Page 63 of Built to Fall
She was still in her Halloween costume, too. The one I heard people murmuring about throughout the party because of how hot she looked.
And of course, it made the most sense in the world that she was dressed as Cupid. With a gold corset embroidered with gems and a light pink skirt. She also had hearts all over her, knee-high stockings, and, obviously, Cupid’s arrow.
The look on her face said it all—wide eyes, parted lips, like she wasn’t expectingmeto be the one in his bed. And I don’t think she was there to make sure Grant was sleeping alright.
All around, it was awkward.
If Savannah sneaking into Grant’s room for a five a.m. fuck was commonplace, I never wanted to know about it. Nor did I want to be present for it.
Which is why I stood up, pulled my silk robe on from the night before, and walked right past her, down the stairs, and out the door. A walk of shame almost as bad as when I had to be wheeled out of the hospital to Grant’s car.
She tried to talk to me as I passed her, to apologize, telling me to stay, but I had seen enough.
It wasn’t even aboutherat that point. I knew from the few encounters I’d had with her how utterly sweet she was. It was about the fact that I was clearly interrupting something between her and Grant, and that felt wrong.
With plans of never thinking of my Halloween spent under Grant’s sheets—or the way I was woken by his fuck buddy standing in the doorway ever again—I threw myself into school, drowned myself in lectures, and had successfully avoided Grant for three whole days.
Until today, when I’m almost through ordering my breakfast wrap at the student union, in between my economics and International Law class, only to hear a familiar voice come up behind me.
“Didn’t think you were a hash brown girl.”
I don’t have to turn around to know it’s him. Grant Vandenberg has that signature drawl in his voice—lazy, cocky, and annoyingly warm. My spine stiffens, fingers tightening around the coffee I haven’t even taken a sip of yet.
“Didn’t think you were the type to talk to girls after they leave your bed.” I turn slowly.
He looks a similar kind of frustratingly good every time I see him. I’m almost positive it’s because he just got done with football practice. With a gray hoodie slung over one shoulder and his hair still damp, with a few ringlets falling down his forehead.
“Is that why you left without saying anything?” His smile falters, just a flicker, before he leans in slightly.
“That,” I say, my tone sharp, “and the surprise guest appearance from Savannah Sinclair.”
His jaw twitches. He didn’t even seem shocked to hear that Savannah has been in his room, and that tells me everything I need to know about what transpired after I left. “She wasn’t?—”
“Don’t,” I say, holding up a hand. I press it directly over his mouth, effectively cutting off anything else he tries to add.
All he does is grin, and it completely infuriates me, which is the only reason I rip my hand off his face and drop it back down at my side.
“Whatever she was or wasn’t there for, it’s not my business.”
Grant’s not my boyfriend. He doesn’t owe me an explanation.
“Lina—” I side-step him when my order is called.
“I don’t care, Grant.”
I know he’s following me because a chill runs down my spine from the brush of hot air when he audibly sighs. And when I take a seat at one of the many tables, he doesn’t hesitate to sit across from me.
“You still can’t sleep, can you?”
I look up from my wrap, confusion lacing my face. “What?”
“Meredith has been talking to Braxton, and she’s worried about you. Says that you don’t go to sleep until late at night, and everyone’s worried about you getting up at ungodly hours to go on runs again.”
This is exactly why I didn’t want everyone to know about‘the incident,’as they’ve been so subtly referring to it as. It’s too much to explain. My going to the hospital caused everyone to surround me in panic.
I blink, stunned by the pivot. “You’ve got Meredith and Braxton tracking my sleep schedule now?”
His brows form a V, arms crossing over his chest like he’s the one who should be offended. “No—well, it’s more Eden. I hear about it from Meredith and Braxton. You’ve got friends whocare about you and are worried you’re running yourself into the ground.”
