chapter 33

“I have to tell you something.” Two hours later, Brighton sprawled in the middle of Jake’s big white bed, her bare skin bathed in moonlight.

She waited for him to reply, then realized he’d fallen asleep. For a moment, she considered curling up next to him and drifting off, too. Maybe tonight would be the magical moment when everything changed. Maybe tomorrow morning he’d still be here when she woke up.

Or maybe not. She nudged his arm. “Hey.”

He stirred and reached for her. “Hmm?”

“I have to tell you something.”

He yawned and pulled her back down against him. “Shoot.”

She turned her face away from him and took a deep breath. “I love you.”

The room went suddenly, totally still. He didn’t move. She didn’t look at him. The moon shone down with steady, pale light, but the room seemed to go darker.

She said it again, louder this time. “I know it’s against our code of conduct to say it, but it’s true: I love you. I need you. I can’t live without you.”

He’d gone so still and silent, she couldn’t even tell if he was breathing.

Wait for it . . . Wait for it . . .

There was a chasm between them as black and endless as the ocean stretching out under the clouds. Finally, she couldn’t stand the tension any longer. She gave him an easy out. “Could you go grab me some Gatorade, please?”

He left without a word, his steps slow and measured.

And he didn’t come back.

Brighton located her phone and kept track of the minutes ticking by. After five minutes passed without any sound from downstairs, she put on her clothes and crept into his closet to retrieve one last item from their time together.

As she tiptoed toward the door, she heard a footfall on the step. She froze, her pulse pounding as she strained to hear.

Another footstep. He was coming up the back staircase.

He was coming back.

Brighton snatched up her shoes and her bag and fled down the front staircase.