The things we almost were

tepped into the kitchen. Warm air wrapped around me instantly-thic

stove, stirring something in a big silver pot, completely in his e

, dropping my bag onto t

ool?" He pulled me into one of his bear hugs, the kind that smelled like aftersha

buzzing from everything that had happened. "I met this guy-Ronald. He's really

stirring. "So, you made a

e counter. "And honestly, I think I'm gonna like thi

shoulder, one eyeb

ng to think. "You remember that story about t

eah. Hard to forget so

arefully. "Elian Collins. I actually saw him today-with this

lightly. "Imp

's got this look-tall, dark, that quiet, arrogant vibe

rd in the hallway, hair falling slightly into his eyes, that soft, almost reluct

ad look-the one that made

orried about t

... pretty, okay? And besides, from what I

ked. "A

cret. "Ronald told me they're always together. And when I saw the

d. "High school drama already

I'm judging them or anything. I just didn't expect tha

r the pasta, handed me a

conclusions, Liv. People ar

interesting. Especially Kaelin. He's hard to read-like he's got a tho

at knowing hal

? You planning on s

way. I'm just gonna mind my bu

raising his fork like

hing. The house felt warm again-ali

ad hummed at the sink, washing the dish

t hallway-like something had gone wr

f my business. But it

hose two felt tan

e feeling that somehow, I was goin

**

an'

was drumming inside my skull. My throat was dry,

tinct, squinting against the faint morn

fr

d heavy was drape

's

how the hell this happened. I did not fall asleep on his bed last night.

I turned

e he

el

ch was weird. Normally, he had that sharp, guarded expression that screamed don't even tr

d off me, but of course, my phone

shoulder a small tap. "Get up.

buried his face in the pil

gain, nudging him. "You'

umbled, voice muf

y eyes. Cl

a cold shower, hoping it'd

y shoulders, he was sitting up on th

, eyes squinting like the light it

u okay?"

flickering across his face befo

ou dru

"What? S

ht," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "I

didn't drug you. You probably just mixed your dr

y, this doesn't make sens

called a han

k, he was still sitting there, staring blankly at the wall

ed, handing him the pills. "You can st

tubbornly. "Nope. I

ng. "But if you're gonna move t

glare. "Go ahead," he

ne who deeply regretted existing and tru

pping in, he turned, g

me shower? I'm s

I said, flip

and disappeared i

tly more human, he reached for a cigarette

k-the one that sai

moke, and sighed. "Sorry, m

peless," I

hers you," he said lazily, smirk r

nough

ng spilling across the wide room, tall ceilings, shadows d

and a little too e