Page 139 of The Off-Limits Play

He ignores me, wrapping his beefy hands around my taut fingers. “I care.”

I shake my head.

“We all care,” Zander calls over his shoulder.

“You shouldn’t.” I shake my head again, tears starting to burn my eyes, my nose, my throat. Fuck! I will not fucking cry!

“Come on, man.” Grady moves in beside Wily as Tyrell steps up behind them both.

Now I’m facing all four of my roommates, their expressions a mix of worry and sadness. Shaking out of Wily’s hold, I step back, scraping my hands through my hair. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“We’re not going anywhere.”

“Yeah, man. You’re one of us.”

I can’t help a mocking laugh as my body starts to shake. “You don’t want me. You’re better off without me.”

Wily lets out a soft sigh, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around me before I can get away from him. “We love you, dude.” He gives me a tight squeeze. “We love you.”

My face buckles along with my insides, and I beat his back with my fist. “No. You shouldn’t!”

“We do.” Zander catches my arm before I can hit Wily again. “We love you.”

That big, dumb giant is still holding me tight, and the tears I’ve been trying so hard to fight overtake me. I can’t stop fucking shaking as I let out this pitiful, keening whine.

“We love you,” Grady says, and I can’t fucking hear those words anymore.

I want to wrestle out of Wily’s hold, shove him off me and tell them all to fuck off.

But then my stupid fingers curl into his sweater, and I find myself clinging to the guy.

Clinging… and crying like a fucking baby.

CHAPTER55

NYLAH

I couldn’t stop pacing until I got a text from Sienna telling me that Carson had been found and the guys were bringing him home.

Sienna: Sounds like he’s a mess. I’ll let you know more when I find out the details.

It took everything in me not to rush over there and be around for his arrival. But if he was a mess, he probably didn’t want me to see it. I get that. The only one who was allowed around me on my worst days was Gramma.

So I tucked myself back into bed and tried to catch some more sleep.

It didn’t work. I spent the night tossing and turning and woke up feeling headachy and sore.

I can’t spend another day lying around moping. But I don’t want to go to class either.

Jolie left already. She had an early start because she wanted to see her boyfriend before her first class.

Lucky bitch.

Sitting up with a broken snicker, I swing my legs over the side of the bed.

Sienna sent me a brief text late last night telling me that Carson was okay. He was sleeping and just needed some space.

It was a thunder punch to the chest.

---