“You looked pretty damn interested just now.”
Arden runs his hand through the hair on his scalp. “That wasn’t what it looked like. Take that moment out of the equation. Have I so much as looked at another girl the entire time we’ve beentogether?” He puts the word in quotes.
I’m angry but I can’t lie. “I haven’t seen it if you have.”
“Because I haven’t. Because I don’t. Have interest in anyone else. But you.”
I stop pacing. “But you could. If you wanted.”
“No, actually. I couldn’t. And I don’t want to.” He takes a step forward. I can tell he wants to reach out and touch me but he’s not sure if he should. I’m also not sure if he should. “I want you, Danika. I’ve always wanted you.”
“You shouldn’t.” My voice is small. “You should want someone else.”
“What are you talking about?”
“This has been a lot of fun but—”
“Danika, stop.”
“We’ve always known this wasn’t actually going anywhere. Or else, it already would have…”
“You’re not making any sense. Let’s just…I don’t know. Let’s go home and talk about this.” Arden steps forward but my instinct has me stepping back.
We’ll talk about this at home.
Don’t you dare disrespect me.
You are such an ungrateful bitch.
I squeeze my eyes shut, willing the voice out my father out of my head. Arden is not my father. He’s not my father. And yet…in this exact moment that I’ve dreamed about since I was sixteen years old, why can’t I get my father’s voice out of my head.
Gemma takes this unfortunate moment to tumble out of the house, clearly drunk. “I want to go home,” she says, crashing into me. I catch her and Arden reaches out to help me steady her but pulls his arm back before he makes contact.
“Let’s go, drunkie.” I take Gemma’s arm and put it over my shoulder. She’s not nearly as gone as she was a few weeks ago, this time at least she can walk. “I’m going to take her to her dorm and stay with her.”
Arden’s face falls. “Let me come with you. I’ll walk you there.”
“No, we’ve got it.” I shuffle her again, putting her in a more comfortable position. “Goodnight, Arden.”
“Danika, please—”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Half carrying Gemma down the driveway, we turn left to go to the dorms instead of right to the apartment. As much as I would rather go home and sleep in my own bed—or let’s be honest, Arden’s bed—a little separation right now will be good for us. I need to take a minute to think about what he said and how I feel about it.
Turning around once, I look back at the house and see Arden standing at the edge of the driveway. But he’s not looking at me. He’s looking at his phone.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Arden
Thelittleblondehadfound me again and I’m not sure if I can be as nice as I was last time.
“I’ve been watching you,” she says and then she continues before I could dismiss her. “Not like that. I know you’re with the redhead. I just mean, I’ve seen you at these parties and on campus and I’ve noticed something.”
I don’t care what she’s noticed or what she’s about to say but she shoves her phone in my face and the bright light pulls my focus. I’m expecting to see her phone number or a naked picture or something but what she shows me is an app. An app called Calm-me.
“What is this?”