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“Can we stay here and order food to the room? I’ve never done that before.”
It’s true, I haven’t, but I’d rather make out like ordering room service is some big, exciting adventure for me, than admit the truth. Which is that I’m scared. Really fucking scared actually. Last night was terrifying, and I never want to experience that again. I’m starting to think that someone has it in for me and is trying to pin these murders and disappearances on me for some reason. I just think it sounds insane to say it out loud.
It’s even more insane to think that that person could be Summer. I don’t think it is though. Whatever she’s done, I don’t think it’sthatbad. She wouldn’t betray me like that. Not intentionally.
“Are you okay, Malia?”
“Hmm?”
“You disappeared for a minute.” Reef smiles kindly, and I know he means I checked out of the conversation, because I didn’t physicallygoanywhere. “We were asking what you wanted to order.”
“Oh, anything’s fine.”
“What do you want?” he presses gently.
My brain shuts down. “I don’t know. I’m too hungry to choose. Whatever’s quick.”
“Okay, leave it with us.”
I nod and go back to staring at the TV. The sound is off but I’m not even seeing the pictures, just flickers of moving light, colours and shapes.
“All ordered,” Reef says a few moments later. “You’ve got half an hour.”
“Do you mind if I go for a shower?” I ask.
“Of course not. Take as long as you need. I’ll leave some clothes out for you on the bed until Vance gets back.”
“What?” I blink slowly, trying to piece his words together.
“Vance, the professor, has gone to get you some more things. It was too late last night for us to get anything.”
“Oh.” The thought of my professor shopping for clothes and…other things for me makes my face flame with embarrassment. I quickly turn away from Reef and dart into the bathroom to hide.
As I step into the shower, I let out a deep sigh. The hot water cascades down my body, washing away the grime and sweat from the past couple of days. Steam fills the bathroom, clouding up the mirrors and cocooning me in the illusion of safety.
No, I am safe here, with the guys. I know that. But I also know that whatever is going on, this is a temporary respite, and I’m not truly out of the woods yet.
Closing my eyes, I tilt my head back, letting the water fall on my face to wash away my embarrassment.
I try to focus on the events of last night, but my mind keeps drifting back to that kiss with the professor. It was…intense. Honestly, one of the best kisses of my life. Not that I’ve had many, but still. The guys are all great kissers. But the professor’s was something else. I could taste his fury and determination to get me out of there, and for the first time I felt like he genuinely cared for me, rather than just seeing me as a massive inconvenience or annoyance.
The door to the bathroom opens and I spin round to see who’s intruded. The shower screen is fogged up so I have to swipe my palm over it to peer out. Bhodi stands in the doorway, grinning at me.
“You’re letting the cold in,” I complain.
Taking that as an invitation to come in, he closes the door behind him, the grin never leaving his face. If anything, it gets wider as he stares at me.
Shamelessly, I stare right back.
He’s topless, wearing only the board shorts he had on the day we went to class, which feels like it was months ago now. While he unties them, I ogle his inked muscles, admiring the way they ripple with his movements in an effortless display of strength and power. The shorts fall to the floor and he’s gloriously naked, a confident smirk fixed firmly in place on his face.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Do you not think it would have been better to ask me before getting naked?” I raise a brow and offer him my own smirk in return.
“Aww, come on, little dot. I’m cold.”
I drop my eyes to his crotch for the briefest second and then return to his face. “I can see that.”
