Page 39 of Phobia
“Get the fuck out!” Larkin yelled, shoving them back through the door and locking it.
“I should go,” I said quickly, heading for the same door that he’d just locked. Maybe seeing the Halloween strangerwasall in my head. Or maybe it was some guy who kinda looked like him. Either way, it was impossible for my would-be murderer to have tracked me down at Tennebrose. He didn’t know who I was, just like I didn’t know whohewas. That’s what had made the whole thing extra terrifying—that some unknown person had nearly killed me and then disappeared. Every year I was convinced he’d come back to finish the job, like a bad horror movie, and every year Larkin tried to assure me that wouldn’t happen.
“No, no, no, wait.” Larkin slid in front of me, blocking the door and laying his hands on my biceps. “Just stay for a bit, ok? And I’ll walk you home or back to your car or whatever. Give me, like, an hour for appearances. You shouldn’t be alone right now anyway.”
“I don’t—”
He used all of his skills to transform into a giant, pouting puppy; big brown eyes, lower lip stuck out, hands pressed together entreatingly. I couldn’t say no. Not to him. Not ever.
“Fine,” I sighed.
When he grinned, his dimples popped, turning me into mush. “Great! You wanna wait here or come down with me? Grab a drink? One drink. I’ll get you the good shit in the fridge, promise. It’ll help take the edge off.”
“One drink. That’s it.”
Another flash of dimples, another flutter in the pit of my stomach. I was most definitely not in the mood to drink or socialize with other people, but I’d do it for Larkin.
We went downstairs and retrieved fresh bottles of beer from the fridge before rejoining the circle in the living room.
“About fucking time,” Cody yelled when Larkin kicked a freshman named Tim out of an overstuffed recliner in the corner, resuming his seat from earlier.
I eased myself awkwardly into the room, trying to navigate the group gathered around the coffee table while looking for a place to lean.
Larkin snagged my belt loop and tugged me downward onto the extra-wide arm of the chair. He maintained a hold on the thin bit of fabric while I perched there, the heat from his hand radiating into the small of my back. I doubted anyone would have noticed with my t-shirt hanging in the way, butIknew it was there, a hot, steady point of contact.
“Truth or Dare,” one of the girls said, zeroing in on Larkin now that he’d returned.
“Truth,” he replied, taking a swig of beer from his bottle.
“What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?”
I held my breath, waiting to see what the answer was. Would I know the story he was referring to? Was I there when it happened? Larkin was a giant goofball wrapped in an endless supply of muscles and a megawatt smile. I’d never seen him get embarrassed a day in his life. He rolled with the punches like no one else and more than once I wished I could channel a fraction of his easygoing nature.
True to character, Larkin laughed and shrugged. “I don’t know. I got my ass kicked by a goose the other night. So I guess that.”
“What the fuck were you doing with a goose?” Cody asked.
“Thought I could catch it.”
There was a chorus of laughter and people proclaiming he was an idiot.
“My turn,” Larkin continued, turning to me with a sly smile. “Jame, truth or dare?”
“Oh, I’m not playing,” I said, quickly taking a sip of my own beer.
The chorus turned on me next, booing and imploring.
“Come on.” Larkin tugged my belt loop, gazing up at me. “One round.”
I sighed. “Truth, I guess.”
“What is the most useless piece of information you know?”
I couldn’t help but laugh, relieved he didn’t try to embarrass me. Not thathewould have. He was too good of a friend. His roommates, however, weren’t so nice, especially when they were drunk. “I don’t know… um, that the smell of green apples and cucumbers can help with claustrophobia?”
“How the hell does that work?” one of the girls asked.
I shrugged, sipping my beer in lieu of answering. I wasn’t the scientist, after all. I just read what I read.
