Page 70 of Redemption
I don’t wait for her reply, slipping my phone back into my pocket as I walk towards the dorms.
Her lack of faith in me shouldn’t sting as much as it does, but I guess old habits die hard.
I haven’t seen my brother in six months, so when he texted me to invite me to visit him at school, there was no way I was turning down the chance.
There’s a pair of steely gray eyes I’ve been missing, too, and this is my opportunity to show up in a casual setting to feel Hayes out.
When he left for college this past summer, I felt things were finally changing. This electrical current ran between us whenever we were in the same room, and I know he felt it, too, because there were times I would catch him looking at me when he thought I wasn’t looking. Then, the day before he left, he kissed me again, and it stole all the breath from my lungs. It changed things for me. And at first, it did for him, too. We texted all the time and talked when Langston was out of their dorm room. We both decided not to tell him about the kiss, or anything else, for that matter, until we figured out what this was. I felt bad about that at first, but now I’m glad we did because those texts and phone calls with Hayes have gotten fewer and further apart.
We both agreed that we weren’t dating, just getting to know each other better outside of me being Langston’s little sister and Hayes being his best friend, but those phone calls and texts felt like the closest thing to dating I’ve ever had. He made me feel special—until he didn’t.
Now, I need to lay eyes on those gray irises that have always held my fascination so I can know once and for all what this is.
Because one thing’s for sure—I won’t wait forever for Hayes Miller to decide about me, no matter how much his kisses make me feel like I’m finally being seen.
Hiking my purse higher on my shoulder, I walk toward Langston’s dorm room. I texted him when I got here, and he sent me the name of his building—so I’m on my own to find it.
It’s not much of a welcome, but I push that thought aside. My brother is a freshman college football player. He has a lot going on. It was nice of him to even invite me to visit. I’m choosing to be thankful for that.
Five minutes later, I’m standing in front of the dorm for athletes, chewing on my lip and waiting for my brother to answer his text and let me in.
It’s the beginning of November, and the air has a chill to it. I soak it in, taking a deep breath to relieve some of the tension building at the idea of seeing Hayes again.
This is my favorite time of year. With the leaves changing colors, it’s a reminder that there’s beauty in change.
Students mill about the campus, backpacks slung over their shoulders and walking to classes. They ignore me, and oddly, I find it nice. It’s nice to blend in without everyone watching your every move and waiting for you to mess up.
The campus is beautiful, with large oak trees scattered around grassy areas. If I went here, that’s where I would study, not confined in one of the old stuffy buildings.
“MJ.” Langston’s voice calls my name from behind me, and I spin, smiling.
He’s wearing the same goofy grin I am, and I sprint towards him, wrapping my arms around his waist and squeezing. I’ve missed him so much. The house has been lonely without him, and Mom and Dad haven’t only gotten worse about their unrealistic expectations for me now that he’s gone.
I’m smothering.
My brother holds me in his arms, squeezing me back and giving me a minute to gain my composure. We’ve always beengood at reading each other, even when we fight, so when I step back, my heart sinks to my stomach.
Langston looks the same, maybe a little stronger, and his facial scruff is a little longer, but there’s a deadness in his eyes that scares me. I thought he would be happy here—I had hoped at least—but this doesn’t look like happiness on him.
Hayes promised he would look out for Langston here. How could he have missed this, and why hasn’t he let me know?
Suddenly, fury burns through every part of my body at a boy I thought I could trust. Forget the fact that I was heartbroken when he couldn’t find the time to talk to me these last few months, but this—this feels like it could shatter me.
“Hey,” Langston says, “what’s that look for? Aren’t you glad to see me?”
“Yeah, L. I’m glad to see you. You look good,” I lie.
The smile on my face is forced, and Langston knows it because he forces his own. But neither of us talks about why we have to force those smiles.
He holds the door open for me as we walk inside his dorm room, and I watch him out of the corner of my eye. There’s a sadness that hangs in the air around him. There’s something wrong with my brother, and I intend to find out before the end of the weekend. Then after I find out, I intend to kick Hayes Miller’s butt for not noticing it before now.
We take the stairs to the second floor, where Langston’s and Hayes’s dorm room is. Nerves settle in my belly and buzz around like a hive of angry bees at the thought of Hayes being in there.
I cross my fingers and pray that he isn’t because I don’t know I can handle it right now—not in front of Langston. I want to yell at him for too many reasons, and if I see him, I don’t know that I’ll be able to hold back.
Thankfully, when Langston opens the door, the room is empty. I sigh in relief, and Langston gives me a funny look as I walk into the room ahead of him.
“Well,” he says, throwing his arms wide and spinning in a circle in the tiny room, “this is my humble abode. I’d offer to let you stay here, but I think you would be more comfortable in the hotel.”
