Wingspan : A Westbrook Elite Standalone by Cambria Hebert

Author:Cambria Hebert [Hebert, Cambria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cambria Hebert Books, LLC
Published: 2022-09-26T16:00:00+00:00

18

Madison

* * *

The LED lights outlining the ceiling in Jamie and Ryan’s dorm room cast a warm blue light over the entire space. Their place was larger than most on campus, probably because they were Elite. They had their own bathroom too, something non-Elites would consider a luxury.

I’d only been in here once before, but as I stood between the two big beds, a plush striped rug beneath my feet, familiarity wrapped around me. Maybe even comfort. The last time I’d been here, I’d also been afraid. Attacked. We didn’t know each other, but Jamie had given up his bed and slept on the floor. I’d felt safe then.

Just as I did now.

How did I get here? The question was so loaded I shied away from it on all fronts. I could tell myself it didn’t matter because I was here just the same. But it did matter. It mattered to me.

The things that brought me to this moment were things I needed to weigh and measure, but I was so incredibly tired. How draining it was to fight against all these external battles, only then to also have to fight against myself.

The door latched quietly, but the lock sliding into place was jarring. I glanced over my shoulder, noting how much space Jamie occupied.

Feeling my eyes, he looked up, expression gentling. “You’re safe here, Maddie. I locked it to keep the bad shit out, not keep you in. Okay? If you want out, just say the word.”

The lump lodged in my throat made it hard to swallow. The sluggish way my brain responded made it hard to reply.

He took a cautious step toward me, tossing the keys on a nearby shelf. “Would you rather stay with Rory and Ryan tonight? I can call them. I can get them here. Or I can take you to them.”

I don’t know why, but that seemed to restart my brain. “You’d do that?”

“I’d do anything for you.”

The sweet words created a tender ache in the center of my chest. “What about you?” I questioned. What would you do if I asked for them and not you?

He shrugged. “I’d camp out nearby.”

“Really?” I pressed.

His lip curved up. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

“What?”

“You want me to call them?”

I shook my head as I said, “No. I want you.”

A low groan vibrated his throat. “Thank fuck,” he murmured, closing the remaining distance between us. “Come here.”

He tugged me into his arms, mine winding around his waist. The numbing shot they administered was starting to wear off, but I hugged him as tight as I could anyway. I breathed deeply, letting the scent of chlorine mixed with his cologne fill my senses.

“Tell me what you need.” He spoke above my head as his hand stroked my hair.

Tugging back, I gazed down at myself, noting the blood staining my clothes. “Murder is not a special occasion,” I said.

“What?”

“I was going to save this outfit for a special occasion,” I told him, noting the blood splattering my white sneakers. Lifting my eyes, I tipped my chin back to meet his stare.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.