Page 10 of Marked By my Stalker
“What? No.” I tear off the sweater. “This is awful.”
“You’re lying.” She stands from the bed and grabs the sweater off the floor, handing it toward me. “Maybe he likes wholesome, seasonally appropriate sweaters.”
I freeze for half a second, fingers caught in the sleeve of the cozy fabric. “It’s not like that. I told you, he was friends with my dad. We’re just… he’s taking me to the mountains to shoot pictures today.”
“Sure. I guess that’s why you’re acting like you swallowed a sparkler?”
“What?” I shoot her a glare. “If I’m acting like that, it’s because my boyfriend hasn’t answered his phone all morning.”
Penny lifts her eyebrow, her expression sliding from amused to unconvinced as she glides back into bed. “Yup,” she hums, pulling the covers up. “And that, my dear, is how emotionally repressed hero complexes win.”
I groan. “Don’t you have sleep to catch up on?”
She sighs against the pillow for dramatic flair. “Yes, I do, but nothing I could dream about will be as entertaining as this.”
“Very mature.”
“You’re welcome.” She winks. “Text me when he confesses something, or more likely, refuses to admit anything and just stares off into the wilderness like he’s reliving his tragic past.”
I throw a pillow at her, smiling. I then pick up the dreadfully cozy sweater, sigh, and pull it on anyway.
If today is awkward as hell, at least I’ll be comfortable. At least that’s what I tell myself as I slip out the door and leave my heckling friend to some well-deserved sleep.
It’s noon, but the hallways are quiet this time of day. Most students are in class or still sleeping off the night before. Around three, life starts picking up again.
I round the corner, pulling my sweater sleeves down to my palms, and that’s when I see him.
Brick.
He’s stepping out of a room I’ve never seen him in. His gray shirt is crumpled in his fist like it offended him, his hair a chaotic mess, his head tilted down, his posture slumped.
Is he actually capable of guilt?
He sees me, freezes for half a breath, then tries to play it cool, but it’s too late. I stand there, sweater tight around me.
“Kera.” He sighs and straightens as though that’s going to throw me off the scent. “What are you doing here?”
“Here?You mean, the girls’ C-wing? Where I live?”
“Oh, yeah.” His head tilts to the side like an idiot lizard who’s trying to figure how to outsmart a hawk. “That’s right. C-wing. You do live here, don’t you? I, ugh, I was just here to get some homework.”
He’s usually much better at lying, so I’m a little embarrassed for him.
“Brick, we’re done.” I say the words impulsively then turn away. My head pounds, my stomach churns, and I know I’ve just disappointed my mother, but right now, none of that matters.
I need out of this building right now!
I jog down the back stairs, desperate to get away, but footsteps echo behind me, his voice howling out like a ghost I can’t get rid of. “Kera! Wait!”
I ignore his pleas and move faster, one foot in front of the other as I pass security, push out the double doors, and step into the fresh air where I see Jack waiting in his pickup truck.
He’s got one arm hanging out the window, fingers drumming the frame like he’s scoring the soundtrack of mymeltdown. He sees me and straightens up, brushing his hair back. No smile, just those eyes that always seem to know exactly where I’m at.
Brick bursts out of the building behind me. “Fucking hell,” he groans with a laugh in his throat. “Blaming me for some bullshit while you’re out getting slutty with the C-lot stalker? Weren’t you two together last night too?”
My cheeks blaze red, and I swear I’m seeing spots. I’ve done everything for this kid. Everything. I gave him trust he didn’t earn, I laughed at his stupid jokes, and I cared for him when he had that flu last semester. I’m talking homemade soup and back rubs every single day.
I knew he was slime, but I never thought he’d go so far as to cheat on me. Hell, he’s probably been doing this all along. I know I’ve seen him with that girl from last night more than once.
