“Good luck, since I'm not in any of Rook’s classes next semester,” I say after a moment, once I have my feelings under control. But Oliver just shrugs and drags me to my feet, citing the fact that dinner is probably ready as he pulls me out of the room.
“Do you understand me, Love?”Rook’s voice is sharp as he speaks, and I can feel his eyes on mine even though I’m staring at the remains of eggs and French toast on my plate. “The police shouldn’t ask you anything. If they do, you give them nothing. Youhavenothing to give them.”
Except, that isn’t exactly true.
“So you’re just, what, keeping his body in some kind of storage so you can dump it?” I ask lightly, not wanting a real answer.
The two of them trade looks, and Oliver just shrugs.
“I’m cleaning it up, and that’s all either of you need to worry about. I’ve cleaned up a thousand other messes of his. This won’t be the last one, will it?” Oliver just grins at the words, causing the other man to shake his head. “But don’t make things worse. Get on your plane. Go home. Don’t tell anyone, do you understand?”
That part hurts, but I figured he’d say it. Not to mention, if I tell my parents what happened, they’d want to knowwhy. I’m not ready to tell the why, and I don’t think I ever will be. “Great. Sure. Fine,” I mutter, rubbing the heels of my palms against my stinging eyes while trying to avoid my bruised cheek. “I’ll just write it in a diary if I need some support or someone to talk to. Or I’ll just tell my smart phone and hope the government isn’t listening.”
“You tellus,” Rook states firmly, his voice hard. “You askusif you need help. I would’ve thought it was obvious by now.”
It isn’t, but who am I to burst his bubble? Instead, I chase a few dredges of maple syrup around my plate, unsure if I’m nauseous or amazed at how good of a cook he is.
Probably both, truth be told.
“Let Oliver know if you need anything. If you need money, I can send it to you. Though, it would be easier if you’d give me an actual account for me to deposit it into, instead of having to go through funxcams,” he remarks, making me stiffen.
“No,” I say sharply, lifting my eyes to his. “No. You’re not getting access to my bank account. Absolutely not. And I’m not streaming over break, so you don’t have topayme for anything. I’m fine, Rook.” I shoot Oliver a look as well, who raises his hands in surrender with his fork in one and his mouth full of bacon.
“I didn’t do anything,” he remarks, but I glare balefully anyway. “I’m just eating.”
“I just don’t want either of you to get the wrong idea. I’m not-you’re not…” I suck in a deep breath. “I don’t want to owe you. You’re not my parents or my…” I trail off. Whatarethey, even?
“We’re not your boyfriends?” Rook supplies, his tone unimpressed. “We’re just the serial killers who like to fuck you. I know, Love.” He doesn’t sound angry, per se, but I still eye him just to look for any micro-change in his already unreadable expression.
“Is that a problem for you?” I don’t want to challenge him, his authority, or anything else. I just want him to see that I’m not giving in. That he hasn’t won, and I don’t belong to either of them.
Slowly, he shakes his head, looking as unperturbed as he’s claiming to be. “Not at all, darling girl. The best prize is one that’s earned, not the one that’s given. Oliver’s worked to win you over, but he’s not the only one who’d like for you to accept where you belong.” His words send a shiver down my spine that’s from both anticipation and a healthy dose of fear. “You still have a semester to go, and I’ve barely given you any of my attention. That’ll change when you come back, now that I know what I’m working with.”
I want to remind him, again, that he won’t have me in class at all so I don’t know how he’ll make my life miserable, but I manage not to. Instead, I go back to my food, wanting to get myself under control before I say something that has them stuffing me in the freezer next torob784.
Chapter 30
While the airport is busy and my mom won’t stop calling me, it isn’t either of those things that has me standing perfectly still in the lobby, hand clutched around the handle of my duffel bag. People weave in and out of the doors, some of them throwing me irritated looks as I block the path with all the grace of a raccoon, and twice the audacity.
But I can’t move. Not when Oliver is standing inside the atrium, hands shoved into his pockets as he stares up at the lazily spinning mobile above him. He doesn’t twitch, he doesn’t even look down at me as I step inside and cross the distance between us, heart thumping in my chest.
What is he doing here?
For a wild moment I think, suddenly, that he’s gotten a ticket to come home with me and expects me to introduce him to my parents.
“I don’t like flying,” he admits, not looking anywhere but up at the ceiling. “It makes me nervous.” Finally, he tilts his headdown, one hand coming up to cup my jaw. “Good morning, wonder girl. Are you surprised to see me?”
“I’m surprised you know how to get out of bed before six am,” I concede, not bothering to hide my exhausted yawn. The sun isn’t up yet, and I don’t want to be either, but here I am anyway. “What are you doing here, Oliver?”
“I just came to see you off.” He kisses me on the cheek before I can pull away, and does so himself like he knows I’ll jump away if he doesn’t allow some space between us. “I wanted to get you a present, but honestly, I have no idea what to get you. Next Christmas, though, I’ll do better.”
“I’ll have graduated by next Christmas,” I point out unsurely.
“So will I.” He flashes me that sweet smile once again. “Rook says not to be mad at him, but he’s deposited five hundred into your account by way of funxcams.” His smile widens. “Well, he didn’t say the first part. He doesn’t care if you’re angry about it, truth be told.”
My eyes widen as I stare at him, mouth open. “Fivehundred?” I ask, voice rising by octaves until I’m basically squeaking. “Oliver, that’sridiculous.”
“He worries,” Oliver explains, as if that’s supposed to assure me. “Let him worryless. He just wants you to be okay. And to be able to get what you need.”