

I swallow my mortification. “Garrison?”

“As long as you know that his intentions are fucked…”

“I do.” I exhale a deep breath.

He pauses, then asks, “I have the better-looking dick, right?” His serious tone makes me smile.

“Definitely, always.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

I lower my phone at the sound of another incoming call. “My dad is calling.”