Page 18 of The Breakaway

"And that's what you thought ever since you moved in?"

My pulse kicked up a notch. I didn't know where he was going with this, but I didn't like it. "Can we just—Can you just?—"

"I have a job, Sharla."

I bit my lip, my thoughts draining like water through a colander. "What kind of job?”

"I'm on the janitorial staff,” he grunted. “I work the night shift, so it doesn't conflict with my classes." He shifted to the edge of the bed. "Unlike Logan, I don't have daddy's money to cover everything."

My throat worked, but I couldn’t form words. Janitorial staff? A night shift? Why had Logan never mentioned that to me before?

Truthfully, I hadn’t ever brought up the annoyance I felt at Rob’s hours. Logan didn’t like when I criticized him, as evidenced by his reaction to me bringing up the whole bare chest situation. It was better if I pretended Rob didn’t exist. For my sake and his. But still. After six months, it was odd that a full-on job hadn’t come up.

I locked onto Rob’s silhouette rising and moving along the wall toward the washroom. The door creaked, and light flooded into the room as he flicked the switch. He walked in and closed the door behind him, leaving a rectangular, glowing outline.

I tried not to listen. Tried not to imagine him unzipping his pants, relieving himself, and washing his hands in my sink. Drying his hands again on my towel. But it was impossible not to.

The sweat on my skin started to cool, and I shivered. I hurriedly straightened the sheets and comforter, pulling it up tomy chest just as he opened the door again. I wasn’t wearing a bra, just my cotton camisole, and I suddenly felt self-conscious.

Rob opened the door and his eyes met mine. “You’re not wearing the bracelet he gave you.”

I blinked and glanced at the nightstand. No, I’d left it in the washroom. On the glass shelf. “I don’t wear jewelry at night.”

“Huh.” Rob wet his lips, then dropped his eyes. "I'm sorry I woke you."

I was plunged into darkness as he flicked off the light and exited into the hall.

_____

He called me Shar.That realization flashed in my head like a neon sign when I woke with my alarm the following day. Rob had been in my room. He’d held me in his arms. And he’d called me Shar.

Logan called me Shar. Crystal and Maddie called me Shar. But Rob?

Had last night been some jacked up fever dream? Some hallucination my brain made up to process Logan leaving?

The phone rang in the kitchen, shattering the early morning quiet. We really needed to invest in a cordless. I fumbled out of bed, hopping on one foot as I frantically pulled on a pair of sweatpants.

"Hello?" I whispered, stumbling into the kitchen and snatching the phone before it could wake Rob.

"Shar!” There was that name again. “Did I wake you?" Logan's chipper voice boomed through the speaker. I could hearwhooping and hollering in the background.What the hell time was it?

"No it's fine. I was getting up anyway." I glanced at the clock. It was only seven, but—right. He was two hours ahead of me. I crept toward my room, stretching the cord and easing the door shut behind me. I slumped to the floor and leaned back. "I’m so glad you called. What are you doing?"

"Not much, just breakfast before training." More laughter rang out, and I rolled my eyes. I could already tell that getting Logan alone would be like herding a cat. “They’ve got this huge buffet, like everything you can imagine. Sausages?—”

“I’ll give you sausages!”someone cried out.

Logan laughed, his breath crackling in the speaker. “Sorry, pancakes, fruit, whipped cream, it’s insane. Ooh and chocolate milk. The best chocolate milk.”

I couldn’t help but grin even though it felt like my insides were being yanked through my stomach. I was so happy for him. Of course I was. But there was a part of me that hoped he would’ve called missing me. Heartsick. Even a little.

I yawned. "That’s amazing, I?—”

A loud crash interrupted me, followed by guffaws and shouts. "Sorry babe, Coop just ate it hard. What were you saying?"

I sighed. This was a losing battle. "Nothing. I just—I miss you."

"Aww, miss you, too! Love you. Phone you later?”

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