13. Daphne

Chapter thirteen

Daphne

I ’m contemplating taking a shower after Alex just climbed out my window, when Eden bursts through the door. She gazes around, searching every shadow of my room. Then, she takes a deep breath through her nose, before quickly locking us together in my room.

“Babe,” she harshly whispers. “Why does it smell like sex in here?”

“You heard Celeste,” I say with an eye roll. “I just got done masturbating.” I hate lying to Eden, but I have my reasons.

She gives me a look that screams, Bitch, please. “With Alex in your room?”

Oh, shit. “N-no,” I stumble. “He wasn’t here. I haven’t seen him in days.”

She raises a brow. “Well, call the police, then, because as I was walking my behind into our building, I got a first look into Alex’s fine ass dangling from your window before jumping down. ”

When I don’t respond, she smirks, knowing she’s caught me. “Yes, he was here, and no, I wasn’t masturbating.”

Her eyes widen. “Ohmigod. Did Alex cheat on Celeste with you?”

The thought of him still being with her while I’m considered the other woman makes my blood boil. From the outside, it seems like he’s still with Celeste. So, if he’s caught sneaking out of my window, campus will undoubtedly assume either that I seduced him or that he cheated on her. I can’t stand it.

How can I be honest with Eden without revealing the truth?

“It’s not what you think.” Yeah, because that makes sense. How is it possible that it isn’t what she thinks? Great job, Daph.

Sure enough, she crosses her arms and says, “Lemme guess, Celeste begged and pleaded to let everyone believe Alex is still hers, so now he’s secretly dating you so he can pretend to date her?”

“Caught,” I mutter, realizing that Eden has hit the nail on the head.

“You’re joking,” she gasps. “Are you telling me you’re letting Celeste manipulate you like this?”

She’s right, of course. Celeste is using Alex, who, in turn, is using me.

“No,” I protest weakly .

“Then what, Daphne?” she shoots back, her auburn hair falling onto her face as she shakes her head in disbelief. You should have something better than this. You deserve more than being some secret side piece for Alex while he publicly parades around with Celeste!”

I find my anger matching hers now, stoked by my sense of helplessness at the situation. “He’s not parading around with her!” I spit out, clenching my fists. “He and I… We have something special.”

“Oh, really?” She raises an eyebrow sarcastically as she leans against my desk. “So special that he hides it from the world?”

Her words slice like shards of glass. Because they’re true. But there’s more to it than that. Things Eden doesn’t know, things I can’t explain without sounding crazy or pathetic.

The truth is, I’m fearful of losing Alex to Celeste. She’s rich, beautiful, and worst of all, she can be very persuasive when she sets her mind to something.

Eden sighs heavily and sits next to me on the bed now, placing a comforting hand on my knee. “Daphne,” she says gently but firmly. “You need to make him choose between you two. This half-life he and you are living is not fair. Not to anyone, especially not you. ”

And the saddest thing is, I know she’s right. But I also know that I’m not ready to risk losing him yet.