Elite (Empire High, #2)(31)

“Okay, you’re good to go,” Miller said. He walked over to the entrance to the room, folded his arms, and stared at me.

“You said this wouldn’t be awkward.”

He ignored me.

“It’s fine,” Felix said and sat down on the couch. “Just ignore him.”

I didn’t know how to ignore him. And I wasn’t even sure that I wanted to. Miller was the only person at the Pruitts that was nice to me. I didn’t want…whatever this was. I wasn’t cut out for a security guard following me around. It was too uncomfortable.

“This is weird,” I whispered to Felix. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’m just glad you’re here. How bad was last night?”

I moved to sit next to him and let myself sink into the soft couch cushions. God, I was so tired. I was pretty sure I hadn’t slept at all. “Awful. I told Mr. Pruitt about the lunch incident and he threw Isabella and her mom out of the house.”

“Whoa. I didn’t expect that to be the end of that story.”

“Me either. I don’t get it. Why did he take my side? He was supposed to throw me out of the house for slandering his daughter. Not this.”

“That was your plan?” He smiled. “Well I could have told you that would backfire. He sought you out, newb. He clearly wants to get to know you.”

“But why? He didn’t want me. Why now? It doesn’t make any sense. Why can’t he just leave me alone?”

“Is it really so bad that he cares? You lost your whole family. Why are you fighting off someone trying to take care of you?”

Why am I fighting off Mr. Pruitt’s affection? I knew he was trying. In his own way. I looked down at my hands. My fingers were clasped so firmly together that my knuckles were turning white. I pulled my hands apart. “He left my mom to take care of me all on her own.” It didn’t matter if he thought she got an abortion. He still left her. I know what it felt like to be left. My mom left me. My uncle left me.

“Maybe he’s sorry.”

“Whose side are you on here?”

He laughed. “Yours. Always yours. And I’ll help you get away if that’s what you want. You know that.”

I smiled.

He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “But I really don’t mind having you in my building.”

“You being close by is the only positive, trust me. But I can’t stay there, Felix. I couldn’t sleep at all. I’m pretty sure a…” I stopped talking before I could embarrass myself. I’d almost said there was a ghost in my room. He’d think I was nuts. Oh God, am I nuts? One night in that place and I’d officially lost my mind.

“Pretty sure what?”

“Nothing.”

He moved closer. “No, what were you going to say?”

I was saved by a knock on the door.

“Both of you stay there,” Miller said. His voice was so firm I actually froze in place. “I’ll be right back.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, but Miller had already disappeared.

The banging on the door grew louder and I grabbed Felix’s hand. For just a second, I thought the ghost had followed me here. That it was trying to get in and terrorize Felix too.

“It’s okay,” Felix said. “You’re safe here. If it’s Mr. Pruitt, I won’t let him take you. You can stay with me.”

Right. It was a lot more likely that it was Mr. Pruitt than a ghost. But I squeezed Felix’s hand tighter still. Or maybe it wasn’t either of those things. Maybe it was whatever Miller was supposed to be protecting me from.

“I have every right to be here.” Kennedy’s familiar voice flitted into the room. “So get out of my way.”

Kennedy! I stood up and ran toward the foyer.

“Move it, buddy,” she said.

“I can’t let you in,” Miller said. “You aren’t on the list.”

“What list? Brooklyn!” she screamed. “Brooklyn, are you here?”

I ducked under Miller’s arm that was blocking the door and threw my arms around Kennedy. And I immediately burst into tears. Felix’s hugs were great. But Kennedy smelled like her mother’s cooking and home. She smelled like everything I was missing.

“Brooklyn,” Miller said from behind me. “You need to let go and come back inside. Right now.”

Fuck you.

“Neither of them are on the list,” he said.

Neither? I opened my eyes and looked over Kennedy’s shoulder at Cupcake. He was holding a box that I was sure was filled with high calorie, sugary treats.

“Hey, Brooklyn,” he said. “I brought dessert. Thought it might make you feel better.”

It was the first time I’d ever been happy to see him. Another familiar face, even if it was one that had thrown a dodgeball at my nose. “Thanks for coming, guys. And for bringing snacks.”

“Where else would we be?” Kennedy said. “Felix said you were here and I knew you needed me.”

I had the best friends in the world.

“That’s enough,” Miller said more firmly. “Brooklyn, get back inside this apartment right now or…”

I turned around. “Or what? They’re not going to hurt me if that’s what you’re worried about.”