Page 96 of Bleeding Hearts
“If not, I’m sure you’ll just kidnap him,” I taunt just as the front door opens.
We turn when we hear keys and then footsteps. Evan appears in the doorway, rooting around in a bag, but he stops when he sees us, glancing between us as he groans. “Who died now?”
“Your poor ass,” I whisper, and Alice kicks me. “No one. What snacks did you buy?”
He searches Alek’s face with his eyes, but Alek just looks away, so Evan sighs and puts the bags on the table. “Enough food for us for a few days. I was thinking of trying to make that new pasta recipe.”
“Oh.” I share a look with Alice. “Actually, we are going back to my dorm today.”
That brings their attention to us. “What? Why?” Even asks.
“Why don’t you stay here a bit longer?” Alek offers. “It’s been so long since you did. You don’t have to go back straight away.”
Alice and I share a look, unsure what to say, but Evan must understand.
“Babe, they want to go home to be together,” Evan says, smiling sweetly to lessen the blow. “You remember how you reacted after you nearly lost me?”
Alek nods and then looks at us. “Don’t you do those things to my sister!”
“What things did you do to my best friend?” I wiggle my eyebrows, and I’m rewarded by his cheeks tinting. “What kinky shit are you into, father-in-law?” I tease when he doesn’t respond.
“Father-in-law?” Alek groans, covering his face. “This really is one big, fucked-up family.”
Alice laughs. “Absolutely.”
We are back in my dorm. I still have a police detail, but I refuse to live in fear. I want to get my life back on track, and I don’t know how much longer I will be allowed to stay in this room.
“What is it?” Alice asks as I lose myself in my thoughts.
Lifting my head from her chest, I continue to play with her hair. “I’m just thinking about how this room holds so many memories for us. It’s where we became friends, then fell apart, then became lovers. Tomorrow I’ll have my dismissal meeting, and this will all be gone.”
Between Risk and Alice, I forgot the ticking clock, but the deadline is tomorrow.
“But not what we created here,” she murmurs as she cups my cheeks and kisses me. “We can make any room a home.”
She’s right, but still. This became our haven from the world. It is the place where I realized I love her. It’s where she gave herself to me and our friendship became more, and I’ll miss that.I don’t have the money to pay, so I’ll be kicked out, and I’ve accepted it. I’m not even mad anymore, just sad about what it will mean for us. I’ll have to find somewhere else to live and a job, which will create distance between us. I love spending every day and night with my girl. I don’t want any space at all, but not everything can stay the same forever.
A phone vibrates, and we share a tense look before remembering. Laughing, she reaches over and checks it, and I realize it’s mine. “Evan says to turn on the TV.”
Flipping over so I’m lying back between her thighs, I find the remote and turn on my TV. The news channel we last watched plays a breaking report.
“Senator Kellen was arrested this evening after a massive investigation was launched into his involvement in the now viral game, Risk, which has most recently occurred in Pine Valley and resulted in the tragic deaths of many students from the college. Kellen is also being investigated for fraud, money laundering, and drug trafficking, alongside five Pine Valley police officers and business associates of Kellen who were involved in the game. We will keep you updated on this breaking story as it unfolds, but one thing is for sure—the horrors Risk brought to Pine Valley are over, and it's all due to one student’s courageous acts. Laila Stewart live streamed—” I turn it off and roll my head back to see Alice.
“It’s over. It’s really over,” I whisper. “I wonder if they’ll get away with it.”
“I don’t think so, not this time,” Alice says as she strokes my hair. “It’s all thanks to you.”
“Don’t make me a hero. I don’t want to be one,” I caution her.
“Then what do you want to be?” she asks softly.
I lean up so I can kiss her. “Just yours.”
She laughs, but she’s blushing. “So what now?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I guess we’ll take it one day at a time, but honestly, I don’t care as long as I have you.” I kiss her cheek as she laughs. “Thank you, Alice, for loving me even when I didn’t love myself. Thank you for sticking around when no one else would.” Looking down, I lick my lips. “Thank you for never giving up on me.”
“What are friends for?” she teases.
