Page 27 of Off Limits

“Why shouldn’t she be here?” Autumn demands, right on top of my answer.

Cal barely spares her a glance. “Good. You’re leaving. But why were you here in the first place?”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “Cal, I’m not a baby. I’m allowed to go to parties.”

“Is something the matter here?” Brad steps behind us, and I feel boxed in between my angry brother in front of me and this unknown guy behind me, but I’ve been around guys enough to recognize the testosterone-fueled posturing that’s starting now. I can feel Brad puffing himself up, aggression starting to emanate from both of them in waves.

Motherfucking motherfuckers.

As if this night weren’t enough of a letdown, now we have to end it with this nonsense?

“Everything’s fine, Brad,” I tell him without taking my eyes off my brother. “Just an overprotective brother on the loose. No big deal.”

Cal’s nostrils flare in a way I know prefaces an angry outburst, but I’m not sticking around to witness it. With a hand on Autumn’s shoulder, I encourage her to the door. Fortunately, she complies, though she doesn’t stop shooting daggers at my brother with her eyes.

I can’t blame her. I feel that way too. I just know it doesn’t really do any good, so I’ve stopped bothering.

But Cal’s not ready to let this go. He grabs my arm. “No. You’re not leaving withhim.”

I shake him off. “Cal, seriously. I’m not leaving with Brad. He and Autumn are walking me back to the dorm, and thenthey’regoing to do something somewhere else. Not that any of that is your business. You’ve told me to stay away from you. I am. Why don’t you follow your own rule and stay away from me? Since all you seem capable of doing is showing up and ruining my evening, it seems like I’d benefit from you following that rule more than the other way around anyway.”

“No, Ellie,” he starts, but I don’t let him finish, once again turning Autumn toward the door and following behind her.

Then Simon’s voice fills the space, blocking out all the rest of the noise, making me stop and turn around. I can’t help it. It’s like I’m a compass, and he’s magnetic north. Or maybe he’s just magnetic. “She’s leaving, man. Just let her go. Granger will make sure she gets home safe, won’t you?” There’s an edge to the question, like it really matters to Simon personally that I make it home fine. And I guess maybe it does. But … ugh.

“Yeah, man,” Brad says, chuckling. “That’s the plan. We saw what happened to Sigma Chi. We’re doing our best not to follow their footsteps.”

I don’t actually know what they’re talking about, but that seems to be enough to appease my brother, because he casts one last baleful glance my way and lets Simon pull him back into the party.

But Simon’s eyes stay fixed on me until I finally turn and follow Brad and Autumn out the front door. And I swear I feel them on me even as people close up the space in our wake.

But that seems to be all of him I’ll ever feel. After tonight, I doubt he’ll seek me out again.

* * *

Unknown number: Hey, it’s Simon. Did you get home alright?

I sit in my bed after my shower and stare at my phone for a long time. The text came in while I was in the shower, so it’s already been almost thirty minutes since he sent it. But no follow up. If I don’t respond, is he going to get worried and Hulk-smash his way into my dorm to find out if I’m here or not?

Do I want him to?

Yes.

The answer is barely a whisper in my mind, and I ignore it. Because whether I want him to or not is immaterial. It’s not wise.

So the safest choice is to respond. I quickly tap out a text letting him know I’m safe and sound in bed, my thumb hesitating for the briefest moment before tapping send.

His response is immediate. It’s a gif of Leonardo DiCaprio in a suit biting his knuckle.

I grin and sink down into my bed, not sure what to say to that. But he responds again before I come up with anything.

Glad you made it back safely.

I stare at the words for a long time, my fingers tapping the sides of my phone. Should I continue this conversation? What is he playing at anyway? First he tells me he should stay away from me, then he says he wants to kiss me but jumps back like I’m made of acid as soon as someone interrupts us, and now this?

What would’ve happened if Autumn hadn’t come to check on me? Would he have kissed me?

And then what?

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