hate me for telling you. But she should’ve told you by now.”
My stomach tightens in nervous anticipation and I scoot to the edge of Layla’s desk chair. This can’t be good.
“She’s obviously got something major going on,” Skylar chimes in. “Whatever it is, you can tell us.”
Landen nods. “She has a condition. It’s like…Epilepsy almost. But not exactly.”
I frown. “You’re not really clearing anything up, O’Brien.” Though some things are becoming clearer. Why she’d never been kissed, for example. I’m wondering if she could attend high school normally with a condition like that.
He wrings his hands and I can literally feel the tension rolling off of him. “What happened tonight could’ve been so much worse. That accident could’ve triggered an much more terrifying episode than either of you saw.”
“How so?” I tilt my head. “I mean, like she could’ve died? Or what? I need details here. I live with her. I want her to be safe and okay, but how can I look out for her if I don’t even know what the hell I’m looking for?”
Before he can explain anything further, Layla steps out of the steam-filled bathroom in her robe.
She glances at each of us and apparently none of us have a poker face for shit.
“Guess the freak’s out of the bag,” she says before disappearing into the bedroom. The wounded expression in her eyes makes me want to console her, but I’m not quick enough. Landen isn’t far behind her. I exhale softly and lean back into the chair. Doesn’t look like we’ll be getting any more answers tonight.
Skylar opens his mouth to say something, but we can hear Landen through the thin walls.
“Please don’t be mad. I didn’t tell them everything. Just that you have a condition and that what happened in the truck could’ve been a lot worse. Corin really needs to know, Layla. She’s your roommate for God’s sakes.”
We don’t hear much of the rest, but the murmur of their voices though the wall is constant.
“Well this is pretty fucking awkward,” Skylar says. “They need to just bang and get it over with.”
“How romantic of you,” I deadpan.
“Just sayin. You know I’m right.”
I nod. “Oh yes, ye of infinite wisdom. Please do tell me more about how sex fixes everything.” I lean forward and fake being wildly enthused at the prospect of him dropping more knowledge on me.
“Mock me all you want, Red.” He shrugs. “But that much pent up sexual frustration is not healthy for anyone. You saw how he reacted with Taite.”
I did, but I still see no reason to agree with the arrogant ass out loud.
We hear what sounds like sobbing through the door and I cast a long glance a the sliding door barrier between us and them.
“Let them work out it themselves,” Skylar says, barely looking up from where he’s texting on his phone. “Pretty sure it’s about time for them to.”
I glance at my own phone as if I have better things to tend to than being ignored by him. But I have no messages and no missed calls so I’m just scrolling through old ones.
“Mike and Dean took care of curfew for us,” Skylar informs me several moments later.
I try not to feel at all relieved that he was texting dudes and not a girl. “Well that’s good.” I glance around at the small space. There’s just the one futon out here. “So, um, you’re staying too?”
Skylar follows my line of sight to the futon beneath him. “Ah, no. Definitely not.”
Of course not. Big man on campus has better places to go. I’m sure she’s lovely.
“Use a condom,” I say without looking up from my phone. “No glove, no love.”
A low chuckle reverberates from his chest. I feel him leaning closer toward me. “You jealous, Red? Think I’m bailing to go bone some chick instead of having a slumber party with you?”
I scoff a little too loudly. “No. I literally couldn’t care less what you do. And by the way, only pre-pubescent boys still refer to it as
My stomach tightens in nervous anticipation and I scoot to the edge of Layla’s desk chair. This can’t be good.
“She’s obviously got something major going on,” Skylar chimes in. “Whatever it is, you can tell us.”
Landen nods. “She has a condition. It’s like…Epilepsy almost. But not exactly.”
I frown. “You’re not really clearing anything up, O’Brien.” Though some things are becoming clearer. Why she’d never been kissed, for example. I’m wondering if she could attend high school normally with a condition like that.
He wrings his hands and I can literally feel the tension rolling off of him. “What happened tonight could’ve been so much worse. That accident could’ve triggered an much more terrifying episode than either of you saw.”
“How so?” I tilt my head. “I mean, like she could’ve died? Or what? I need details here. I live with her. I want her to be safe and okay, but how can I look out for her if I don’t even know what the hell I’m looking for?”
Before he can explain anything further, Layla steps out of the steam-filled bathroom in her robe.
She glances at each of us and apparently none of us have a poker face for shit.
“Guess the freak’s out of the bag,” she says before disappearing into the bedroom. The wounded expression in her eyes makes me want to console her, but I’m not quick enough. Landen isn’t far behind her. I exhale softly and lean back into the chair. Doesn’t look like we’ll be getting any more answers tonight.
Skylar opens his mouth to say something, but we can hear Landen through the thin walls.
“Please don’t be mad. I didn’t tell them everything. Just that you have a condition and that what happened in the truck could’ve been a lot worse. Corin really needs to know, Layla. She’s your roommate for God’s sakes.”
We don’t hear much of the rest, but the murmur of their voices though the wall is constant.
“Well this is pretty fucking awkward,” Skylar says. “They need to just bang and get it over with.”
“How romantic of you,” I deadpan.
“Just sayin. You know I’m right.”
I nod. “Oh yes, ye of infinite wisdom. Please do tell me more about how sex fixes everything.” I lean forward and fake being wildly enthused at the prospect of him dropping more knowledge on me.
“Mock me all you want, Red.” He shrugs. “But that much pent up sexual frustration is not healthy for anyone. You saw how he reacted with Taite.”
I did, but I still see no reason to agree with the arrogant ass out loud.
We hear what sounds like sobbing through the door and I cast a long glance a the sliding door barrier between us and them.
“Let them work out it themselves,” Skylar says, barely looking up from where he’s texting on his phone. “Pretty sure it’s about time for them to.”
I glance at my own phone as if I have better things to tend to than being ignored by him. But I have no messages and no missed calls so I’m just scrolling through old ones.
“Mike and Dean took care of curfew for us,” Skylar informs me several moments later.
I try not to feel at all relieved that he was texting dudes and not a girl. “Well that’s good.” I glance around at the small space. There’s just the one futon out here. “So, um, you’re staying too?”
Skylar follows my line of sight to the futon beneath him. “Ah, no. Definitely not.”
Of course not. Big man on campus has better places to go. I’m sure she’s lovely.
“Use a condom,” I say without looking up from my phone. “No glove, no love.”
A low chuckle reverberates from his chest. I feel him leaning closer toward me. “You jealous, Red? Think I’m bailing to go bone some chick instead of having a slumber party with you?”
I scoff a little too loudly. “No. I literally couldn’t care less what you do. And by the way, only pre-pubescent boys still refer to it as
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