Page 157 of Dare To Live

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes, of course. I guess I hadn’t thought about the dance.”

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

“No. No. I want to go with you.”

The way he’s looking at me, with so much heat and intensity, it makes my toes curl. I don’t want to think about what might happen after Friday when the reunion comes to an end.

We’ll be heading in different directions, no matter how the week goes. That thought coats my happiness in melancholy. I’m not ready to say goodbye.

The others chat. Eli and Ivan discuss art, while Miles and Garrett gossip about the people around us. I eat my cake, my earlier enjoyment of it absent.

“Can we move my stuff into your room now?” I push the second plate away.

Eli glances at it and frowns. “You sure you don’t want anything else?”

“I can’t manage another bite.”

“I suppose we won’t see you two until the morning.” Miles smirks. “Try not to break him, Bella.”

Eli stands and pulls me up onto my feet. “She can try.”

I arch an eyebrow at him. “Is that a dare?”

“Would you accept it if I said yes?”

“Challenge accepted.”

“Get a room, you two.” Garrett laughs. “Or at least wait until you get to Eli’s. Jesus, it’s like watching a pair of teenagers.”

I flip him off, which makes him laugh harder. I lead Eli through the cafeteria, ignoring the stares of Lacy and her minions.

Maybe Miles is right. Maybe I should just tell Eli how I feel. The thought circles in my head as we climb the steps up to my floor.

Eli tugs on my hand. “What’s got you so preoccupied?”

“Just thinking.” I take out the key to my door.

“About?”

Tell him.

I unlock my door. “Eli, I…”

The words I’m about to confess die in my throat at the sight of the flowers on my bed. Wrapped in black paper, the white lilies are bright against the dark blue blanket.

Chapter 88

Eli

“What the fuck are they?”

Arabella doesn’t move.

“Ari?” I touch her arm. “Where did the flowers come from? Did you come back up here at some point today?”

Her head turns toward me, and I get the fleeting impression of white features and bright blue eyes before she surges past me and over to the bed. Her fingers pull the paper wrapped around the stems without any care at all, scattering the flowers across the sheets.

---