Chapter 20

Chapter 20

I spent over two weeks not wanting to get out of bed—though I had to, since the dorm mattresses really weren't built to be comfortable while overwhelmed by angst for extended periods of time—and I skipped all of my classes, Astrology club included, under the excuse of a spring flu.

Professor Karras obviously knew I had no such flu, but he was as understanding as he ought to be, considering the circumstances. He had detailed notes and homework sent over to my school email address promptly after each session. He could have also emailed me with an apology or a friendly note or something, but no. He was my professor. That would be inappropriate or a man of his esteem.

FUCKING ME IN A PUBLIC RESTAURANT THEN FINISHING IN ME ON HIS ROOFTOP WAS FINE THOUGH.

Anyway.

My phone buzzed on its nightstand for the ten thousandth time this week, and once again, it wasn't my Mom calling like it fucking should be, explaining a lifetime of conveniently avoiding an incredibly important topic. Apparently they'd gone on vacation out of the country and were using foreign SIM cards, so I couldn't reach their numbers, which I only knew because she'd sent me an email with a picture of her and Dad sipping on coconuts on a beach.

Amazing that we'd never taken so much as an out of state vacation my entire childhood, then the moment I go away to college, they're off trotting the globe. Funny how that works.

I considered replying to the email with a list of demands for information, but I wasn't going to be able to stand waiting for a response, and it might be easier to dodge my questions over text. I couldn't put it past them that they wouldn't want to talk about it at all. A phone call was the bare minimum in this situation, since it was always harder to bullshit verbally, when I could catch them off guard and on the spot.

So that was fine. They wouldn't be gone much longer, and I'd survived this long, so why couldn't I wait a few more weeks.

Instead, the texts that had been pinging my inbox were either from Marcus or from Ceto. People who cared about my well-being. They just kept wanting to know how I was doing, and if they could help in any way. I'd already received at least one bowl of soup at my door every day, which could only have come from the one guy who actually knew where my room was, while Ceto kept me up to date on Calculus.

I hadn't told either of them what happened last full moon, and I didn't know when I'd be ready to. Marcus probably already knew, all things considered. I wondered if he and Adrian rubbed their conquests over me in each other's faces. I hoped it was a point of jealousy between them .

Who was I kidding? I was probably a laughing stock and a running joke. I bet they both got off on trading stories of the weird tentacle, fish, and goat sex that they'd managed to talk me into. I was completely lost on who was trustworthy and who was a psychopath.

I didn't even think my own damn mother was trustworthy at this point, so fuck me and my judgment, right?

I ignored Marcus' plea to meet up, and I told him we could talk later when I felt better. I even said he could go back to the blood bank if he needed to this week, since I didn't want to get him sick. He promised he wouldn't feed on any other women, and somehow that made me feel better. Because who he put his teeth in mattered to me somehow.

Not wanting to address any of that, I instead scrolled over to Ceto's message thread, being he was the only person who hadn't betrayed me or lied to me in some way yet. On the contrary, he'd been pretty forthcoming about the fact that he wasn't human, and that he didn't think I was either. Sure, he'd left out 99% of the details of his existence, but I couldn't hold his secretiveness against him. Those things were about him and not me.

Plus, Ceto hadn't fucked me on a full moon, and thus didn't have the potential for ulterior motives. He was just a nice guy. I could use nice right now.

I spun the bracelet he'd given me around my wrist, then I typed into the box.

Me: Need help at the shop today?

I texted him oh-so-casually, figuring I could use the hours anyway .

Ceto: I always need more Lila time.

That was unexpectedly cute. My whole body warmed just reading the message. Which was ridiculous, because I already had two other men who had marked me and pounded me into oblivion. Why would I even entertain someone who I thought was cute and friendly when I was obviously not available?

Because I'm allowed to have platonic friends? Yeah, that's what Ceto will be.

Before I could finish my mental gymnastics, my text box pinged again.

Ceto: But to be honest, no, my parents are running the show right now, so it's actually my day off. I'd love to catch you up on the math homework though, if you'd like to meet me in the library.

I mulled over that for a few moments.

Me: How soon can you be there?

Ceto: Faster than you can, Human Lila.

Admittedly, everything about that joke hit different today.

Me: I live on campus, so that seems a bit presumptuous.

Ceto: It's my day off, so to assume I'm not already in the library is considerably more presumptuous.

… Fair point.

Me: I'll see you shortly.

Ceto: I'll be counting the moments .

If I didn't know better, I might have thought Ceto was flirting with me, but I did know better. We were both aware that I was double marked.

Maybe he could clear that up, too.