Page 51 of Collide
“I wouldn’t go that far.” I laugh and let him help me into the passenger side.
When we’re pulling into Iona House, I’m reluctant to pop the bubble around us. It might be the haze from the alcohol, but the buzz of nerves that tunnels under my skin is well aware of the change that’s taken place between us. One I can’t begin to explain.
My ability to form words scatters, and when I unclip my seatbelt my hands are sweaty. In a quick decision, I lean over the console, and his breath hitches before I plant a kiss on the corner of his mouth.
Then I exit his truck like it’s on fire.
16 | AIDEN
“WHERE’S MY PHONE?”
The guys are sitting in the dining room when I walk in to locate my phone. Dylan’s studying which is uncharacteristic of him, and Kian’s on his phone with his legs up on the table, disregarding that people eat where he puts his nasty feet. Eli walks in too.
“You know that Find My iPhone was invented in 2010, right?” Kian says.
Dylan chucks an eraser at him. “Did you lose it last night? You didn’t answer any of our texts.”
“I think I might have left it at the bar.”
“When Summer friend-zoned you or when you let her cozy up with Howard?” asks Kian. He follows a few basketball guys on social media and saw us in the background of their videos. So much for keeping things private.
Ignoring him, I grab my keys to head down there.
“Dude, it’s two p.m. They don’t open until late,” says Dylan, stopping me. “Here, use my phone to track it in case it’s in your truck or something.”
When I enter my information, the compass spins, and I see my phone down south. In the opposite direction of the bar. At Yale University.
The guys all stare at the screen in confusion. Shit.
“Why the hell would you go there?” Dylan looks disgusted.
“I didn’t. I gave it to this girl to put in her number, and I never got it back.” Bethany was clearly too drunk to remember to hand it back to me. And I was too preoccupied with someone else.
“You might as well get a new phone now.”
Except, I can’t. Summer texts me when she needs me, and not having my phone means not talking to her. There’s also this strange feeling that I have something important to do today.
“That’s Kappa Zeta. She’s probably in a sorority,” says Dylan.
I head to the door and pull on my shoes when Eli stops me. “We’re leaving for Chicago in a few hours. Are you sure you want to risk pissing off Coach?”
Right. That is the important thing. “I can’t leave without it.”
“Then we’re coming with you,” he declares.
“You don’t have to do that.”
Eli doesn’t budge. “If Kilner’s going to be pissed, he might as well be pissed at all of us. We’re not letting you go to New Haven alone.” A blanket of understanding falls over us, and just like that we’re headed to Yale.
When we near campus a sea of blue coats the sidewalks, and it’s hard to keep the collective shiver at bay. “Should I have brought garlic?” asks Kian.
“Why?”
“If it repels vampires it should work on Yalies, too.”
Dylan laughs. “Smart thinking. Maybe we can buy some before we head in.”
“We won’t need it. I’ll be in and out. No one’s going to notice us.” We park and follow the directions on Dylan’s phone.
