Page 91 of In The Dark
“I’ll see you later this afternoon.”
“Can’t wait.”
I walk back to my classroom, wondering if I should tell Hunter what I’m doing. He won’t like it, but he doesn’t like anything about the guy. I’m not sure he’d understand my reason for agreeing either, and I don’t feel like fighting. Not after we had such a good day together visiting his mom’s grave yesterday.
Something changed when he let me talk to her. The air shifted between us. I feel more connected to him, emotionally tied to him in a way I’ve never been with anyone else. I don’t think he tells just anyone about his mom, and to be part of the lucky ones is an honor I don’t take lightly.
He means so much to me, but I’m still my own person. I’m allowed to make my own decisions, even if he won’t like them.
How is Hunter going to know if I go somewhere on the way to his house? He’ll never find out, and all will be well.
I shutmy car door and walk up the path to Brian’s porch. There’s a wreath on the front door, some fall decoration, and I touch the fake leaves on it. I knock and the door flies open, revealing a nervous looking Brian.
“Hey,” he says, scanning the street behind me.
I spin and look over my shoulder, frowning at the empty road. “Is something wrong?”
“No, no. Everything is fine. Just glad to see you.” He offers me a one-armed hug I awkwardly return, then closes the door and locks it behind me. “How was the rest of your day?”
“I had a kid barf all over the centers table after lunch, so that was fun to clean up. Other than that, no drama.”
“Do you want something to drink?”
“Sure. Water is great.” Brian leads me down the hall to the kitchen, and I listen to the quiet house. “Where’s your roommate this weekend?”
“Hm? Oh. Away. Visiting his parents or something.” He grabs a glass from the cabinet and smiles at me. “Tap or filtered water?”
“Born and raised on tap. I can handle another glass.”
He laughs and turns for the sink, busying himself with the faucet. “It’s what makes us invincible, right?”
“I’d say so.” I accept the glass from him and take a sip. “So. What did you want to talk about?”
Brian points at the table, and I sit. He takes the seat across from me and sighs. “First, I want to apologize. I’m sorry for how our relationship ended and how immature I was. I’ve been going to therapy the last couple of weeks, and I’m learning I was an absolute asshole to ou. You didn’t deserve that kind of behavior from me, and I’m sorry.”
“Sleep with someone else while we were seeing each other was pretty shitty,” I agree. I drink another gulp of the water and set down the glass. “But, in a way, I’m glad you did. It’s clear the two of us weren’t compatible long term, and because we broke up, I met Hunter. And he’swonderful.”
A dark look flickers across Brian’s face, but he schools his features quickly. He leans back in his chair and nods. “Are you two serious?”
“It’s only been a few weeks, but we’re headed that way, yeah. He’s so different from anyone else I’ve dated.” I bite back a smile. “And I’m excited to see where things go.”
“That’s good. Minus the knife thing, he seems like an okay guy.”
“Sorry about that. He’s protective. I told him I had seen you in the school parking lot and on my street a few times, and he assumed the worst.”
“Which is what?”
“I don’t know.” I rub my eyes and blink. The lights above the table look like they’re glowing, the bulbs turning hazy and blurry. “That you still had feelings for me?”
“Are you okay?” Brian asks.
“I think so?” I reach for my glass, but I knock it over. “Sorry. I feel tired all of a sudden.”
“Maybe you should lay down.”
“No. I should go.” I try to stand, but I fall back in the chair. I gulp down a breath, starting to panic. “What’s happening to me?”
“Rohypnol.” Brian checks his watch and smiles. “Took less time than the guy said it would. I thought we’d have to sit here and have a heart to heart for half an hour.”
