Nat nods. “I love my brother, but he’s always so busy, too. He doesn’t have much time for me when I’m home.”
“You could always come and visit Boston for the second week when Oak gets back.”
Adrianna rolls her eyes. “What? And be a third wheel to you and Elias? No thanks.”
Natalya chuckles. “Fair enough.”
“You could visit Chicago if you wanted? Spend time with me and my sister?”
Adrianna regards me and smiles. “Thanks for the offer, but I actually quite like the idea of having some quiet time alone here.”
I nod. “No worries.” To be honest, I’m looking forward to some space away from here. A chance to clear my head and get some clarity on the insane things I’ve been doing with my professor.
For two weeks, I need to have no reminders of this place, but I doubt I’ll be able to stop myself from contacting him over the break, if I can get him to give me his number. I’ve been too nervous to ask and we leave tomorrow.
Ever since we started this affair, I’ve not gone a day without seeing him. The thought of spending two weeks apart makes me feel empty and hollow.
“Camilla?” Adrianna says my name, shoving me gently.
“Sorry, what?”
She shakes her head. “You have been spacing out a lot recently.”
“A lot on my mind,” I murmur.
Instead of commenting on that, she just says, “How about a last swim before we leave for break? We’ve hardly swum this term.”
I swallow hard, as I can’t swim unless I buy a wetsuit that will cover all the cuts and bruises on my skin. “I’m not really feeling up to it.”
Her brow furrows. “You know it’s going to be tough to get back into it with the time you are taking out.”
I shrug. “Maybe I won’t get back into it.”
Her lips purse together. “Fair enough. I’ll go by myself.”
I feel guilty about how disappointed she is, but there’s no way for me to explain the bruise and cuts she’d no doubt see if I put on a swimsuit.
In fact, I’ve been having to get changed for gym and combat in the toilets rather than the changing room to ensure no one saw them.
If my friends have noticed, they haven’t commented on it, thankfully.
“What time are you leaving tomorrow, Nat?” I ask, changing the subject as I sip my coffee.
“Car is swinging by early at about nine in the morning to collect Elias and me.”
“Where is he, anyway?” Adrianna asks, glancing around the room. “I’ve barely seen you two apart since you got together.”
“He had to do some last-minute studying in the library.”
Eva laughs. “I think you’ve rubbed off on him in a good way.”
Nat shrugs. “He’s actually really intelligent, even if he always acted like he didn’t give a shit about class.”
Someone clears their throat behind me, and I glance around to find Coach Daniels staring at Adrianna. “May I have a minute?” he asks, glaring at her.
She purses her lips. “Do I have a choice?”
“No,” he says sternly.