Page 47 of The Obvious Check
I watch him for half a second before looking away. Not because I’m mad, but because of the twist of jealousy I feel. Dash has someone. Someone to text in the middle of the night. Someone to care about. Someone to miss.
Me? I have an empty bed, save for my fluffy friend, to come home to, and a brain that won’t fucking quit thinking about a girl I’m kind of stalking.
Savannah’s face slips into my thoughts. Uninvited this time, but I let it stay.
Where is she sleeping right now?
The thought of her curled up alone in the back seat of her half-frozen car makes it hard to relax. Thinking about her seeking refuge with Luke is worse.
I roll onto my side with a sigh, pulling the blanket higher over my shoulder as if it could shield me from my own thoughts. There's no point thinking about her. She doesn't have my number, so it's not like she can call me if she's in danger,anyway.Dammit.Why didn't I give it to her before she left? Practically force it into her hand? Would she have accepted it?
No. She wouldn't. She's too hell-bent on acting like she doesn't need anyone else's help, too determined to drown with dignity rather than accept a life preserver. Even though I know she's barely keeping her head above water. Even though I know she's one bad night away from sinking completely.
Dash lets out a quiet laugh, probably at something Madison sent him, and my jaw tightens.
There he goes again, inadvertently flaunting how happy he is.
I exhale sharply, shutting my eyes and forcing myself to stop. To focus. We have a big game tomorrow against the St. Michael’s Storm, and I need sleep.
But as I lie there, listening to the rhythmic tapping of Dash’s fingers against his screen, my mind refuses to shut off.
Because no matter how hard I try to push the thought away, I want what he has. That effortless connection, that feeling of belonging to someone. And for some stupid, inexplicable reason, the only person I can picture in that role is Savannah.
The girl who keeps pushing me away.
The girl who looks at me like I’m getting too close to something she doesn’t want me to see.
The girl who’s hiding something.
But what? What could be so terrible that she’d rather sleep in her car than let someone help her? What has Luke done to make her so afraid?
Chapter 12
Sitting in the classroom, I can barely keep my eyes open. My back aches like I’ve been dragged behind a car, my eyelids feel like they weigh a thousand pounds, and every muscle in my body feels like it’s been put through a meat grinder.
I barely slept last night.
Who knew that one night in Cade’s glorious apartment, in a real bed, would ruin my car for me forever? Suddenly, my mobile home feels like a coffin on wheels instead of a sanctuary.
I wish I could say it was just the mattress and the four walls were the reason for the best sleep of my life. It wasn’t. It washim.
I haven’t stopped thinking about him since he left. Why does he care so much? Why does he want to help me? I’m struggling to survive while he’s got a future ahead of him. A career. A loving family, so why the hell is he bothering with a girl like me?
The question crawls under my skin and I know I won’t get any answers, at least not until he’s back, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting them. Desperately.
“Is this seat taken?” a guy asks, pointing at the one I’ve rested my bag on.
I hesitate, glancing at the door before saying, “Yes. It is.”
He nods, backing away without a word to find another seat. “No problem.”
I don’t even know if Cade’s going to come today, yet I’m saving him a seat.
It’s stupid. It’ssofucking stupid.
The guy helps me out for one night with no pressure or expectations, and now, suddenly, I can’t stop glancing at the entrance, waiting to see if he’ll walk in. I swear I’m worse than Stanley waiting for a treat.
Stanley.
