Page 68 of Blood Queen

Despite everything, a small, shaky laugh escapes me. “Oh yeah?”

She winks. “Damn right.”

Back at Truman’s dorm, I sit on his bed, watching as he flips through one of his textbooks. My chest is tight with everything I haven’t said yet, every unspoken thought pressing against my ribs like they’re trying to claw their way out.

“You have to go home for Thanksgiving,” I say finally.

Truman glances up, frowning. “We’ve been over this.”

“And I’ve made up my mind,” I say firmly. “I’ll get a hotel.”

He sets the book down, jaw tightening. “With what ID, Kid? What credit card?”

I straighten my spine. “I can handle it.”

His frown deepens. “You don’t even have—”

“I’ve got it handled.”

He blows out a frustrated breath, raking a hand through his hair. “This is fucking stupid.”

I force a smile. “You’ll be too busy stuffing your face with turkey to miss me.”

He doesn’t smile back. Just watches me with that unreadable expression, the one that makes my stomach flip in a way I don’t know how to handle.

I look away. “It’s just a few days.”

Truman exhales heavily but doesn’t push it. Instead, he leans back against the headboard, eyes dark with emotions I can’t place.

I don’t say anything else. I can’t. I sit at his desk as he goes back to his text book.

I pull out my phone and, in secret, type out a message.

Me:Hey, Eli… I need a favor.

Eli responds almost immediately.

Eli:That’s a dangerous ask coming from you.

Me:Can you book a hotel room for me? Just for Thanksgiving break?

A pause. Then—

Eli:Are you okay?

Me:Just avoiding home.

Another pause. Then—

Eli:Yeah. I’ll take care of it.

I exhale, relief washing through me.

***

The motel reeks of mildew and stale cigarettes, the walls stained with time and encounters I don’t want to think about. The heater rattles like it’s coughing up its last breath, barely cutting throughthe chill that seeps into my bones. But it’s a place to sleep. A roof over my head. And thanks to Eli, it’s mine for the week.

Truman is furious. Refused to kiss me goodbye when I walked him to the bus station. I’d cried most of that night. I texted Kenzie and apologized for not going home with him, but to be nice and enjoy her brother while he was there. She asked what he did to mess up. I’d laughed but let her know he didn’t do anything wrong.

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