Page 40 of Endgame

She adjusted her glasses and looked right at him. “Are you willing to put in the effort to grow, King? If so, I’d love to keep seeing you to help you as you work all of this out.”

“I’d like that,” King replied, agreeing to meet with Dr. Hatch twice a week for the next couple of months. As he left the counseling services building, he could feel the weight on his shoulders lightening, just a little bit.

Chapter 22

Lila hugged Wren a final time before watching her walk through the automatic doors leading to the airport terminal. They’d made the most of their time together, managing to have fun while still studying for and taking their finals. And they’d been able to make the trip to see the Bradley soccer players win the national championship, though she didn’t exactly want to dwell on the fact that she’d had some pretty intense eye contact with King, which only served to remind her that she was nowhere near over him. The bastard looked particularly edible when muddy and soaking wet, much to her dismay.

When Wren had finally told Lila about what happened with Knight, Lila hugged her and reassured her that things would unfold the way they were supposed to. Knowing that Knight was hurting too, she snuck into his house and cleaned up his room while he was out taking a final. It was an absolute sty, and she felt awful that both of her best friends were feeling so wretched. She was optimistic, though, because there were some intense feelings happening. But she also knew that they both had stuff they needed to sort through and hoped that the time apart would be healing for them both.

Before pulling away from the curb, a text from Knight came in.

KNIGHT: Everything go okay with the big sendoff?

LILA: About to start driving. Calling you now.

She put her AirPods in and started the call before she pulled out into traffic. Knight answered on the first ring.

“Someone’s excited to talk to me,” Lila teased. “He who never actually talks on the phone.”

Knight’s laugh sounded almost back to normal. “Always, Li. How did everything go? She get off okay?”

“I mean, there was no getting off, but I did throw a vibrator into her suitcase.”

“Who are you, and what did you do with Lila Alexander? All of a sudden you’re making sex jokes and talking vibrators.”

“What can I say? It’s been an interesting and transformative year,” Lila giggled. Then she sobered up. “She’s okay, and I think this experience is going to be good for her. And, don’t worry, I’ll keep tabs on her address so you can send her snail mail.”

“People still do that?”

“If they don’t, they totally should,” Lila asserted. “There’s something wonderful about a handwritten missive. Letter writing is a lost art.”

“Okay, now you’re sounding more like the Lila I know and love.”

“Glad I could come through for you, bro.”

“Question.”

“Answer.”

He chuckled. “Have you found a place to live yet? Isn’t your lease up in like a week?”

Lila’s heart sank. For some weird reason, she had yet to find an apartment to rent for the spring/summer. A lot of her friends were graduating, and the few that weren’t already had places secured. Which meant she might have to move home with her parents for three and a half months and commute to work and school, all while trying to find a place for the fall. Which was, needless to say, less than ideal.

“I’m going to take that contemplative silence as a no.”

“Perceptive of you, Knight. Very perceptive. At this rate, I’ll have to move home with my parents and be subjected to their well-meaning but wholly puritanical views on sex and dating. I’m also about 99 percent sure they’d give me a curfew, too.”

“Sounds horrific.”

“You have no idea.”

“What if I told you I had a solution for you? A place to live with fun roommates and your own private room and semi-private bathroom.”

“I’m listening.”

“You should move in here,” he said triumphantly. “Jaxon and Mark graduated, so their rooms are open. The rooms are already furnished, as you know, and the mattresses have already been swapped out and the place thoroughly decontaminated. Plus, you already know Bear, so you’re two for three in the roommate department already.”

She mulled it over. It wasn’t the worst idea ever. Living with Knight would be fun. And Bear was super chill. Though she did have questions about the bathroom arrangement.

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