“What is it?” he asked.
“A knife.” My voice was small as I answered him.
“No,” he said softly. I felt a sharp nick and winced silently in pain. “That’s your life coming so close to ending. Soon, Monroe.”
*
I remember going home later that day and finding dried blood on my shirt and skin and realized he must have cut me. I often wondered if it was by accident or intentional. After that, I never chanced going to the bathroom alone.
“So are you sure you’ll be okay staying by yourself for six weeks?” My aunt’s next question snapped me back to the present.
“I’m sure. This is big, Aunt Carissa. You shouldn’t miss it.”
“I just feel awful about missing your birthday.”
“No worries. You know how I feel about my birthday.”
“Oh honey…”
“Really, it’s fine.” I shifted from my feet, hoping she wouldn’t bring them up. “Are you still mad at Susan?” Susan was my aunt’s agent and friend. They’d been through thick and thin since the start of her career.
“No. She pulled some strings and got Europe fitted into the tour schedule, so all is forgiven now.”
“That’s awesome!” I swallowed against the pain in my throat while trying to hide the anxiety I felt over having her leave. What if she never came back like they did? I shook it off and headed for the stairs, thinking to get a head start on my homework assignments. Bainbridge gave out syllabi with pre-planned assignments and readings to prepare us for college. This was pretty much my routine since I didn’t have a social life.
When I reached the landing I made a beeline for the shower, deciding to wash the day away first. After showering, I wrapped a towel around my body and headed for my room, flipping the light switch on as I entered. I immediately saw him lounging on my bed and felt my heart leap out of my chest. Thankfully, I didn’t scream or it would have alerted my aunt.
“Close the door,” he said. I tensed at the angry and predatory tone of his voice. As I shut the door, I couldn’t help but feel as if I was locking myself in with the devil himself. “Lock it.” The sound of the click as I turned the lock was deafening as it echoed throughout the room. “Come here.”
I faltered. I couldn’t get that close to Keiran with only a towel between us for protection. My gaze shifted around the room as I tried to think of a way out of this. I was hoping by now that he would have gotten over the cafeteria. I definitely didn't expect to find him in my room.
“There are no second chances with me, Monroe. We both know what will happen if I have to come get you.”
My feet carried me toward him while my mind was screaming and clawing the floor for the door. You can do this. Maybe he just wants to talk…yeah and bears don’t shit in the woods.
I stopped at the foot of the bed and tried not to think of what seeing him sprawled across my bed was doing to me. His dark hair and skin contrasted deeply with the pale yellow blankets on my bed. He also made my queen sized bed seem incredibly small. He slowly sat up straight and planted his booted feet on the carpet. The look he gave me next could almost be mistaken for seductive but I knew better.
“Closer,” he whispered and then gestured to the space between his legs. Breathing was nearly impossible now as I inched the rest of the way over, clutching my towel tighter around my body. He looked relaxed but I knew he was ready to pounce at any moment.
“Ho—how did you get in here?” I stumbled over my question when he drew his legs in forcing me to step closer within his legs.
“You have sixty seconds to tell me everything about Jesse Fitzgerald and what the fuck you were doing with him.”
He completely caught me off guard and I stuttered out, “I’m not sure what you mean…”