“Oh my God, Lexi!” Thea’s voice is frantic, relieved, angry all at once. “Where the fuck have you been? I’ve been so worried, and your weird-ass roommate wouldn’t tell me anything, and I’m so, so sorry for being such a bitch to you. I shouldn’t have given you the cold shoulder, I shouldn’t have—”
“Thea,” I interrupt, remembering how upset I was about that, but too much has happened to let that get in the way. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay. I was a terrible friend, and you needed me, and I just—” She takes a shaky breath. “Where are you? Are you okay? I’ve been freaking the fuck out.”
I glance at the time and my stomach drops. “I can’t. I’m already late for class. But lunch? Can we do lunch?”
“Yes. I’ll meet you at the dining hall at noon.”
“Okay. I have to go.” I’m already moving, speed-walking toward my dorm. “I’ll see you then.”
I hang up and break into a run.
My dorm room is exactly how I left it—unmade bed, textbooks scattered on my desk, the faint smell of Scarlett’s vanilla candles. I grab my backpack, shoving in the books I need for my morning classes, then pause to look at myself in the mirror.
I look... different. There are faint shadows under my eyes from lack of sleep, but my cheeks are flushed, my lips slightly swollen from Revan’s kiss. I look like someone who’s been thoroughly fucked and kidnapped and is somehow still standing.
I look alive.
The thought terrifies me.
I sprint across campus, my backpack bouncing against my shoulders. Students give me weird looks as I dodge around them, but I don’t care. I’m already late to Dr. Miley’s lecture on Modern American Literature, and she hates tardiness.
I burst through the door and every head turns to look at me.
“Glad you could join us, Ms. Kane,” Dr. Miley says dryly from the front of the room. She’s a severe woman in her fifties. “Please take a seat.”
“Sorry,” I mumble, sliding into an empty chair near the back. I pull out my notebook and try to focus on what she’s saying—something about Fitzgerald and the death of the American Dream—but my mind is still in that cabin, still feeling Atticus’s hands rubbing me until I broke.
I force myself to take notes, to underline important passages, to pretend like I’m a normal college student who didn’t just spend the morning having sex with a British criminal in a safe house.
The hour crawls by. When class finally ends, I’m exhausted and wired all at once. I’ve only missed a little part of the lecture, thankfully, which means I can catch up with the syllabus and move on. My scholarship demands perfection—straight A’s, full attendance, complete dedication. I can’t afford to slip, can’t afford to let Axel’s mess destroy everything I’ve worked for.
I won’t let it.
Thea is already waiting when I get to the dining hall, sitting at our usual table by the window. She jumps up when she sees me, pulling me into a crushing hug.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers into my hair. “I’m so, so sorry.”
“Stop apologizing,” I say, hugging her back. “It’s okay. I promise.”
When she pulls away, her eyes are red-rimmed. “You look exhausted.”
“Gee, thanks. I’m not wearing any makeup.”
“You know what I mean.” She sits back down, and I join her, immediately reaching for the sandwich I grabbed from the line. I’m starving—ravenous in a way that makes me realize I haven’teaten anything substantial since yesterday. I devour half the sandwich in three bites.
Thea watches with wide eyes. “When was the last time you ate?”
“Yesterday. Maybe.” I grab my chips, shoving a handful into my mouth. “I don’t know. It’s been a weird couple days.”
“Lexi, what the hell is going on? I tried talking to Koa, but he literally refused to talk to me.”
I freeze mid-bite. Koa refused to talk to her? But I know he never liked her to begin with, so why would he tell her anything?
“I, um...” I swallow hard, reaching for my water. “I met some guys.”
“Guys?” Thea leans forward. “What guys?”
