“I don't know.” I take a sip and relish in the way the cold feels on my throat. “I'll probably just move back into Mom and Dad's and commute from there.”
“No,” E declares. “No way. No sister of mine is going to miss out on the experience of freshman year at university.”
I can't help but
laugh at him, though there really isn't much humor in this. “Well, unless you plan on me living in a cardboard box outside of the housing office, I really don't have much of a choice.”
“Nonsense. We have a perfectly good guest room,” he points out. “You'll stay here.”
My eyes widen, and I turn my attention to Zayn, who obviously wasn't included in this decision. To my surprise, however, he doesn't look opposed to the idea. I raise my brows at him to see what he thinks, and he purses his lips.
“Your brother has a point.”
Easton smiles triumphantly. “It's settled, then. You're officially the newest roommate of Casa Bronovan.”
Zayn throws his head back and groans. “I thought we ditched that name last year.”
“We didn't, and you secretly love it.”
“I really don't.”
Their banter is endearing, but I can't help thinking about the elephant in the room.
How am I going to handle not being able to have Zayn while we live under the same damn roof?
You know the little voice in your head that tells you something is a bad idea? That part of your conscience that is meant to tell you right from wrong? Pretty much everyone has one. Thankfully, I learned a long time ago how to turn mine off, but if I didn't, it'd be screaming right now.
I tip-toe into Amelia's bedroom, glad to find her still fast asleep. It's early, but you never know with her. I don't think she has any kind of sleep schedule at all.
Her phone sits on the nightstand, and I quietly flick it to vibrate before I unplug it. Then, I make my way out just as quietly as I came in. If she knew what I was doing, she would kill me for it. Or at the very least, have me locked away in an insane asylum. But nevertheless, it needs to be done.
As soon as I get back into the safe confines of my bedroom, I swipe for it to open and relief floods through me when I notice she doesn't have a passcode on it. Going into her settings, I find Blade's number and remove it from her blocked list.
Amelia: I've been thinking, and you were right. I'm sorry.
I send the text then pace back and forth across my room before the phone vibrates in my hand.
Blade: I knew you'd come to your senses. Smart girl.
A mixture of disgust and anger causes me to shiver.
Amelia: I miss you. Can I see you before class?
The three little dots pop up before I can even look away.
Blade: Of course, babe. Meet me at our bench in thirty.
Amelia: I'll be there. ??
He sends back a heart, which I know is nothing but an act, but it still enrages me to no end. This is the same guy who allowed her to get arrested for his mistakes. The same piece of shit who threw a bomb into her bedroom. And he thinks she would just forgive him like that? Not a fucking chance.
Today, he gets what's been coming to him for a long time.
IT'S STILL DARK WHEN I get to campus, but you can see it starting to lighten in the distance. Finding their bench might have been hard if the courtyard was full of students, but luckily for me, there's only one. The exact one I'm looking for.
“Hey shithead,” I greet him with my hands in my pockets.
The second he sees me, realization crosses his face, and he rolls his eyes. “I should've known.”