Page 27 of Drown in You

“Not at all. She’s actually really nice. And my dad seemed really happy I’m here.”

“He should be over-fucking-joyed.” My father will have a harder time winning Juliet over than me. She smirks. “What about the stepbrother? Is he hot?”

My pulse picks up speed. “Ew. He’s my stepbrother.”

Juliet and I don’t keep secrets from each other, and the guilt gnaws at me for keeping this one, but what happened between me and Luke can’t get out.

“So? That doesn’t mean you can’t see whether he’s hot or not. It’s not like he’s your actual brother.” Of course I should’ve known the kinkiest girl I’ve ever met wouldn’t bat an eye at a little taboo.

“I’d set you up with him, but he’s an athlete.” That would actually be the perfect solution to keeping Luke preoccupied with someone else, but ever since Marcus, Juliet has sworn off athletes.

“Damn. Maybe he has some sexy friends for us.”

“He does, but they’re hockey players too. The Devils.”

She rolls her eyes as we approach my Intro to Statistics class. “All right, the first party we go to, we’re finding some gorgeous guys and getting laid.”

“Agreed.” For the millionth time this morning, I check my phone.

Mom is already on her way to work after confirming with a video that she remembered to lock the door behind her and the house isn’t on fire. I’m relieved she’s doing okay without me, even if it makes me feel a twinge of disappointment that she doesn’t actually need me after all.

But the real reason an ache settles in my chest is because Ten is still radio silent.

If he’s not ghosting me voluntarily, something bad might’ve happened to him. But I have no idea how to get in touch with anyone who might know anything.

We’ve shared the darkest parts of our souls, our greatest insecurities. I told him about how abandoned I felt after my dad moved away when the divorce was finalized, how exhausted it sometimes made me to carry the weight of Mom’s sorrows and heartbreak on my shoulders, how sometimes I just wanted to be a kid again even though I love her and knew she needed me. I know how much he misses his dad who died only a year before we met, how he still harbors guilt over not being able to do more for him, and how he still has nightmares about that day. But what does all that matter when I don’t even know his last name?

The only thing I haven’t told him is about what I did last summer. I couldn’t bring myself to confess to the worst thing I’ve ever done, not even to him. Ten was the one person in my life who didn’t know what happened, and I wanted to keep it that way. To hang on to that past life, from before I ruined everything.

“Who’s texting you?” Juliet asks. “Ten?”

I try not to flinch. “Nobody. I actually haven’t heard from him in a few days. I think he’s ghosting me.”

“If he is, then he’s a loser. Forget him.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. Because Juliet doesn’t know what it’s like to experience rejection or insecurity. “Text me when you’re done with class so we can grab lunch.”

She strides off, boots smacking with every step. A couple of scrawny guys waiting for their classroom to open up watch every sway of her hips. She’d eat them alive.

While the professor in my Intro to Statistics class gives us an overview of the syllabus, I ignore the first buzz from my phone in my pocket. But when my phone vibrates again, I can’t resist the temptation to check.

Even though I tell myself not to hang on to hope, the disappointment still deflates me when neither of the texts are from Ten.

The first is from Dad.

Dad

Hope you have a great first day, kiddo! Feel free to call whenever you want to tell me about your classes or if you need anything.

The other text is from an unknown number.

Unknown

You’re not getting away that easy.

My heart drops.

Fuck. This has to be Marcus. Or one of his former teammates. What if they’re looking for me?

I screenshot the text, and even though at this point I’m not sure he’ll even read my message, I send it to Ten.

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