Page 101 of Kiss Me in the Dark
“As long as you’ve stopped being mean to him and keeping the parties in check.You have a roommate now—show a little consideration.”
“I have,” I say, nodding.
She smiles and nods, and we eat in silence for a while.
“Your father’s been worried about you, you know?Said you almost beat up Ethan, your team captain.”
“He’s a dick.And Dad needs to stop sticking his nose into my shit.”I sigh, running a hand through my hair.
“That’s what fathers do, Fox—making sure their sons aren’t going around causing trouble.”My father’s voice comes from behind, and I tense.I don’t even look at him as he walks into the kitchen and kisses my mom on the head.
“Welcome home, honey,” Mom says.
Why is he even here?He’s almost never around.
“Things aren’t the same anymore, Fox.If you visited more often, you’d know things have changed,” he says, almost reading my mind.But then I realized I said it out loud.
I glare at him, the taste for food disappearing.Mom notices, her smile fading, and I know I’ve hurt her by wanting to leave.
“I think it’s time you two start being nice to each other.What happened to this family is in the past, and we’re all trying to put it behind us,” Mom says, giving my father a pointed look.She then turns to him and asks, “You hungry?”
“I’m gonna go,” I announce, standing up abruptly.My mom pauses, her eyes filling with a quiet sadness.I can’t believe I’ve just hurt her by deciding to leave so suddenly.
“I promise I’ll come home next weekend and spend some time with you,” I say softly, trying to ease the sting.She sighs, clearly understanding why I’m leaving but still not happy about it.She nods, and I give her a small smile before heading toward the front door.
The drive back to my apartment feels shorter than usual, my mind preoccupied with a hundred different thoughts.I park in the parking lot, get out of the car, and head inside.But as I step into the living room, I freeze—someone else is here, someone who definitely isn’t my roommate.He’s well-dressed and sitting comfortably on the couch, facing the TV.
I walk closer, and it hits me: it’s that guy from the frat party.The same guy who tried to kiss Cam, the one I saw them together with at school late at night.What the hell is he doing here?
He has this vibe that I don’t like—maybe it’s my jealousy talking, but I know for a fact that I don’t trust this guy.He looks up, a bit startled to see me, then stands.
“Oh, hi.I remember you,” he says, adjusting his black dress shirt that’s neatly tucked into his jeans.Sneakers track dirt onto my floor, adding to my irritation.
He smiles, clearly trying to make a good impression.“I’m Elias.”
“What the fuck are you doing here?”I ask, my tone ice-cold.
“Oh, I’m just here to pick up Cam,” he replies casually.
Pick up Cam?For what, exactly?
I give him a once-over again, taking in his laid-back style and the air of smugness I’m convinced he’s trying to hide.He looks maybe a year or two younger than me, and every part of me is screaming that this guy is bad news.
“Get the fuck out.”
“Excuse me?”Elias looks startled, his face going pale as he realizes I’m serious.
“Get.The Fuck.Out of my apartment.”
“Fox, relax,” Cameron’s voice cuts through the tension.I turn to see him standing there, barefoot, his plaid shirt hanging open and his hair still a bit messy.He looks good—too good, honestly.
“He’s just a friend,” Cameron adds, his tone firm, but there’s a hint of tension in his eyes as he meets my gaze.I try to ignore the way my pulse jumps at the sight of him.
But the question lingers in my mind, gnawing at me:Where is he taking him?
I turn to glare at Elias before striding over to Cameron.Grabbing him by the arm, I lead him down the hall to his room.I shut the door behind us, pressing him firmly against it.He’s surprised but doesn’t resist.
“Where the fuck are you going with him?”I demand.
