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“Yeah.”
“Is everyone alright?” My heart beats double time. There has to be a problem, why would they all be gone unless something bad had happened. But then, why wouldn’t they tell me? There has to be a simple explanation—
“We’re all fine. Why? Is Malia okay?” I can hear the instant concern in his tone.
He sounds exactly how I would if I allowed myself to reveal my true feelings. But I can’t.
“She’s fine. Where are you all? Are you down on the beach?” I already know the answer to that question is a no. I can hear far too much background noise for them to be at the shoreline.
“No boss. We figured you had things with Malia handled, so we’ve gone into town.”
“What?!” I slam the bottle down hard enough to make it crack. I wince. Shit. I hope I didn’t wake Malia.
“We’re in a bar.”
“Are you drinking?” Anger laces my question but Bhodi replies cheerily with zero fucks given, “Yep.”
“Who’s designated driver?”
“There isn’t one. We’re going to crash on campus tonight.”
“You can’t. I need someone here to watch Malia.”
Holy shit. I can’t be left alone with her. It’s not safe. I’m not strong enough. I don’twantto resist her.
“You’re there.”
“I can’t stay!” My pulse spikes.
“Why not?”
I scramble for a plausible reason and come up weak. “I-I—I have work to do.”
“You have your laptop.”
“Not that kind of work,” I snap.
“It’ll have to wait. I mean, one of us could get back eventually, but we’re all pretty wasted, man. I’m not sure I’d entrust Malia’s safety to any of us right now.”
“This is ridiculous!” I pinch the bridge of my nose to keep from exploding.
“Come on, you were saying yourself just the other day that we’re working hard and deserve a day off.”
“Yes, but—”
“Well, the good news is we’re not asking for a day off, just a night. The bad news is we’re not asking, we’re already taking it.”
“Put Reef on,” I manage to growl out. He’s my second, the most reliable, and the one most likely to do as he’s told.
“Sorry prof, my battery’s gonna d—”
The call ends and I immediately hit redial. Straight to voicemail. I try Reef again and his does the same this time. The absolute fuckers. They’ve all switched their phones off! I don’t believe for a second that Bhodi’s battery died. Lying dickhead.
They’ve done this on purpose! Why?
I close my eyes and take deep breaths through my nose. I’m trapped here. I can’t leave Malia, I wouldnever. But…I can’t be in the same house as her and be sober.
Opening my eyes, I tilt my head back and stare up at the ceiling. She’s up there, only two floors away. It should be plenty to keep me safe but the way I’m feeling tonight, a hundred miles wouldn’t be enough. She’s bewitched me and cast me under her spell, and I know I’m fucked.
