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“So?”
I frown at him. Is he being cagey on purpose? “So where are you from then?”
“Oh. A small, little-known country. Far from here.”
Definitely cagey. Why won’t he tell me? It’s not like it matters.
“What brought you to SCU then?”
“Education, I guess. Wanting to get as far away from home as possible. How about you?”
I feel like he’s not entirely being honest with me, and I notice that he’s quick to flip the conversation back on me. I can’t get mad though, can I? Not when I’m keeping secrets from him. Can’t exactly say I’ve been subjected to electro-torture for the past five days because I hear people’s thoughts in my head, was convinced that I was being hunted, and have a weird anxiety-ridden phobia of being trapped in small spaces and going outside into wide open ones…but hey, want to date me?
“I came to SCU with Summer. I’m a bit…socially awkward,” understatement, “and Summer was my closest friend back home. She was coming to SCU because her parents came here and thought it would be an amazing opportunity for her to study abroad, follow in their footsteps, that sort of thing. And I decided to tag along.”
“Did your parents not mind you going so far away?”
I snort. “No. If anything, SCU isn’t far enough away. For me or them.”
“Sounds like there’s no love lost there.”
“You could say that.”
My dorm building looms in front of us and I feel a pang of disappointment. I’ve enjoyed talking to Cove, even though the subject matter was difficult.
“I guess this is me,” I say reluctantly. Cove doesn’t let go of my hand and I can’t seem to bring myself to break contact first.
“If it’s alright with you, I’ll see you to your door. What with the…things that have been going on around here lately.”
I nod my head secretly happy that he’s being protective and careful, and then immediately feeling awful for being sort of glad about girls getting killed. I didn’t mean it like that, but I still feel guilty.
“That all seems to have stopped doesn’t it?” I ask while we approach the building and let us both into the dorm block.
“Thankfully.”
“Did the police find who was doing it?”
“I don’t know, but rumour has it that they were unrelated events.”
“In such a small place?” I can hear the incredulity in my voice.
“Apparently. But it's just a rumour. I guess a freak coincidence causes less panic than the term ‘serial killer’.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Still, scary times.”
“Exactly, which is why I’m delivering you right to your door…et voilá.”
He gestures to my bedroom door and gives me an elaborate bow which makes me giggle.
I bat my eyelashes at him. “My hero. Thank you.” Except I’m not really joking. I am thankful he met me tonight, that he was able to make me laugh and distract me.
He steps closer and my arms snake their way around his neck like they have a mind of their own. My heart beats double time.
Cove rests his forehead against mine and oh my goodness it might just be the best feeling in the world. Comfort. Acceptance. Belonging. It just feels right.
“I missed you, Mai-Tai. You have to stop disappearing on me like this.”
“Sorry.” I trap my bottom lip between my teeth but Cove reaches up and gently frees it, then strokes his thumb over the spot. My pulse flutters in my throat.
