Page 60 of Forbidden Lessons

Deep, deep,deep.

I take out an envelope, fold it open, and slip out the page folded up inside.

Smooth it out on my other thigh as I blink back tears.

Don’t need to read it. I’ve committed it to memory years ago.

I WISH I NEVER MET U

I FUCKING HATE U

BURN IN HELL

Swallowing, I unlock my phone and hold it up over the piece of paper, waiting for my hand to stop shaking. Then I zoom in so the words scrawled on the bottom like an afterthought aren’t visible in the shot.

Click.

I carefully fold up the paper and slide it back into the envelope. But I don’t put it back in the glove box, because what’s the fucking point?

If I had a lighter, I’d burn it.

But until I get a wallet, I can use the envelope to store my cash.

I take a breathe, wipe my nose, and DM the pic to Bastian.

Chapter 18

Haven

I nearly mow down Melissa with my car as I’m driving out of AHC’s parking lot. The loudpingon my phone has my head swiveling down like one of Pavlov’s dogs instead of watching the road. Thank God I’m not going fast.

My car skids on the gravel. Melissa turns to stare at me, her hair taking a moment to stop moving. Then she points a long fingernail, her shoes crunching over the gravel as she walks to my door.

I reluctantly roll down my window. “I almost killed you.”

“I wouldn’t, yet. We have an assignment.”

“What?”

She flicks her hand. “Got distracted by my ex’s DMs. Fucking man child.” She grimaces. “Now everyone’s paired up except us.” She ducks her head and stares into my car.

I try not to wither into a husk, because I know it looks like shit in here.

“You can drive with me,” she decides.

“Where?” Why is everyone trying to get me into a car with them today? Do I have a ‘kidnap me’ sign taped to my back or something?

“Gamma Alpha Zeta. My sorority house?” She rolls her eyes. “Free food. Free booze. Clean bathrooms.”

“What, now? I can’t. I have work.”

“Like, studying?”

“No,workwork. Like, employee, boss, job?”

“Work,” Melissa repeats, like the word is a foreign concept…which it probably is. “Oh.” She draws back from my window like being employed is contagious and she hasn’t had her vaccinations yet.

“Sorry.” I shrug.

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