Beg You to Trust Me (Lindon U #2)(67)
I see her throat bob as she swallows, and I wait patiently for her to wrap her head around what I’m offering.
“A party,” she repeats quietly.
“A small one.”
We catch each other’s eyes.
In a breathy tone, she says, “Okay.”
I don’t know what exactly she’s saying ‘okay’ too, but the heated look in her eyes tells me it’s more than to going out together.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
SKYLAR
Exams are brutal. Way more than they should be for someone with my grade point average. When Mom asks how they went during our phone call, I lie and say they go fine.
“I had no doubt,” Mom chirps, something clicking in the background. “Blake, please make sure that’s gluten free. I don’t need to look puffy for the photos. Oh, Sky! Did I tell you that your father surprised me with anniversary photos with Martin Redford?” The famous photographer’s name has even me impressed. Go Dad. “I’m so excited, but now I need to make sure I’m in top shape. Margo down the road worked with him and her photos looked immaculate. I know if mine don’t size up, I’ll never live it down.”
I roll my eyes. “You’ll look fine, Mom.”
She huffs. “We’ll see. I swear Botox is looking better and better every day. Anyway, have you looked into a different room, yet? Serena mentioned you’d considered moving out. If you need us to make a call—”
“God, no,” I say quickly, walking toward door to my next class. It won’t be until another week at least before we see our exam grades, but I can’t help but feel anxious stopping in front of the door to mathematics. “The housing department said there’s space when I emailed them about it, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten. I tried talking to Becca about the situation, but she won’t even make time for me.”
I’d been tempted not to say a word while I searched for a new room but realized it wouldn’t go over well if I just up and left once I found something. Olive knows, and so does Aliyah since I’d slipped the information to her during the class we share. I think Deanna might even suspect too, but none of them has said a word to my current roommate. I’ve noticed a small rift, something off, in their dynamic that has to do with Ali. She’s been jumpy lately, quieter than normal. I don’t ask why whenever we see each other, whether it’s for food or class, because I have a feeling she wouldn’t tell me.
And I get it. More than she knows.
Ever since Danny suggested I talk to somebody about my nightmares, I’ve become hyperaware of the flyers on the Student Center activity board that include therapy sessions near the campus clinic. It’s free for all Lindon U students. I tell myself that’s the reason I snap a photo of the information and save it on my phone, even though I’ve yet to look further into it.
Because…could they help? If I’m not willing to talk to Olive or Danny, what could a certified stranger do?
“Darling, Becca’s going to find out if you and your things magically disappear,” Mom points out, almost sarcastically.
I grumble, “I know.” Sighing, I lean against the wall outside class. “I have to go, but I’ll keep you updated. They may make me wait until next semester, but I’ll let you know what happens.”
After we say goodbye, I head in and smile at Alba—the black-haired girl who’s moved her seat closer to mine ever since I made my official introduction. Once I sit down, she says, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but you’re looking for a new room, right?”
I rub my lips together before nodding. “I am. Things with my current roommate aren’t working out, so my family thinks it’d be a good idea to find something else.”
She frowns. “That sucks. I know a few people who were in the same situation at one point. But it’s actually kind of perfect for me. I’m one of the room advisors for Ellis Hall. The building on the hill. I know it’s pretty steep, but they keep it really well maintained in the winters and it’s pretty empty right now. They usually put freshman in there, but they spread the incoming class out this year because enrollment was down. They’re looking to fill some of the rooms, and the first floor has a ton of singles available.”
My brows lift. “Seriously?”
Alba nods enthusiastically. “Yep! And I’m the only girl on the first floor, but my room is actually on the other side, so you’d have your own bathroom and everything. How cool would that be? No roommates. Your own personal bathroom. Oh—except for weekends. Girls would probably stumble in there and use it. But the janitors are really good about cleaning.”
That is pretty cool, I silently admit.
She claps. “If you’re interested, you should meet me over there. I can show you around, maybe get you to see one of the rooms in case you’d want to make the move. They’re offering discounts to students who move there right now.”
I’m not worried about the money, knowing my parents already offered to pay whatever necessary if it means getting out of the environment I’m in. The nightmare I had paired with the dark circles under my eyes that they saw firsthand on my visit home was enough to encourage me to leave Becca behind. “Are you free after this class?”