Page 47 of Crash into me
I shake my head, gesturing for her to lay back down. I climb in beside her silently, and she knows right now, I just need to rest.
* * *
“Eww!”Kate gags, peeling herself from my grip.
My eyes lazily open. “What?”
“You drooled … everywhere.” She giggles as she wipes her arm on a towel.
“Sorry!” I nearly laugh before I remember what happened this morning. I look to the clock, finding it’s noon. “Did you trade me out?” I ask, gesturing to the bags on the other bed, worried they’ve already filled the spot at the dorm.
She shrugs. “Luckily, they have you down on the roster still, so they didn’t replace you as my roommate.” She jumps up, tossing the bags to the floor. “I put my stuff there just in case anyone tried to room me with someone else.”
“You didn’t know I was coming.” I grin.
She nods her head. “I know, but good thing I did it just in case!”
“So, I can stay.” I breathe a much-needed sigh of relief. I know soon I’ll have to tell my best friend I’ve been lying to her.
“Yes.” She walks towards me slowly, scared to scare me away. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I nod towards her shower bag. “Go get your shower, and I’ll talk to you when you come back.”
I pull out my phone, calling Rita to check on her. The night I left, she texted me to let me know she was safe and went home. She answers on the first ring. “Hey, dear!”
“Hey, Rita.” A warm smile spreads on my face, I can’t let her know that my escape led to me being sad. “So, you got home okay? Is your stuff all there?”
“Yes, and yes!” she beams. “I’m so happy you got out of there. Are you safe? With Foster?”
I frown, but I don’t let my tone match it. “Actually, I’m at the dorms with Kate!”
We chat for a minute, both thankful to be out of that house.
No one understands it like Rita; no one knows me like her.
“Come see me soon.”
“I will,” I promise.
* * *
Brett walks in the dorm,a frown on his face. “I was hoping you’d be here,” he whispers, coming to climb in beside me.
I wrap my arms around him. “I’m so sorry I lied,” I cry, knowing Warren probably told him everything.
He sits up. “I get it. I mean, I was pissed at first, but Warren calmed me down.” He tilts his head. “I just wish you would have told me.”
I sit up too, placing my hand on his knee. “I know … but I couldn’t.” I rest my head on his chest, letting the tears fall.
Kate returns. “Woah.” She smiles. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Hardly,” I scoff, my lips curling up.
She jumps onto the bed, brushing out her wet hair. “Why are you crying? I knew something was wrong.” She pouts.
“I remember everything,” I tell her, holding onto Brett for strength.
“Holy shit!” She beams, bright as the sun. “That’s amazing, Sky!”