Page 79 of Freestyle
And somehow, that’s the part that undoes me.
Then he’s gone, the door clicking shut behind them, and I’m left in the hush he left behind, heartbeat loud, silence louder, holding his words like they mean more than either of us is ready to admit.
Eighteen
Grayson
Thecampusisquietat this time of night, just the soft hum of streetlights and the crunch of our footsteps on the gravel path cutting through the quad. I’ve always liked the silence. Lately, I hate it.
Nix walks beside me, hoodie pulled up, jaw tight. We haven’t said much since we left the house, but the tension between us hasn’t faded. If anything, it’s worse now that Rowyn isn’t there to distract us from it.
“She’s not okay,” he says finally.
It’s not a question. It’s a challenge. Like if I dare to disagree, it means I haven’t been paying attention.
Inod once. “No. She’s not.”
The wind picks up, carrying the scent of pine and chlorine from the gym pool. It always smells like that this time of night. Familiar. Like the calm before a dive.
“She’s hiding something,” I add. “Not just from us. From herself.”
Nix exhales, low and frustrated. “If we could just get her to talk—”
“She won’t,” I cut in. “Not until she decides we’re safe to tell.”
He snorts. “We’re the ones trying to protect her.”
“Yeah. That doesn’t mean we haven’t hurt her.”
We fall into silence again as the dorms come into view, low amber lights glowing through their windows like tired eyes.
“Right now, we get her bag, talk to Lynds, and get out.”
But the whole time, I’m thinking about Rowyn in my room, curled in Nix’s hoodie, probably pretending she’s not scared and how much I want to tear this entire campus apart until I find whatever shadow’s chasing her.
We reach the dorm and climb the front steps. The building glows from inside, cozy and too quiet. I don’t like that.
Lyndsy’s already waiting when we get there.
She cracks open the dorm door before we even knock, hair pulled into a messy bun, hoodie slouched off one shoulder, phone still glowing in her hand. She looks from me to Nix andraises both eyebrows like we’ve just interrupted her favorite drama.
“Well, well,” she says. “The bodyguards return.”
Nix doesn’t respond, just lifts his hand in a lazy wave. I offer a thin smile. “Rowyn said she would text you.”
“She did.” Lyndsy steps aside and lets us in. “Told me you’d be coming to grab some stuff.”
I glance at Nix but he’s scanning the room already, probably for signs she left something behind or forgot to mention a detail. I keep my eyes on Lynds.
“She okay?” she asks, crossing her arms as the door clicks shut behind us. “And I mean actually okay. Not that ‘Rowyn-smile-while-drowning’ kind of okay.”
“She’s safe,” I say carefully, heading toward Rowyn’s room. “We’ve got her with us for a few nights. That’s what matters.”
Lyndsy sighs and leans against the wall. “Does anyone even know why she looks like she’s about to bolt every time someone breathes too loud?”
That lands sharper than it should.
“She’s not ready to talk,” I admit. “But we’re watching her.Closely.”
