Page 132 of The Off-Limits Play

She’s just being nice, trying to say I’m worth it.

But I’m not.

And she shouldn’t be wasting her time fighting for me.

Man, I feel like shit right now.

Everything hurts. My head feels like it’s been cut in half with a chainsaw. My throat is scratchy and swollen. I’m one big living, walking bruise.

And now someone’s bashing on my door, making it a million times worse.

“What?” I growl, tempted to throw my phone at whoever’s about to walk into my room.

It creaks open and Zander appears. He’s holding a to-go cup of something. It better not be coffee. I fucking hate that shit.

“Hot chocolate,” he murmurs, holding it out for me.

I glare at him, wishing it was something stronger.

“Would you just take it already?” He frowns at me. “My next class starts in fifteen minutes.”

Stalking around my bed, I snatch it off him with a mumbled thank-you.

“It wasn’t my idea,” he mutters. “Sienna made me do it. She would have brought it up herself, but she’s kind of afraid of you right now. And so is Zoey.”

My chest instantly goes tight, the air in my lungs suddenly thick, making it impossible to breathe. I should ask why they’re so afraid, but I can’t. I don’t want to know why. Fuck. Fuck!

“You were kind of vile last night.” Zander’s expression goes hard.

Shit, I knew he was pissed off with me.

I frown at him.

“You don’t remember, do you?”

Looking over my shoulder at my rumpled bed covers, I turn back and shake my head.

“We picked you up from a party. I don’t know what the fuck you put in your body, but as it wore off, you were a wreck. Screamed the fucking house down.”

That explains the sore throat. I touch my neck; the thought of making Zoey scared is a fucking knife through the stomach.

“You also tried to give Wily a decent shiner and then threw your lamp at Grady when he came in to help.”

My eyes dart to the damaged light on the floor and I swallow, shaking my head and struggling to recall any of that shit.

All I can think about is Nylah.

I stare at the spot where she landed yesterday.

Fuck, was it only yesterday?

“Listen, I know you’re going through some shit right now, and I really want to support you. But not at the expense of my family. I shouldn’t have to leave campus to come back here and check that my girls are safe.”

My stomach drops down to my knees.

Fuck.

“Whatever it is that’s eating you, I’m here to listen, okay? But don’t go getting drunk and high like that again. You’re an asshole when you drink. So just, please… stop. Get your shit together, because we need you, man.”

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