You've Found Oliver (You've Reached Sam, #2)(57)

As I’m coming out of the building, someone is waiting for me.

“Hey.”

I stop abruptly. I forgot Nolan always waits for me after class. He smiles and leans in for a kiss. But I manage to dodge it this time. He blinks at me and says, “Is everything good?”

“Yeah, fine.”

“I tried calling this morning,” he says.

“Sorry. It’s my phone.”

“Are we still getting lunch later?”

I shake my head. “No, I have to study.”

“You still need some food, right?”

“I’m, uh, also sick.” I pretend to cough. “Gotta go now.”

I turn abruptly and hurry off. It doesn’t matter if we’re still together in this timeline. I still don’t want anything to do with him. I cross the bridge, heading toward my old dorm. I’m hoping I can just grab my things and go.

Luckily, Connor isn’t there when I come in. The books are sitting on my desk beside the succulent I never watered. I only take the textbooks I think I need. And I might as well grab some clothes while I’m here. Especially since I have no plans to come back later. I place everything into a bag and head for the door.

But I pause and stare at Connor’s side of the room. I’m still not sure if something happened between him and Nolan last night. There could be some clues around here. I imagine finding Nolan’s boxers or wallet beneath the sheets. I know I shouldn’t care anymore, but something inside me says to check. So I lift them up and take a quick look. I don’t find anything suspicious. Unless it fell down the side of the bed.

As I’m climbing over the mattress, the door opens behind me.

Connor comes into the room. He takes his headphones off and watches me scramble off the bed. This obviously looks suspicious.

“Lose something there?”

“Uh, no?”

“What are you doing on my bed?”

I could easily make something up. But I might as well confront him about it. After all, I’ve already done it once before. I straighten myself and say, “Did you hook up with Nolan?”

His expression freezes. “When did he tell you…”

My stomach turns. I’m feeling sick again. “So that was your plan all along? To wait until I was gone last night?”

He blinks, confused. “We didn’t hook up last night.”

“Then when did it happen?”

“Like a month ago.”

“A month ago? How long has this been going on?”

“It was only the one time,” he says.

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. How could it have already happened? I’m about to go on a tirade, calling him the worst roommate in the world, but this confrontation is no longer worth my time. So I grab my bag and leave without another word. As I’m out the door, I remember something. The last time I left, I took back the MALIN+GOETZ candle I bought him during a sale. This is one thing I want to repeat. I head back inside and grab it from his dresser.

“I’m taking my gift back.”

Then I storm out again. I’m not really sure where to go anymore. I turn down the road and make my way off campus.



* * *





There’s a spot behind the park I used to go to as a kid. It’s a small hiding place, shrouded by trees and bushes. When I was younger, I used to come here when my parents were arguing. It became my secret escape from the world. Like Sophie’s garden in Howl’s Moving Castle. Or the creek by the woods in Bridge to Terabithia. The last time I came here was the day after Sam’s funeral. He was one of the few people who knew about this place. Maybe I watched too many movies growing up. It’s magical thinking, but a part of me wondered whether he might show up if I waited long enough.

There’s a rustle in the bushes followed by a voice calling out my name.

“Oliver?”

Crawling on her hands and knees, Julie emerges from the fortress of branches. I sent her a long text an hour ago while she was in class. I had to tell someone about what happened earlier. I’m still processing it as she sits down next to me.

“What are you doing out here?”

“Being a prisoner of my own thoughts.”

Julie sighs. “Usually, I’d call you dramatic, but I think you have a right to be this time.” I’ve already told her about Nolan, at least the part that Connor revealed to me. “I’m sorry about what happened.”

I say nothing.

“How did you find out about it?”

“It doesn’t really matter right now.”

She frowns. “I’m sorry I didn’t do a better job yesterday.”

“Don’t be. It wouldn’t have changed anything.”

I silently pick at the dry grass. Julie watches me for a while. Then she says, “I’m surprised you’re not taking this harder.”

That’s because I technically found out about this six months ago. Maybe I thought it would hurt less if I could stop it. I should have just showed up for Mom’s birthday or spent another night with Ben instead of wasting time trying to change the past. All I can think to say is, “It’s not the worst loss I’ve experienced.”

My words hang in the air.

Julie touches my shoulder. “Forget Nolan. I never liked him anyway.”