Page 99 of Princess of Hawthorne Prep

What I can’t deny is that she’s flourishing and finally coming into her own. She’s making more friends and putting herself out there. She’s no longer hiding behind her camera the way she used to.

It’s fucking amazing to see, and I’m happy for her.

It’s exactly what she deserves.

Only the best.

And obviously, that’s not me.

When Summer continues to stare, I huff out a breath. “If I tell you that I’ll think about it, will you go away and leave me in peace?”

Her eyes narrow and her lips thin as she gives the question serious consideration. “Yes.”

“Then I’ll think about it.”

Bleakness fills her expression as her shoulders slump.

That’s all it takes for guilt to prick me.

When I say nothing more, she pushes away from the doorjamb. “I really hope you do. I’d hate for you to lose something amazing because you’re being a stubborn jackass.”

I can’t help the snort that escapes from me.

With that, she slips from the room and closes the door quietly behind her.

As the heavy silence settles around me, I can’t stop Summer’s words from circling through my brain. The longer I think about it, the more I wonder if she might be right.

Am I just fucking things up even more?

It’s a question without an answer.

DELILAH

I’m not sure what wakes me from a sound sleep. All I know is that one minute, I’m dreaming and the next, my eyes are flying open and I’m staring into the velvety darkness that surrounds me, searching for…something.

My skin prickles with awareness, but there’s nothing.

Nothing is out of place.

The air is still.

Undisturbed.

With an aggravated huff, I roll onto my side, only wanting to get sucked back under into slumber and the dreams swirling around in my head. Even though school has improved under the new headmistress’ guidance, there’s still a sadness within me that is impossible to shake.

And I know exactly who is at the root of my melancholy.

It’s frustrating. I want to return to the point when Austin Hawthorne didn’t exist in my world. When he didn’t consume all of my waking thoughts. When I wasn’t bombarded with constant memories that make me long for something that’s no longer possible.

I squeeze my eyes tightly closed before releasing a steady breath. When they crack open again, I realize there’s a black object no more than a foot from where my head rests. For a long moment, I stare in confusion, searching my brain for a rational explanation, but I know that whatever it is wasn’t there earlier.

Awareness floods through me as I straighten to a seated position and reach over, flicking the switch so that the room is illuminated with soft light. Movement from the pink fuzzy papasan chair shoved in the corner catches my eye, and my hand flies to my mouth to stifle the scream that rises in my throat.

My heartbeat thrashes painfully beneath my breast. Any moment, it’ll break loose and flop around on the carpeted floor. “What are you doing here?”

He leans forward until his elbows can settle on his spread thighs. “I needed to see you.”

My mouth turns cottony as I eat him up with my eyes. When was the last time Austin was this close?

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