Page 25 of Sleepless November (Sleepless November Saga 1)

We stand there in an awkward silence before he finally tells me he has to go and hugs me goodbye. A part of me wonders for a fleeting moment if I should try dating him again, but I decide against it.

I enter the building, heading up the stairs and down the hall to my dorm. The door is already unlocked, so I step in and swing it shut behind me. After dropping my bag on the floor, I start to take off my jacket.

“So, you are alive.”

I jump, startled. I spin around to see Holden sitting on Brianna’s bed, leaning against the wall and looking soft as ever in his black sweatpants and white hoodie.

“What are you doing here?” I ask. I’m not sure if my heart is racing from being caught off guard or because it’s Holden.

He’s about to respond, when Brianna comes out of the bathroom.

“Oh, you’re back.” Bree says as she sees me. She’s dressed down as well, which is unlike her.

“You okay?” I narrow my eyes on her. “I never see you in sweats.”

She frowns and shrugs. “I think I got what you’ve had. My head hurts and I’ve felt sick all day.”

Ok, hypochondriac. I seriously doubt you’re suffering from major guilt.

“I’m sorry. I hope you feel better.”

She smiles and then climbs onto her bed with Holden, grabbing her computer and putting it half way on each of their laps.

I try to rack my brain for ideas on anywhere I could go instead of here, but I come up empty. I give up and decide to take some of my anxiety medication, in hopes it will knock me out. Climbing into bed, I reach over and pull my phone out of the drawer in my nightstand.

It powers on at the push of a button. After a few seconds, it starts to vibrate profusely, text messages and voicemails pouring in. I don’t open it until it ends, seeing the final count.

9 Text Messages from Holden

2 Voicemails from Holden

3 Text Messages from Caleb

1 Voicemail from Mother

One would think my phone was off during some kind of disaster. I unlock it and go to my text messages first. I check Caleb’s, not sure if I can handle Holden’s just yet.

Caleb: Hey. I had fun the other night. Hopefully we can do it again sometime.

Caleb: Everything ok? You’ve kinda gone MIA.

Caleb: Well, I hope you’re doing well. Let me know if you want to hang out.

Thoughts of Caleb don’t sit well with me. He’s sweet, and if he wasn’t so intertwined with Holden, I’d probably date him. Unfortunately, he’s a very prominent part of Holden’s life, and I don’t have the self-control for that. I take a deep breath and brace myself as I check Holden’s texts.

Holden: Why?

Holden: Come over. Let’s talk about this.

Holden: Kayleigh?

Holden: Did I do something wrong?

Holden: I just tried calling you but your phone is off. Call me.

Holden: Good morning.

Holden: Bree said you’re sick. I hope you feel better.

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