Page 16 of Don't Look Away

In a bit of a daze, I find my panties, and my sweats and pull them back on. “Up until a few weeks ago, there wasn’t really any need.”

And why spend the money on birth control, when sex wasn’t even on the horizon? Obviously, now, that seems like a dumb thought. But when I first walked onto campus, I wasn’t eventhinkingabout guys, let alone birth control.

“We should get you on something,” he says, finally glancing up at me.

“I…don’t have a doctor here.” I shrug. “But I can check with the health office. I’m sure they can help me figure something out.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll text you the name of our family doctor. Anything you need, he can bill to me.”

This is so weird, talking about birth control like it’s a business transaction, especially after the deeply intimate things we just did with each other. The stark contrast between five minutes ago and now iswild.

And it’s not bad, necessarily. But there’s a heaviness now, an intensity that wasn’t there a few minutes ago. Like there’s a charged energy between us, buzzing just beneath the surface.

“Perfect,” I say under my breath. “Listen, um, is everything okay?”

He shrugs and walks out into the bedroom. “Sure, why?”

I follow him, hands on my hips. “I don’t know, it just feels like something has shifted between us all of a sudden.”

He grabs his keys and phone and shoves them into his pocket. “You’re imagining things.” He leans over and presses a kiss on my forehead. “Listen, I’ve got to run some errands. Food is on the table. I’ll be back in a bit.”

And before I can even ask him where he’s going, he’s out the door. What the actual fuck? It’s like he was spooked by what happened in the bathroom and couldn’t wait to get as far away from me as possible.

Pushing out a breath, I grab my phone and text Wyn.

U still here?

Her reply comes immediately.

Yup. What’s up?

I type out my response.

Feel like going on a field trip?

Again, she replies instantly.

Sure, is Roman done murdering your vagina? The whole house can hear you guys btw.

Ugh.I wince. That’s mortifying. I guess it’s true, though, Roman and I aren’t exactly quiet. When his cock is inside me, volume is the absolutelastthing I’m worried about.

I throw some actual clothes on, put on some deodorant, and brush my hair. Then tossing my phone into my purse, I head downstairs to the living room. When I walk in, all eyes are on me, as usual, but this time, they linger on me a little longer than usual. Knowing they heard everything makes my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

You’re the queen now,I remind myself.And queens don’t give a shit about what anyone else thinks.

Wyn is sitting on the couch, staring down at her phone. I walk over and touch her on the shoulder.

She looks up. “Oh, hey. Ready?”

“Yup, let’s go.”

I meet every single person’s stare as we leave, my gaze sweeping the room with a confidence I don’t feel. Not yet. After a lifetime in the shadows, I have a feeling it’ll take time for me to get comfortable with the role of campus queen.

Wyn and I get into her car. “Where to?”

I lean back and sigh. “I want to see the spot Bree was found. Do you know where it is?”

“The whole damn town knows.”

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