Page 136 of Dare To Take

Sin: Breathe, Kitten. Classes are finishing early. Go to art. He’s not in the main studio. He’s working on his project.

Eli isn’t there. The knowledge eases a little of my anxiety.

Me: Ok, I’ll go to class.

I hesitate for a moment, gratefulness making me smile.

Me: Thank you for helping me. Thank you for being there.

I slip my phone into my pocket and stand, unlocking the stall door. A flash of movement catches my eyes in the mirror a split second before pain spreads out across the side of my face. I stagger sideways, my legs give out, and I hit the floor. My hand covers my cheek, and I turn my head to find Tina lowering her arm, fist still clenched, and Lacy standing over me.

Tina smiles. “Oh, hi, Arabella. I didn’t see you there.”

Lacy flicks her hair over her shoulder. “I didn’t realize you were so accident-prone.”

My gaze bounces between them. “Shouldn’t you be in class?”

My ex-roommate steps around me to move to the mirror. “The teacher let us out early, so we have plenty of time to make sure the ballroom is set up for tomorrow night.” Opening her bag, she takes out her lip gloss and touches up her lips. “We also wanted to make sure it was clear that you’re not welcome there.”

I don’t move from the floor. “I’m not going anyway.”

Lacy puts the gloss away and pouts at her reflection. “Good. Not that anyone will be disappointed. No one is going to miss you.”

She swivels on her heels, and trots toward the door.

“Come along, Tina. Linda will be waiting for us, and you know how she is if we aren’t on time.”

Tina moves to follow her. “See you around, loser.”

I touch my throbbing cheek. Any thoughts of going into art withers and dies. I just want this day to be over with.

Chapter 83

Eli

Do I wear a mask when I meet Arabella at the bench, or do I go as myself?

She’s expecting Sin, so if I turn up, will she run?

My thoughts return to the text conversation earlier. She admitted she is scared of me. A few months ago, that would have brought me pleasure. Now, it just leaves me cold.

She’ll definitely run if I show up, so I shove the ski mask into my pocket. If she’s wearing the blindfold, I won’t put it on. If she isn’t, I will … at least until I’m close enough to stop her from running when she realizes who I am.

Time is moving slowly, and I don’t even have Kellan here to distract me from watching my cell while I wait for the alarm to go off. I pace the room, end to end.

Maybe I should get there before her. But what if she sees me leaving the dorm? It might make her change her mind if she thinks I’m outside where she could run into me.

I’ve never felt so fucking conflicted in my life.

Gnawing on a thumbnail, I spin and stalk toward the door, then stop.

No, I should let her get there first. That way, I can check to make sure she hasn’t been followed.

Maybe I should text her and make sure she’s still meeting me?

Fuck.

I don’t want her to think I’m putting her under pressure. It might make her start to question if I’m behind the other texts and trying to get her somewhere alone.

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