Page 72 of Arrogant Puck

My mouth goes dry. “Slater—”

“But that’s okay.” Another step closer. “I’m a patient man. I can wait for you to figure it out.”

The way he says it doesn’t sound patient at all. It sounds like a warning.

“I really am tired,” I whisper.

He studies my face for a long moment, then nods. “Of course, you are. You had a big day.”

He heads toward the door, and I think he’s finally leaving. But he pauses with his hand on the handle.

“Sweet dreams, Sage.” He turns to look at me one more time. “Try not to think about your friend too much while you’re sleeping.”

The door closes with a soft click, and I’m left sitting on the bed, my heart racing and my skin flushed at his tone.

I stare at the ceiling.

I don’t think I’m going to be getting much sleep tonight.

But exhaustion wins, and I must drift off because I wake up thinking that he’s next to me again. The familiar weight of a body in bed, the warmth radiating from someone close. But when I reach across the sheets, they’re cold and empty.

He’s not beside me. He’s in the shadows.

“Slater,” I whisper into the darkness. “Stop messing with me.”

But out of the shadows steps someone else. My blood turns to ice as I recognize the face, I’ve tried so hard to forget.

“Hello, Sage,” Tyler says, his voice exactly the same. That smooth, confident tone that used to make me feel special. “Ready to fuck?”

I scream—

And wake up from the nightmare, shooting up in bed with my heart hammering against my ribs. My eyes frantically search the room as I reach for the bedside lamp, flooding the space with light.

I’m alone in this hotel room. Completely alone.

And there’s something about it that makes me shiver. Like somehow this life can’t be real. It’s impossible. Someone like me doesn’t deserve to be in a hotel right now.

After a moment of relief that Tyler isn’t hiding in my hotel room, I exhale. I remind myself that I’m safe. Then the memory of how the dream started was because I was searching the bed for Slater. All the pain and trauma I’ve tried so hard to bury is right in front of my face because of him. There’s something about him that’s unnerving.

Am I a magnet for horrible men? Is that my pattern?

I cannot live with Slater, so I grab my phone to search for more apartments, but there are texts waiting for me.

Slater: I’m texting first this time

Slater: Can I come in?

Slater: I can’t sleep

My heart plummets when I see the timestamps. The last text was sent an hour ago. Maybe he’s not like Tyler? Maybe he wouldn’t blindfold me, strip me, tie me up naked, and make me think it was his mouth when it wasn’t, filming everything without my consent.

I shake my head frantically, trying to push away the memories. I don’t like being alone with these nightmares, with the demons that claw their way out when I’m vulnerable.

Sage: Okay

My hands are shaking when I hit send on that text, but the truth is that I need a friend. And maybe Slater isn’t as bad as I think? I can’t know for sure, but right now I need someone.

Mere seconds later, I hear the keycard beep and Slater slides into my room, clicking the door shut softly behind him.

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