Page 36 of The Casualty of Us
Holden’s hushed voice has me almost dropping my shoes, and I barely catch them in time, clutching them to my chest and staring at him with what’s probably an equally horrified expression to the one he’s looking at me with. I quickly take in the way he’s sitting up on the couch with his glasses half hanging off his face while his own gaze moves over my outfit.
No doubt catching that I’m still wearing my witch costume from last night.
“Nothing happened.”
“Right.” He blinks rapidly. “Right, of course.”
“Seriously.” I flick my eyes nervously to Ollie’s door before coming back to clarify. “Wejustslept.”
“Okay.” He nods weakly. “And I’m not dreaming, right?”
“No, uh.” I catch noises starting up from elsewhere in the dorm and rush out, “But don’t tell Ollie, okay?”
“Don’t worry.” He shakes his head seriously. “I know what they say about the messenger.”
I pull a face and whisper back at him, “Dramatic,” right before practically sprinting to the door myself and walking as inconspicuously as possible all the way back to my dorm. Thanking my lucky stars that it’s still early and there’s no one around to see the guilty look on my face.
My day from there consists of a full debrief with Marley over breakfast, where she soaks up every detail like a freaking detective while I scowl back seriously. Not wanting her to get any big ideas since she seems consistently more invested in my love life than her own. From there I head to the library to catch up on some reading for class next week and don’t end up seeing the guys until dinner.
There are a couple of pizzas spread out on the table that someone must have ordered for our group by the time I get there and I quickly slide into my usual seat, pointedly ignoring the way everyone’s acting slightly off. Holden by staring studiously down at his plate and Marley by the shit-eating grin on her face.
But what really takes the cake is the dimples cutting deep in front of me and the mischievous hazel eyes that are totally contradicting the way he tosses out casually, “Have a good rest of your night, O?”
Which makes Holden promptly choke on his food and me glare. “Fine.”
He tips his head to the side playfully. “Just fine?”
“Yeah,” I try not to hiss, narrowing my eyes at him in warning. “Justfine.”
Flaying myself for the lack of wit in my retort as he grins even more widely, and Ollie drops his head onto my shoulder with a groan. “Don’t ever let me drink that much again.”
“No way.” I snort, reaching up to pat his brown waves a bit harder than necessary. “You were way too amusing.”
“I barely remember getting back to the dorm,” he grumbles. “I puked as soon as I woke up this morning.”
Marley’s face pinches up with disgust. “Gross.”
“Okay, okay, understood.” I roll my eyes, reaching out for a slice of pizza. “Just limit your drinks next time. Jeez.”
Everyone starts talking after that, falling back into more normal behavior and letting me zone out a bit, only partly keeping track of the conversation until Thanksgiving break comes up. Or more specifically, until Marley asks Hayes what his plans are for it and he says he’s staying here.
“What?”
I blink at him, tracking how he barely meets my gaze before ducking his head. “Yeah, my mom is going to be out of the country, and my dad…I just figured I’d stay here.”
“Oh.” A beat passes that carries his stupid, sad, little rock star baby self deeper into my heart before I announce, “Cool. Me and Ollie are staying too.”
Ollie jolts where he’s still resting on my shoulder, and I quickly reach over to pinch his side under the table before Hayes looks back up. “Really?”
I meet the dubious look in his eyes head-on. “Really, our parents have some work things going on.”
He turns to Ollie with clear suspicion in his voice. “You never mentioned that.”
Ollie sucks in a breath as my fingers dig deep into his side and croaks, “Yeah, yeah, totally staying.”
Earning him the reward of no longer being my personal pin cushion.
“It’s practically a party.” I grin unrepentantly before someone over his shoulder catches my eye.
