Page 124 of Betting on You

I heard her breathing slow and I knew she’d fallen asleep.

My breathing, on the other hand, was unsteady on account of the fact that my heart was beating out of my chest like I’d just sprinted a mile. Sleep was a million miles away from where my brain was right now.

My brain was beating the shit out of me.

What have you done? What have you done? What in the hell have you done, you fucking moronic dumbass?

I was fucked.

I was so fucked.

I was so fucking fucked.

Because Bailey was in my arms, smelling like heaven as she snuggled against me like it was where she belonged, and Iachedfor it to be.

God help me, I wanted to be where she belonged.

I wished I could bury my nose in her cocoa-butter hair and stay that way forever, wrapped around the one real thing I’d ever known, but I couldn’t.

My throat was tight as I lay there in the dark with her, giving myself ten more minutes before I had to get up.

Get out.

But when ten minutes were up, I gave myself ten more.

I was so fucked.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVEBailey

I wasn’t sure where I was when I woke up.

The fort threw me off, with the blankets hanging from above, but as soon as I turned my head and saw Charlie’s pillow, I remembered everything.

“Charlie?” I sat up, grabbed my phone—it was nine thirty—patted my hair, and crawled out of the fort. I didn’t see him, and it was quiet in the apartment. “Where are you?”

I peeked my head down the hallway. I didn’t want to bust in on him changing or anything, so I decided to get a glass of water. As soon as I stepped into the kitchen, I saw his note.

Had to run—just let yourself out.

What? I read it again, flipped the paper over, then wondered what that meant. Why would he leave without waking me up? Andlet yourself outdidn’t exactly scream that he was buzzing overwhat’d happened with us the night before, or that he’d run to surprise me with chocolate doughnuts.

I sent him a text of my own.

I can’t believe you left me alone at your house, loser. ;)

I felt unsettled by his absence, but I was probably being paranoid.

I waited a few minutes, but when he didn’t respond, I put on my shoes and coat and I left. I had no interest in hanging out alone at Charlie’s mom’s apartment. It felt intrusive and uncomfortable, like I was just waiting to get caught where I didn’t belong.

But I realized when I exited the building—the building whose security door locked behind me—that I didn’t have a car. Holy crap—Charlie picked me up; how had I forgotten? I didn’t want to bug him, since I didn’t know where he’d gone, so I texted Nekesa instead.

Is there any way you can come pick me up? I know you’re grounded but if you tell your parents my car broke down…?

Nekesa: Your car broke down?

Me: No but it’s complicated.

Nekesa: Where are you?

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