Page 103 of Dare To Take

“Actually, yes. You were finding the entire fucking thing hysterical the other night.”

“When I was high, you mean? On the drug she spiked my coffee with. The one that could have killed me. That’s when I was laughing.” My voice is flat.

“I’m serious. You have to let this go. Promise me. No more retaliation. Someone is going to get killed.”

“You know I can’t make that promise.”

“Eli!”

“I’m not going to lie to you, Kell. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. But she fucking drugged me. And you want me to just act like it didn’t happen?”

“I want you to think about what might happen if you keep escalating this. Just fucking ignore her.”

I tip my head back against the seat. “I can’t do that.”

He drums his fingers on the steering wheel. “Another video was released on Monday.”

I close my eyes. “It wasn’t me.”

“I think that’s pretty obvious at this point. My point is, maybe she’ll finally realize that and leave you alone.”

“And maybe it was never about those videos and photographs being released at all.”

Kellan is silent for a minute or two.

“You think she’s acting out to get your attention for another reason?”

“I think she’s scared of her own sexuality because she’s terrified she might end up like her mom, and she hates me because she wants me. But if she causes a fight with me and we fuck? Then it’s clearly my fault and not hers.” I crack open one eye. “Can you carry on driving now?”

He stares at me for a moment longer, then nods and pulls back onto the road.

***

I won’t admit it to Kellan, but the drive from the hospital has exhausted me more than I thought it would. The doctor warned me it might take a few days for my body to recover, not just from the possible GHB in my drink but also from the vomiting and being out in the snow without adequate clothing. From what the nurse told me, by the time Kellan reached me, I was soaked through from lying in the snow, and then it took another forty minutes for him to get me back to the school.

I don’t argue when Kellan insists on us going straight to our room, and I’m ready to crawl across the floor to my bed by the time we reach it. He says nothing as I stumble and fall onto the mattress, leaning against the wall with his arms folded as he watches me. I throw a hand over my face and close my eyes.

“I can feel you staring.”

“Do you want help getting your shoes off?”

I grunt. I don’t want to admit to the weakness I’m feeling. Kellan doesn’t push, but a second or two later, he takes the sneakers off my feet.

“Are you hungry?”

“No.”

“Thirsty?”

“I’d kill for an undrugged coffee.”

He chuckles. “Coming right up. Stay here.”

I don’t think I could fucking move if I wanted to, so I just wave a hand at him. I’m pretty sure I fell asleep before he left the room because the next thing I remember is his hand on my shoulder as he shakes me.

“I’m awake.” The words come out as a garbled yawn, and he laughs.

“There’s coffee on the nightstand and I’ve put two cans of Coke in the mini refrigerator. I’m going down to get some food. Try and sleep some more. I’m locking the door and taking both our keys, so pray there isn’t a fire.”

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