Plus, my head kind of hurt. Not a lot, but a soft, steady pain. Didn’t even drink that much last night, but combine that with the stress of what I found out, I supposed it was enough to give anyone a headache.
I silently climbed off the bed, bending to grab my clothes and put them on. I was about halfway dressed when Levi stirred—because I’d stupidly rammed my foot against the base of the bed. Stupid, stupid.
Levi’s blue eyes opened, his head turning toward me. He sluggishly propped himself up, a sheet draped over his lower torso, covering his legs and his dick. He didn’t even have morning wood; probably wore himself out last night. “Where are you going?” he asked.
“Home,” I said. Not home home, but home to the dorm. I’d have to explain it to Mel, but by the time I walked back there, I’d figure something out.
“I’ll walk you—”
“No,” I stopped him before he could get up. “No, it’s fine. Stay here.” The last thing I needed was for Mel to see us together. With how high and mighty I acted for her to stay away from Dean, I’d practically thrown myself at one of his best buddies. I slid on my shirt, pulling my hair out of its neckline.
“Kelsey,” Levi spoke, laying his head back down. His brown hair was messed up, but it looked devastatingly cute. Not everyone had cute bedhead, and I hated that I knew what his looked like. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
I paused near the door, my hand inches from the knob. I tossed a look over my shoulder at him, something inside hurting. “A nice lie,” I whispered, “but thanks.” I said nothing else as I slipped out.
Down the stairs, I found that the rest of the house was quiet. A bunch of trash everywhere, but that would be their problem once they woke up. I slipped out through the front door, finding my backpack in the same location I’d dropped it. It wasn’t like there was anything worth stealing in it, just a bit of clothes and two notebooks, so if someone had really needed that stuff that badly, fine.
I tossed the bag over my shoulder and started the long walk back to the dorm. The sun was on the rise, and since campus was so empty, I was able to really think about what I just did. Levi. I fucked Levi.
That wasn’t the strangest part, though. I fucked Levi and I enjoyed it. Every single second of it I enjoyed more than I thought I’d ever enjoyed being with someone else. Levi was just…ugh, there was something about him I couldn’t put my finger on, something I craved. He had whatever metaphorical drug I needed, and he knew exactly how much to give me to keep me interested.
Fuck him. I didn’t need his body or his dick or his stupid sympathies. Why the hell did I go and tell him about my parents anyway? I didn’t want him to feel sorry for me. That, actually, was the last thing I wanted.
By the time I made it to the dorm, I was drowning in self-loathing. I regretted what I did, of course I did, but I knew it was way too late to change it now. Next time I saw Levi, I’d have to make sure he knew I didn’t plan on hooking up with him again. Just that one time…or, technically, that one night, since we were together an awful lot.
He definitely had stamina, I’d give him that.
I made it to the dorm room, and when I walked in, I found Mel was on her phone in bed. She quickly sat up when I entered, her short blonde hair messy. Unlike Levi, Mel’s bedhead wasn’t cute. A loose t-shirt hung off her thin shoulders, and her dark eyes studied me as I dropped my bag near my desk, the door shutting of its own accord behind me.
“I thought you were going home for the weekend,” Mel said. “Did something happen?”
I did not want to tell my whole life’s story to Mel. I’d already told Levi; that was enough sharing for the weekend, in my opinion. Maybe I’d tell her further down the line, but not right now. Right now I just wanted to forget.
I should text Ash, but she’d been busy with her boys, trying to get close to her depressed roommate who kept pushing her away. Ash liked them broken. I…I just liked what their bodies could do to mine. Nothing else. No more.
Sitting on my bed, I said, “I wasn’t feeling it. It’s not the same at home now.” Close enough to the truth without actually telling the truth. Kelsey Yates for the win.
“I get that. Sometimes I hate going home, too,” Mel muttered. She ran a hand through her messed-up hair, tossing me a worried look. “Dean must’ve drunk-dialed me last night.” Her cheeks redden. “I was just about to listen to it when you walked in.”
Shit. What if Dean mentioned he saw me? Then I’d have some explaining to do, since I already lied to her.
I headed toward her bed, extending my hand. “Give it.”
“What? Why?”
“You shouldn’t listen to it. Every time he tries to talk to you, he only upsets you.” The truth. I was saving face by pretending to be her guardian angel. Felt a little bad about it, but I would feel worse if she knew the truth.
Mel eventually let out a sigh, handing over her phone. I deleted the voicemail
