Page 45 of Redeeming the Villain

“Call you tomorrow? Send me your classes.” He unlocks the doors, and I push mine open.

“Yeah. I’ll send you my schedule,” I tell him, sliding off the front seat and dropping a couple of inches to the ground.

He smiles at me and offers a wave as I close the door and head inside.

When I cross the sidewalk and approach the dorm building, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched. It’s that sixth sense that makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

Nonchalantly scanning my surroundings, I don’t notice anyone, and I quickly make my way inside of the secure building, using my key fob to unlock the door.

That feeling begins to disappear as I slip inside one of the elevators.

I’m still uneasy, but as I reach my room and relieve June from watching Sunny, I feel much better.

Changing into PJs, I take my evening medicine before curling up with Sunny in bed to watchLegally Blonde, one of my favorite comfort movies. But I barely make it to the scene at the dress shop before my eyelids drift shut.

Lifting the red cup to my lips, I tip it up, but nothing pours into my mouth.

Shit.

It’s already empty. I sigh.

“Already what?” Dean asks, and I realize that the thought wasn’t just in my head. Either that or Dean can now read minds. Which would be pretty fucking cool.

“I’m out.” I set the empty cup down on the desk and lean back in the gaming chair, closing my eyes as my body feels like it’s spinning and floating in place while a comforting warmth spreads throughout my veins.

God, I had way too much to drink.

I should have stopped hours ago. But the more I drank, the more my brain went quiet. I’m just here, existing, thoughtless and numb.

My eyes flutter open, and when I sit up, Dean has magically disappeared. “What the fuck?”

The dorm room door swings open, and he walks in as if he didn’t just teleport into the hallway.

“Why does your face look like that?” Dean looks up from the pile of clothes in his hand, his wet hair falling across his forehead as his brows furrow.

“Forget about me. How the fuck did you get on the other side of the door?” I ask the important question, ignoring his.

He bursts out laughing, Asher joining in, and he plops down on his own bed. “You’re fucking wasted, Malik.Jesus. I left and took a shower. I’ve been gone for, like, fifteen minutes. You need to sober up, buddy.”

That makes a lot more sense …

“Yeah …” I trail off in agreement.

My bladder feels like it’s going to fucking explode soon if I don’t piss.

Rising to my feet, I sway back and forth as I step toward the door to the hallway. “I need to piss.”

“Thanks for letting me know.” Asher laughs as I fumble for the doorknob, twisting it open. “Come straight back though. I already took your keys so your drunk ass can’t even think about driving.”

Annoying but thoughtful. “Thanks, man. I’ll be right back.”

Pulling his door open, I walk through the doorframe and take a right.

Ping-ponging against the walls, I make my way down to the end of the hallway, stopping in front of a door that most definitely doesn’t saybathroom.

I know whose room this is. That damn infuriating and intoxicating creature.

The one who’s been wrapping herself around my brain, consuming all my thoughts. She’s a virus, and I’m completely infected.

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