“You guys now have standards about who comes in?”
His mouth went flat. “If you vouch for them, you gotta stay with them.”
“That’s okay.”
“The whole time.”
That was different.
He read my face, and his eyebrows went up. “Exactly. We got in trouble last semester. A girl got too drunk, and she woke up at her place, no memory of how she got there. She freaked, told her RA, and since she only remembers being at our place, you know the drill.”
“Not good.”
“Exactly.” He was giving me a look like he and I were on the same wavelength. “My advice? If you know them and want to be responsible for them, have at it. We’ll wave them in, but if you don’t want to play babysitter, let me know. We’ve been sending people packing all night.”
“How fun is that.”
He let out a hollow laugh. “Right. It’s your call.”
I was shaking my head before he even finished. “I don’t know them, but I’ll go out and let them know the situation.”
“Okay with me.”
We were going back to the door when my phone started ringing. It was an unknown number.
I…
My stomach dropped and a lump instantly formed at the back of my throat. I shouldn’t, but I also didn’t want to wonder. I needed to know.
I showed him my phone.
His head moved up and down and he pointed down the hallway. “First door. That’s my brother’s room. Should be clear.” He motioned outside. “I’ll be nice to the girls, explain the situation. They’ll be pissed. They’re always pissed, but fuck ’em.”
“Thanks.”
I hurried down and into the first room, testing the knob. It was open, and I slipped in. He was right. Considering how loud the music was, the room was relatively quiet. They must’ve soundproofed some of the rooms. Then, feeling a pit in my stomach, I took a breath and counted to five before I answered.
“Mom?”
“This is a collect call from Cain Police Department. Do you accept the charges for a–”
“This is Zeke!”
What?
But there was silence until Zeke said, “Don’t leave me hanging, Daniels. I need some help here.”
“Uh–yeah. I’ll accept the charges.”
Zeke let out an audible sigh. “Thank GOD. I was a little nervous.”
“Why are you calling me? I’m in Grant West.”
He laughed. “Your number is the only one I have memorized. Don’t ask me why it’s your number, but yeah, could you call my boy and let him know where I am? He’ll know the drill.”
“Zeke.”
“What’s up, Buttercup?”
“What did you do to get arrested?”
A louder laugh this time. “Uh, I’m a little fuzzy on the deets myself, but once I piece it all together, I’ll fill you in. I’m not even really sure where my phone is, or my clothes.”
“You don’t have clothes?”
“I’m in one of the jumpsuits you see the criminals wear when they go to county. Guess I was only in my underwear, and they said that wasn’t appropriate. Had an extra jumper so here you go. Is it sad that I’m hoping to keep this thing? Maybe wash it twenty times, but this will be an awesome Halloween costume.”
“I don’t want to hear any more.”
“Wait!”
I paused, but he didn’t say anything. “What?”
“Uh. How are you? How are things with your mo–”
I hung up, letting loose a curse before I started pulling up my ex’s name.
The door opened then, a beam of light flashed over me, and a guy stopped short. “Who the fuck are you?”
The guy was a giant, with long black hair pulled up in a messy man-bun. I repressed a shiver at who was going to tell him it was not working for him. Also, he bore no resemblance to his brother.
“I have to make a call. Your brother told me I could come in here.”
He moved more into the room, closing the door and flicking the lights on. Getting a better look at me, he was slowing his roll, giving me a once-over. “Never mind. Make all the calls you want.”
I narrowed my eyes, but this shouldn’t take long.
I hit call and waited.
Unless my ex, who was Zeke’s best friend, was sleeping or fucking, he’d answer my call. And he did a second later, “Mara?”
“Zeke just called me from jail.”
“What?”
I paused for a beat. “Do you really need me to repeat that line?”
He snorted. “Why are you calling about it?”
“Have that conversation with him. Could you go and get him out?”
“At Grant West?”
“No. He’s in Cain. I’m guessing at the police station. He called me collect.”
He cursed. “Yeah. I’ll get him. Uh…”
Blaise had been my with-benefits guy back in Fallen Crest, but he never knew about my mom. He knew now, and I felt my chest tightening because his tone went soft. He was going to ask about her, how she was doing, how I was doing.
So I got there first, saying softly, “See you, Blaise.”
“Oh. Yeah. See you.”
I ended the call and waited a second. Sometimes the emptiness would start hitting me right about now… This used to happen on a regular basis back when things ended between him and I. I hadn’t handled it the best way, and lashed out a little, but the thing was that he had no idea why I reacted the way I did. And now, considering this call, I was realizing that he may never know.
But the emptiness wasn’t hitting me, and well look at that. Progress.
“Cain. Blaise. I heard him call you Mara. Miller talks about a certain Mara so I’m going out on a limb and guessing that you’re Mara Daniels?”
Right.
I straightened.
I’d forgotten the guy and that I was in his room. Him and his man-bun.
“Hi. Yes.” Wait. I blinked. “What does he say about me?”
The guy smirked, going to his desk and grabbing his wallet. “Just that you’re super hot, which I agree with him now, and he wants to bag you. He’s almost desperate about it.”
“I’ve told him I’m not going to fuck him.”
He grinned faintly, grabbing a hoodie and keys, then going to his door. “That’s the thing with guys. Unless he sees you with another guy, he’s not going to believe a word you say.” He reached for his doorknob but glanced back and gave me another once-over. “Do us all a favor and get a boyfriend. No wonder the guys are jumping over themselves for you. Stay in here a little longer and I’ve half a mind to tell the guys someone else has to go for a beer run.”
Fuck’s sake.
I gave him a hard look, heading for him right as he opened the door. He held it for me, watching me pass in front and he murmured, right behind me, “Pleasure to meet you, Daniels. You can use my room anytime you need.”
I gave him a tight smile. “Thanks.” And decided not to get a refill. I got back to the basement during the third period and right as Cruz shot the puck.
The goalie reached for it, but the light went red.
Everyone went crazy. “GOAL!!!!!”