Page 57 of Make You Beg

I don’t know whether something will come out of this, but I’ve got to try. I have to set my priorities straight. And wasting my time fantasizing and having disturbing thoughts about Kayden won’t help me.

I don’t know if it’s my inexperience, or the bond I thought I had with him when we met up on the roof those few times to talk. Or maybe it’s the fact that I felt so seen when he listened to me.

He seemed like a different person.

There are two sides to Kayden. One is cruel, savage, annoying, and likes to get on my nerves. And then there’s the vulnerable, raw one. They come out at unexpected times so I can never predict his next move.

The latter, I haven’t seen pop up again since we started college.

Maybe what drew me to him is the fact that, no matter what, cruel or harmless intentions, he’s showered me with attention ever since he walked into my life. Something I haven’t felt was given to me since the day my father walked out on me and my mom.

Either way, I crave Kayden’s eyes on me, and that won’t get me anywhere good.

I have to get over it. Over him.

He’s a jerk who doesn’t think about me when he does the things he does. He doesn’t deserve my time.

I wish it were easier. I wish I hadn’t listened to him jerk off that night, and that the image wasn’t on repeat in every single one of my dreams since then. I wouldn’t have written the whole fantasy of it in my diary. A fateful shower encounter. I wish he hadn’t popped up on the roof in only a towel after—forcing me to let my imagination run wilder.

I shake my head.

I told Kayden I was dating someone already, and he hasn’t asked about it again.

I might as well make that statement a reality.

Even if, instead of dating, I may be hooking up tonight.

We walk through the doors of a fancy ass house that belongs to someone I don’t know. The vibe is pretty much that of a frat party, ones I’ve seen in movies—not that I’ve ever been in one.

Lines of red cups with beer fill up the tables, and drunk college students decorate every corner. The halls are filled with laughter, kissing, and sweat. People are dancing to the sound of loud electronic music. There are two floors, and we venture through the first one. In the living room, we find Viktor with one arm around a blond guy’s shoulder. It’s Callum.

He is more handsome than I gave him credit for. His smile brightens up the room.

He’s quite tall, and buff. His short hair is massaged to the back, and he’s wearing a navy T-shirt and jeans.

Jordan smiles at him and rushes to wrap her arms around Viktor’s neck, French-kissing him right in front of me.

My stomach churns.

“This is Cal.” She sneaks her arm around Viktor’s hip and points at the blond guy. “And Cal, this is Maddy. She’s all yours.”

I smile. “Hi.”

“Wanna grab a drink?” Callum rubs the back of his head before signaling to the tables behind us.

“Sure.”

He hands me a red cup, and I take a sip of the bitter liquid.

In the distance, behind Callum, I catch a blur in my peripheral vision.

I squint my eyes and the blur becomes sharp. It’s a guy, leaning over the door frame that separates the living room from the entrance. He’s wearing a ski mask, and though I can’t see his eyes, it feels as if he’s staring right at me.

Chills run down my spine.

He’s wearing all black—jacket, shirt, and pants. I can’t tell who it is or what he wants.

“So, Maddy, right?” Cal asks, and I bring my attention back to him.