Page 64 of Under the Bed

He goes so far as to create physical boundaries between him and us. When a student waits to talk to him after class is over, he’ll ask his TA, Eddy, to stick around.

Eddy is a pretty decent guy. Or at least he wasn’t a bad one back then. He and Kaleb went to school together. I remember his picture from Kaleb’s yearbook, the one my stepbrother didn’t get to see.

They delivered it to our home the summer after he was sent to Berkshire. I don’t know why his school did that, why they sent us a yearbook full of hate.

Freak. Murderer. Psycho.

So many cruel messages. Signed, too.

I cried for days over it. Over their hateful words.

Eddy’s wasn’t among them.

I feel safe around Eddy, which I can’t say about most men.

Being in an all-girls boarding school saved me from having to face my fears of my assault a second time. During my undergrad, I mainly kept to myself.

The only person who could hurt me is Kaleb. He’s the only one I want to hurt me.

In another world. Another reality, where he wasn’t on the run.

I need to keep him safe.

While I wait, watching a couple of students stand by his desk, I gather my things. I do my best not to think about my stepbrother and if he’s okay as I slip my laptop into my side bag. If he has a place to stay. Something to eat.

If he’s here on campus and would attack me as soon as I step out of the building. It’s dark outside. It would be easy for him.

My stomach churns. My lips pinch. I scoff at myself.

I won’t be rattled. I won’t live in a constant state of arousal.

I won’t.

“Hey, Shiloh.” Eddy materializes out of nowhere, lowering himself to the seat next to me.

He doesn’t look anything like Professor Dempsey. His black hair is styled in a short buzz cut. Light gray eyes aimed inwardly. My teacher bursts with confidence, while Eddy gives off vibes that he would rather be anywhere else.

“Hey.” I sneak a glance at Professor Dempsey. Still there. Back to Eddy, the genius who was able to cram his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years and is now working on his PhD. The one who hardly ever approaches me. “What’s up?”

His brow furrows. “I’m going to cut right to the chase.”

Being this direct—especially with me—is out of character for him. He has something important to tell me, and I’m not going to like it.

It takes me less than a second to figure out what this is all about.

Kaleb.

Hot righteousness bubbles in my throat. My shoulders are square.

How dare he?

Kaleb and I might be in our own private war, in our own version of hell, but he’s mine.

No one’s allowed to talk shit about him.

I’ll tell Marina as much next time I see her.

I squint my eyes at him. He flinches. “What is it?”

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