Page 67 of Eternal

“Hey.” I hurry across the room, forcing a smile. “I had an appointment. Hope you don’t mind.”

Patience’s eyebrows furrow as she looks from me to her brother. “It’s fine.”

Her tone doesn’t match her words.

“Well, I should get going.”

“Wait.” Patience stops me as Mila brushes past her and makes her way into Alex’s room. “Can we talk for a second?”

I nod, and Patience follows me out into the hallway, out of earshot of her brother.

“Is something wrong?” I ask.

“What were you doing in there?”

“You said he liked the company.” My eyebrows pinch with my confusion. “I was just saying hello.”

Patience crosses her arms over her chest. Her white-blonde hair is pulled up in a high ponytail, showing off the sharpness of her cheekbones.

“I know who you were with the other night, Teal.” Patience’s tone is sharp and cold. “You disappeared with Declan and didn’t come back to the dorm until the next morning.”

I’ve been avoiding my roommates so I wouldn’t have to have this conversation, but clearly, there’s no more hiding from it.

“Declan and I had some catching up to do. We needed to talk,” I say, tucking my hands in my pockets.

“Talk?” Patience narrows her eyes. “Like Violet was just talking to Kole when their whole thing started. Come on, Teal. I’m not an idiot. And even if I was, there’s this…”

She pulls out her phone, scrolling through it for a moment before flipping it around so I can see the screen. She has Declan’s social media pulled up, and the most recent picture he posted is one of me.

It’s a profile of my back with the sheet pulled up to my neck. My face is hidden from view, but the colorful blonde hair is a giveaway that I’m the girl in his bed.

I snatch the phone from her hand, staring at it. He took a picture of me when I was sleeping, and he posted it online. I really wish he would stop taking this relationship so seriously.

“It’s complicated.” I hand her phoneback to her.

“It’s not though.” Patience rolls her shoulders back. “Not too long ago, my brother was there for you when you were at your lowest point. What does it say that you’re spending time with the person who put him in here?”

“Declan wasn’t—”

“Don’t even finish that sentence. Declan’s father is one of the heads of the fraternity, and Declan is their president. I don’t care whether he was the direct cause or not. He’s responsible. How could you do that to Alex?”

“I’m not doing anything to him.” I take a step back, my defenses flying up. “And you don’t know if Declan did either. You and I were still in high school, Patience. Remember? No one knows what happened but them.”

“You can’t trust them.”

“Or what? You’ll stop being my friend? You can’t cut out every person who does something you disagree with. What kind of life is that?”

“Like you’re one to talk about good life choices.” Patience narrows her eyes, judging me.

We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember, and she’s never used my depression against me until now.

“I get that you’re protective of your brother, but that was low.”

“I’m sorry, okay?” But even if she wants to mean it, her posture is stiff. “I care about you as my friend, Teal. I’m telling you; Sigma Sin brings nothing good.”

I huff out an unamused breath, shaking my head. “You spend so much time worrying how they’re getting to me, or Mila, or Violet; I don’t think you see that you’re the onethey’re actually affecting, Patience. Your resentment will eat you up inside if you aren’t careful. Trust me, I know.”

My phone pings with the notification from my appointment. At the same time, Patience’s phone rings, cutting off whatever she is about to say.

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