And when he tries to stand up? Jeremy throws him back down again as if to prove a point.
I’m deaf to all the noise, to the students chattering, to Ava grumbling about losing the money she bet on Lan.
My gaze remains locked on Jeremy, who’s glaring at Landon as if he has a personal grudge against him.
Could he know about Landon’s involvement in the fire? Maybe aboutmyinvolvement?
I’ve never stopped feeling guilty about that, not even after Jeremy threatened me and basically turned me into his sex toy.
His morals shouldn’t reflect mine, and I don’t want to hurt people. However, I’m not idiotic enough to tell him about it. That would only create trouble.
I was so sure Landon wouldn’t either, but he’s been clearly displeased by how I’ve been refusing to be his spy, so maybe he sold me out.
No.
He wouldn’t do that. At least, I hope not.
Either way, I don’t want to stay here. I manage to drag Ava with me. Considering her dejected state, she doesn’t mind too much and doesn’t call me a killjoy.
We eat some ice cream on the way to the dorm, and then I tell her I’m going to study.
She says she’ll practice her cello.
Usually, I wait for her to go to sleep so I can sneak out, but I’m restless tonight.
Fifteen minutes after the sound of her cello fills the space, I throw on my hoodie and slip out of the flat.
It feels like it takes me forever to reach the cottage. I open the gate with the wireless key Jeremy gave me soon after I became a regular visitor at his property.
The whole house is shrouded in darkness, but the gothic vibe doesn’t bother me tonight.
Something else does.
Out of instinct, I stop at the door of the cottage. Usually, this is when he’ll ambush me, then chase me all over the place.
However, when I push open the door, nothing happens.
Though I’m sure I saw his bike outside. Could he be taking a shower?
I go all over the cottage, but there’s no sign of him. However, I catch a glimpse of a mass of muscles through the kitchen window—that he fixed after I shattered it to pieces.
My steps are careful as I head in his direction. Jeremy sits on the deck, leaning back his palms on the wood as he stares at the gloomy lake that I’m sure is filled with water ghosts.
I stop right behind him, and I yelp, then shriek when he grabs me by the ankle and flings me forward.
But before I tumble into the water, he plops me on his lap so that I’m straddling it and wraps a large hand around my waist. He stares at me with dark eyes, so dark, they practically blend with the night.
However, another novel emotion I’ve never witnessed on his face lurks beneath the surface.
Something like…relief. Surprise?
“You came.” It’s a bewildered statement at best.
I let my palms flatten on his shoulders. “You told me to come every night, remember?”
His grip tightens around my waist. “You’re early.”
“Ava went to sleep early.”Liar.