A tear streaked my cheek. “What if he thinks I’m weak and leaves?”
She giggled. “You’re the girl who saved his life, Rae. If anything, he’s scrambling to try and figure out how to repay you. How to help you in your own time of crisis.”
“Fucking hell, that does sound insane.”
“It really does.”
I turned away from Allison and picked a piece of bacon off my plate. I crunched on it mindlessly as I sifted through all sorts of things. I wasn’t convinced Clint would simply forgive me. And I knew damn good and well he’d never forget. I still wasn’t convinced I hadn’t irreparably damaged things. But could I really back out of college last minute like this? And even if I did, it was probably too late to enroll into the community college where I had planned on going. Plus, that meant fighting with my mother. If I wanted to put my foot down with my own money, that meant a fight. And I wasn't sure if I had the energy to fight with her anymore like that.
Then, there was fixing things with Clint. Which was a monumental task in and of itself. Especially after everything I had already pulled.
If there was anything left to fix.
“You think the boys are up?”
Allison nodded. “I heard them talking out on the balcony earlier this morning.”
I paused. “Do you know what they were saying?”
She shook her head. “I figured they deserved the privacy. But Clint was talking to him. So, I suppose that’s a good sign.”
“Does Michael hate me?”
“He’s upset with you. Disappointed, probably. I think he’s a bit shocked as well because none of us have ever seen you like that. But hate you? Nah.”
“I hate myself. I wouldn't blame him.”
“Well, good thing we aren’t you, then.”
I snickered. “Yeah. That’s the best case scenario for you guys.”
“Stop being so self-deprecating, Rae. This isn’t about you anymore. You’ve dragged us up here and into your tangled web of un-talked-about issues. It’s time to put on some big girl panties and deal with it. Whatever might come of it in the process.”
And for once, I had a direction I needed to walk in.
“When might be a good time to talk with Clint?”
But before Allison could answer me, I heard the door next to us slam open.
Then Michael called out for Clint.
30
Clinton
“Clint! Come on, man.”
I stormed down the hallway as I made my way for the elevator.
“Michael, what’s going on?”
Allison’s voice wafted behind me as I jammed the heel of my hand into the elevator button.
“Clint? Where are you going?”
I stiffened at the sound of Rae’s voice. I heard the elevator whirring up the shaft as I slowly turned around. And when my eyes fell onto her, I chastised myself for how I felt. My heart stopped in my chest. My body ignited with life again. Even though she looked terrible, my body still wanted to move toward her. Rae’s skin had gotten pale. Her lips were chapped and her eyes looked sunken in. Bloodshot. Like she had cried herself to sleep or something like that. But I needed out of the hotel for a little while.
I had a lot to think about.