She’s right, but what other option do I have? We talk for a few more minutes, and I hate that I’m worrying her. There is nothing she can do from so far away, and it’s so unfair that I laid this all at her feet.

There is a knock at my door, and I hiccup a startled cry. “Someone is at my door.”

“I know,” Jenna answers. “Don’t be mad.”

“Why would I be mad?”

The knocking resumes. “Penelope, are you okay in there?”

The voice is familiar. And since I only know one other person on campus, I know exactly who it is.

“You texted your brother?” I ask Jenna. To the door, I say, “I’m fine.”

Brad Fletcher, Fletch, is a junior and a jock, and though he’s aware of my existence back home, he’s not been anywhere near me since I started school here.

Jenna sighs heavily into the phone while I stare at the door. “I’m sorry, sweetie. It was the only thing I could think of,” she says.

Fletch pounds again. “Open up, Penelope, or I’m going to break down the door.”

“Gotta go. Love you!” Jenna says, ending our call.

Oh, she is in so much trouble.

I take a deep breath and open the door to Fletch and another guy roughly the same size. Which is LARGE. They are both holding cardboard boxes. Truth be told, I’m glad Fletch is here. He’s the closest thing I have to Jenna right now.

“Hey, squirt. I hear you’re having a bad day.”

And it hits me all at once. I’m homesick and scared and horny and so damned lonely. The tears I’ve been holding back won’t stay down any longer, and I start blubbering.

Great. Crying is a new one for me too. I cried a few times as a kid—skinned knees mostly. Never because of feelings. This sucks.

“Aw, c’mere, baby girl.” Fletch puts the box down and folds me into his arms. I don’t even care that I’m snotting all over him. He’s like home and no crazy person is going to carve me up with a razor blade while he’s holding me.

I don’t think Fletch has ever touched me before. We didn’t have that kind of relationship. Aside from when he gave us rides before we were old enough to drive and the occasional “she’s my girlfriend” fantasy in my head, we’ve had very little interaction.

He smells wonderful. If Strong and Capable were a scent, it would smell like whatever soap or aftershave or cologne he uses. He sort of moves us deeper into my dorm room so the guy behind him can come in. He makes like he’s going to sit us down on my bed, but I tense up.

Not the bed. Please not the bed.