I thought of his words the other night.
I don’t think I can go back to how it was before.I’m not letting you push me away again.
I knew there was no going back after our kiss. Everything between us felt different now—evolved. He knew my darkest secret, and he was still here, determined to help me. Thatmeant something. So I told myself there was no need to overthink what we did.
That night was amazing.
It felt right.
I couldn’t deny that.
Before he went to work that morning, I convinced him to take me to my apartment so I could get my car. I didn’t like the thought of it just sitting there or that I had to depend on Drew for a ride. Plus, I needed it for work.
The past few days were spent studying in Drew’s apartment while he was at work, but today Leah called, needing a ride to school.
I had sent a quick text to Drew earlier to let him know what was going on and made my way to Leah’s house.
Now, it was almost an hour later, and Leah and I were on our way to campus, but I still hadn’t gotten a response back from Drew.
Maybe he’s busy.
“Something you’ve been keeping from me?” Leah added when I didn’t answer her initial question.
My mind immediately went to Adrian and the stalker.
Does she know about him? How did she find out?
Lying to her about my past was eating me up inside. In the few short months I’d been here, she’d become the closest friend I’d never had. She’d said on more than one occasion we were like sisters, yet she didn’t even know my real name.
What kind of friend was I lying to her?
I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to spill my guts to her and hope she’d understand. But it was safer that she didn’t know. That still didn’t help the feeling of guilt that swelled inside me.
“Um, no,” I replied warily. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about Drew,” Leah said, like it was obvious.
My shoulders slumped in relief, and I sighed. Of course she was talking about Drew.
Wait. Why is she talking about Drew?
“You left the bar together the other night,” Leah continued, “then he drove you to school the next day like you stayed the night with him, and then I heard you were together on campus looking really close. I mean, I had to hear that from that bitch, Rachel. She even said Drew had his arm around you.”
I shifted in my seat and tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
I guessed it was good Rachel hadn’t also witnessed the man who attacked me in the library. How would I explain that to Leah? But I guessed this thing with Drew was the perfect distraction from the real secret I was keeping from her.
Besides, what was the harm of confirming her suspicions about my relationship with Drew? She’d been pushing for us for weeks, and I already knew she’d approve.
Was it so bad that I confirmed our relationship, if I could call it that, to her without talking to Drew first?
“Okay.” I glanced at her, then back at the road. “We are together but?—”
“I knew it!” Leah laughed, fist-bumping the air. “I told Tyler there was something going on with you two at the bar. He didn’t think so, but I so knew it!”
I chuckled at her excitement. “Yeah, well, we still have some things to work out, but I care for Drew a lot, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. But to be fair, there wasn’t much to tell.”
“Are you kidding?” she asked excitedly. “I’m just glad two of my favorite people in the entire world are finally together, and from what I’ve seen from you both, you obviously make each other happy.”
