Page 74 of Chase Lovett Wants Me

CAMMIE

Iwake up to noise in the hall. Giggling and laughing.

I lie there, face mashed into my pillow where the scent of Chase’s cologne permeates the fabric. He and Brody got up at a ridiculously early hour for some one-on-one ice time. Scoring that goal has motivated the hell out of Chase. So did the accolades from Tally’s dad. He talked about it for days. It was adorable.

I huff his cologne. Usually sniffing him makes me all warm and gooey inside, but today something feels…off. More laughter comes from the hall.

There’s a note on the nightstand next to my bed. My stomach twists unpleasantly as I flip it open, preparing for…I don’t know. The worst maybe? Which would be Chase suddenly breaking up with me by leaving a note on my nightstand.

Cammie,

I miss you already. Back in a couple hours to grab breakfastwith you.

Xo,

Chase

He always dots the “i” in my name with a heart. It’s so stinking cute. My smile fades as more laughter comes from the hall.What the hell is going on out there? I throw off my covers and pad across the room, pressing my eye to the peephole. Several of my floormates congregate outside my door holding pieces of paper. Several of them are snickering. One guy reads over another guy’s shoulder and guffaws loudly.

I don’t think through my actions as I throw open my door.

The hallway is full of people. All of them are holding papers in their hands. I glance at my door, trying to process what I’m seeing. Pieces of text-filled paper are taped to my door. The entire thing is covered. Horror, real and overwhelming, hits me hard as phrases pop out at me.

It’s my fic. My pen name is at the top of some of the pages, along with the name of the story.

“Oh my God! You’re a fucking freak!” one girl says, her lip curling in disgust.

A guy gives me a once-over. “Me and my friends will tag-team you, even if you are a freak.”

Someone else takes a picture, likely of my horror-struck face. I’m also wearing a TILTON HOCKEY T-shirt that belongs to Chase. And only a T-shirt.

I slam the door and turn the lock. “Oh my God, oh my God,oh my God.” I slap a palm over my mouth and back away from the door as tears spring to my eyes.

This is literally the worst possible thing that could happen. I don’t even knowhowthis could have happened. I also don’t know how I’ll leave my room ever again.

I pace my room and glance at the window. But I’m on the third floor. I’ll break something if I try to jump. I message Tally because I literally don’t know what else to do.

I explain in a horribly autocorrected text what’s happening.

Tally

OMW. Be there in less than twenty. I’ve got your back.

I super duper have to pee, but the noise outside my room only grows louder. This is beyond humiliating.

Less than twenty minutes later a shrill, ear-piercing whistle, followed by what sounds like Colby on a megaphone, nearly startles me out of my skin. As it is, I’m very, very close to peeing my pants. I have to go so bad, but leaving my room is not on the menu while all those people are out there.

A soft knock follows. “It’s Tally and…Colby is also here. Everyone else has been told to fuck off, but in nicer words.”

I open the door a crack. “Hey.” I peek into the hall as Colby shouts into the megaphone for people to get in their rooms or leave the hall with real authority. “I really, really have to pee.”

“Let me check the bathroom for you first,” Tally offers.

When I’m given the all clear, I empty my bladder. By the time I’m done, she’s already pulled all the papers off my door.

“Do you have any idea who did this?” Colby asks.

“I have an idea.” I sniffle and blow my nose.

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