Page 164 of Wicked Dreams

Slowly, I sit up and readjust. I smooth down my hair, ensuring my shirt is in place. And by the time I look up, Caleb’s gaze is on me.

“Feeling better?”

“Not really.” The melted bag of ice slides off the couch. “Did you…?”

Caleb frowns. “Find Ian? Do anything? No. I’ve been warned not to cause any more waves at school.”

I grunt.

He leans toward me, tucking a chunk of hair behind my ear. “Lenora said you should be good to go for the dance, though.”

I manage a smile. “I hope so.”

“I know it.”

He turns on the lamp. I squint, blocking the light with my hand as he switches seats and slides in behind me. I lean on him while he inspects my throat.

“He’s not going to touch you again. Even if I need to get the whole fucking hockey team to keep him away from you?—”

“Isn’t Ian on the team?”

Caleb rolls his eyes. “Yeah. But not for very much longer. There’s a code of ethics to stand by. Plus, he’s a twat.”

Clearly.

The idea of him being kicked off the team is oddly satisfying.

“Where are Robert and Lenora?”

“They went out. They’ve been hovering, making sure you were still breathing. Or snoring, like you were when I came in.”

I elbow him.

“You’ll be back to school next week,” he promises. “And then the dance. And after…”

He wiggles his eyebrows.

I break into laughter. “What are you going to do, rent a hotel room?”

He grins.

My heart skips. “Did you?”

“Where’s the surprise in that?”

“Haven’t I mentioned that I don’t like surprises?”

He laughs. “No.”

A new movie comes on, and Caleb and I fall back into silence. I actually stay awake this time, getting through most of it before the front door opens. Lenora and Robert enter in a flurry, dropping their bags and shedding coats. They come over to me, feel my forehead, pat the top of my head.

It’s nice to be cared about. Suffocating and completely unfamiliar… but nice.

Caleb rises. “That’s my cue. I’ll see you later.”

Robert and Caleb shake hands.

When Caleb’s gone, the place feels a bit colder. I try not to let it show, though, because Lenora takes his seat almost immediately.

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