Page 7 of Into Ruin

4

HARPER

Royal

You sneak out early?

You were passed out

I didn’t want to disturb

That’s mainly the truth. Royal slept on the floor, leaving me the bed in his room, and I tossed and turned all night. I stole a pair of boxers from his dresser to wear, then didn’t bother giving them back when I tugged my jeans on at eight o’clock this morning.

The door to the room across the hall was shut when I scurried out.

Now, I brush out my hair in my room, fresh out of a scalding-hot shower. I scrubbed my skin until it was red, washed my face a few times, and then just stood under the stream. No amount of bar soap in the guys’ shared bathroom was enough to rid me of the sensation of cum on my face.

And the lingering humiliation.

Why did I let that happen?

Why didn’t I just…

I exhale.

Someone knocks on the door, interrupting my train of thought. My roommate and her boyfriend were gone when I returned, but she wouldn’t knock.

I glance down at myself. Everything is secure—my body, I mean—under a towel. My wet hair hangs over my shoulder.

The knock comes again. Harder.

I go and crack it—and freeze.

The guy from last night reaches out and shoves my door in, immediately filling the space and slipping inside.

“You—What are you doing?” I catch the door and hold it open. “Get out.”

He stops in the middle of my room and turns in a small circle. Analyzing everything, from my roommate’s messy side to my made bed. The rows of pictures attached to strings and lights on her wall. My relatively empty shelves, minus the textbooks I’ll need this semester.

There’s noise in the hallway, and I release the door automatically. It swings shut before anyone can see me in my towel… or him.

“It smells like sex in here.” He raises an eyebrow.

My face heats. “That wasn’t me.”

“No?”

“No.” I cross my arms.

His gaze drops to my chest, then slowly rises again. A wicked smile curves his lips, but it slips away. His sudden seriousness makes me straighten.

“Royal Lawson is your brother.”

I wince.

He glowers at me. “A detail you failed to mention last night.”

“Listen. I don’t know you?—”

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