Page 50 of Before I Loved You

I won’t let Greyson ruin Paul’s career.

I can’t do it.

With a defeated sigh, I drop my paintbrush in its holder and remove my smock. There’s no point in creating art tonight when I feel like this.

Walking the path back to my apartment, I look up at the bright, prominent moon above me, fighting with everything inside me to keep the tears at bay.

I’m depleted. Both mentally and physically, and I don’t know how much more of this I can take.

The second I enter my bedroom, I make my way over to my bed, slide under the covers, still wearing my clothes, and cuddle up into the center of the bed with Teddy, closing my eyes and searching for an escape from reality.

Just as I’m about to fall asleep, my phone vibrates on my nightstand, making me jump. Rubbing a hand down my face, I reach for it and bring it right before my eyes, which bolt open when I see Paul’s name flash across the screen.

Should I answer it?

It’s one in the morning.

He’s probably drunk.

But what if something’s wrong?

Pinching the bridge of my nose with one hand, I press the green button with my other, waiting to hear his voice.

“S-Sarah?” Paul slurs.

“Paul? Is everything okay?”

“I just don’t feel great. I didn’t know who else to call.”

I sit up straight. “What do you mean? Where are you?” Suddenly, shrill voices and deafening music float through the phone. “Are you at a party?”

“Yeah. I just needed a…distraction.”

My chest squeezes, remembering how he was the perfect distraction for me, and here I am, running away from him when he needs the same.

“Let…let me be your distraction, Paul,” I say softly, gripping my phone.

“No. It’s too dangerous for you here.”

I panic. “What do you mean? Where are you? I’ll come and get you. Just please tell me where you are.”

“The Kappa Alpha house,” he gets out.

My chest pounds as I rub at my throbbing temple. Returning to that house fills me with dread of epic proportions.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Okay.” I press my hand to my chest, trying to calm myself as Paul taught me. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. “Just stay where you are. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

“Sarah?”

“Yeah?” I jump out of bed, pressing my phone between my shoulder and ear, while I find a hoodie on the floor to throw over myself.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” I ask, coming to a halt.

“For thinking there was something between us when there wasn’t.” He pauses before saying, “I guess it was only me who felt it.”

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