Oh, hell no.
“Aveena, look at me. You’re not your dad.”
I know she’s carried guilt and regret about her father’s death for a long time. He passed when she was very young, and she’s been afraid of putting her own kids through that trauma. I’d hate to see her deny herself happiness out of fear.
“You’re right.” She comes to her senses. “Would you guys mind coming over tomorrow? I don’t want to take the test alone, and Xavier’s busy all afternoon.”
“Of course,” Lacey and I agree in unison.
We spend the next hour daydreaming about that test result and entertaining the possibility of a mini Xavier and Aveena coming into the world. I only remember Vee’s suspicious behavior from earlier when a reminder pops up on my phone.
I’m dog sitting later today.
And I have to be there in an hour.
Vee started acting weird when I told her someone from my past came to see me. I can’t shake the feeling that she’s hiding something, butI can’t very well ask her about it now, can I? I eventually tell myself that I’m overthinking and say my goodbyes, making a mental note to ask her about it later.
* * *
The smell of rotten food and sweat wrap me up from the moment I step inside my dorm at around midnight. The room is dark, and at first, I assume Grace is sleeping. But then I hear a noise that gives me pause.
Why does it sound like someone is gagging?
That’s when I see them.
“You have gotto be kidding me!”
I’m sure there are worse things than living with a disrespectful roommate. Funny enough, right now, none come to mind.
“In my bed? Are you fucking serious?” I hit the light switch in no time, my eyes practically burning when I get a better look at the atrocity unraveling before me.
Grace.
Giving head to some rando in my bed. I’m dumb enough to expect an instant reaction, but neither Grace nor the crusty boy soiling my sheets give me the time of day until a few seconds later.
“Dina, hey. You’re home early,” Grace slurs, detaching her mouth from the guy’s cock with a pop, and I thank the Lord for the blanket covering his thing.
Until I remember that it’s my blanket.
The one I sleep with every night.
I’m going to be sick.
“Do you know Jimmy?” she asks, and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. She’s obviously high. And wasted. Same goes for the lowlife next to her.
“You couldn’t do that shit in your own bed?”
“Jimmy spilled his beer on my sheets. What’s the big deal?”
My gaze drifts to the pile of empty beer cans next to our bunk bed. Those are mine. Shocker. Every time I buy booze, she swipes it without telling me. But she told me she hated beer once. So, I used my fake ID and bought some in the hope that she’d keep her paws off my stuff. That worked out great. Obviously.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, relax. We’re not even fully naked this time.”
Did she just say…
“This isn’t the first time?” I blurt out.