A long yawn escapes me as I trudge into my apartment.
The exhaustion of being up all night, searching through James’s shit, is hitting me.
Breaking into his phone was child’s play, and it turned out, it was all I needed to discover sufficient evidence for him to get in trouble with the university.
He’s made a game out of exploiting female students for the past four years. He’d meet them, date them, gain their trust, and then ask for nudes. When they declined, he’d assure them the photos were safe with him and other bullshit lines. My stomach curled, vomit pushing its way up my throat, when I read the threatening messages he’d sent to them when they attempted to break up with him. It looked like Carolina was the only one who’d gone far enough to marry him.
He’s a womanizer.
A creep.
A fucking predator.
Men like him remind me of my father—manipulative and power-hungry.
Carolina is taking a risk by turning him into the university, and I’m so damn proud of her for showing that asshole her resilience.
James underestimated Carolina and the people who had her back. His manipulation might’ve worked on other women, but Lina has someone who’ll kill for her, die for her, break every bone in someone’s body to protect her.
I can’t wait for that fucker to go down.
The idea of catching up on sleep rolls through me, but I stop myself. I’ve been on standby since Carolina left this morning, and my phone has been glued to my side as I wait for an update.
I’m pouring my sixth cup of coffee when Carolina calls.
“Hey, babe,” I answer. “How’s it going?”
“Margie and I spoke to the other girls James harassed, and the six of us are going to the dean,” she replies with hope in her voice.
Good.
Let him get what he deserves.
The hopefulness in her voice changes into worry. “We’re doing this.”
“I’m proud of you, babe.” I wish I were there, at her side, wrapping her in my arms.
“Fingers crossed and pray to every saint that James doesn’t retaliate.”
Let him fucking try.
“You sure you don’t want me to come with you?”
“As much as I’d love that, this is something us girls need to do together.”
“I understand.” I open the fridge and grab the leftover box of pizza. “I’m here if you need anything. Call. Text. Send a raven.”
Her voice turns gentle. “I know, and that’s why I love you so much.”
It’s heaven, hearing her say those words.
Sure, we’ve shared I love yous plenty of times, but it hits different when it’s more than friendship.
Never did I think we’d be as intimate as we are now.
“Keep me updated.” I plop down on the couch and take a bite of the cold pizza.
“I will,” she says in almost a whisper.
“When are you coming home?”
“I’m going to stay at Margie’s tonight, so we can catch up and be there for each other.”
Even though her staying with Margie means she won’t be with me, I smile. Carolina has never had many girlfriends and was thrilled when she and Margie became close. It broke her, losing that.
I nod even though she can’t see me. “Good luck, baby. I love you.”
“I love you, and thank you for having my back.”
My hand goes to my heart. “Always.”
I pause my game, tossing the controller onto the floor, when my phone rings.
Two hours have passed since I last heard from Carolina. I’ve refrained from calling or texting, waiting for her even though it’s been killing me.
It’s a dick move for frowning when it’s Kyle’s name on the screen, not hers.
I hit answer. “Yo.”
“Hey, brother,” he says. “I have good news for you.”
Leaning back on the couch, I kick my feet onto the table. “I hit the lottery?”
“Even better. You can become my neighbor.”
I straighten. “Really?”
“Really. I talked to Chloe, and she’s willing to work with whatever you need. I’m going to text you a contact we have from the bank, so we can get you a loan.”
The first thought that comes to my mind is Carolina.
Living with Carolina.
Sharing a house with her.
Letting her decorate it with all her girlie shit … but demanding she allow a few video game touches throughout the place.
It’s perfect timing. My lease expires in two months, and Josh’s girlfriend has been up his ass about him moving in with her.
Kyle goes on to give me price details and his contacts, and in the background, I hear Chloe say she’d love to have me as her neighbor.
There’s no stopping me from chuckling. “Looks like she’s more open to being my neighbor than she was with you when you moved in.”
Chloe hated Kyle then, and he took great pleasure in annoying her. He’d greet her with a cheerful morning every day, and she’d respond with either a, “Fuck you,” or the middle finger.
I love how she gave him so much shit and also how she managed to calm my brother down.
He needed someone to do that for him.
Like I need Carolina to be the calm to my chaos.
Us Lane boys tend to give our hearts to women nothing like us, who put us in our place and make it their mission to make us better men.
Excitement beams through me when we hang up.
Look at me.
Becoming a fucking grown-up.