Page 62 of Wicked Games

“Get into bed.”

He again looks between me and his bed, then trudges over, his head hanging low like he’s on his way to his own execution and climbs under the sheets.

I can feel his eyes on me as I put the bottle and book away.

Silently, I cross the small space to his bed and pull the sheets back. “Move over.”

“What are you doing?” he asks as he slides across the bed.

“Neither of us is going to get any sleep if you keep waking up all night.” I lay down and pull the covers over me. “And this worked when you were high as fuck. Maybe it’ll help now.”

He rolls onto his side and studies me. It’s just bright enough that I can make out his features, but still too dark to really read his expression. “Thanks,” he says, his voice breaking slightly.

“Are you okay to go back to sleep?”

“Yeah.”

He rolls over so his back is to me. I get comfortable and close my eyes.

I can feel Felix shifting around on the mattress, then he stills and seems to settle. It isn’t long before his breathing evens out, and when I’m sure he’s asleep, I allow myself to relax enough to drift off.

I’m startled awake for a second time, and I open my eyes, blinking into the dark room as I try to identify what woke me up. Crying. There’s soft crying coming from the other side of the bed.

Without thinking too hard about what I’m doing, I roll over and fit myself behind him. Felix immediately scoots back into me, and I wrap my arm around his waist. He grips my arm and holds it tight, like he’s making sure I won’t let go.

I pull him closer and tuck him right up against me. He goes boneless in my arms, and I hold him tight as he cries out whatever is haunting him.

Neither of us says a word, not even when he eventually stops crying and falls silent. I wait until I’m sure he’s asleep, then close my eyes.

I didn’t have cuddling my sober stepbrother to sleep on my bingo sheet for today, but whatever. Hopefully this works and I can get some sleep.

17

FELIX

“When is you-know-who coming home?”Eden glances at the door to my room.

We’re both lying on my bed, surrounded by a mess of books, papers, and devices as we study.

“No clue.” I look up from the notebook I’m scribbling in. “He’s not big on sharing his comings and goings with me.”

“I wish Belmont didn’t have so many stupid rules.” She nibbles on the end of her pen and kicks her feet in the air. “Then we could just study in my room and not have to worry about the unholy trinity busting through the door at any moment.”

“I thought that was Jordan, Axel, and Nico?” I ask with a grin.

“Oh, they are,” she assures me. “But Killian and the twins are almost as bad.” She lowers her voice and glances around like she’s expecting one of them to pop out from behind the furniture and catch us gossiping. “I overheard something interesting about the leadership elections this year.”

“How did you hear about that?” I ask. “I live here, and I haven’t heard anything.”

“I overheard Daniel talking to someone about it on the phone last time I was home,” she says, referencing her stepfather. “This isn’t common knowledge.” She shoots the door another quick look. “In fact, I’m pretty sure no one else knows about this.”

“What?” I ask.

“They’re not holding elections next year.”

“They’re not?” I drop my voice. Talking about frat business in Hamilton House when I’m not a member feels wrong, like I’m breaking the rules or something.

“Nope. They changed the charter, so now the current leaders pick the new ones, and the only elections they have are for house positions.”

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