Noah: Jesus Claire, what’s wrong with you? Unless you’ve lost your phone ANSWER ME.

Noah: Lost your charger? Then just go buy one, don’t make people wait for DAYS.

Noah: You’re still not answering.

Noah: Wow, Claire. Wow.

My lips pinched, I copy and paste most of my answer to my grandmother, sticking to the facts, without a promise to call.

I know I’m handling this badly, but there’s no fixing it at this time of the night on a Monday.

Lisa offered me coffee at four the next day, and I quickly accept. Next, there’s a text from Lily, just a line full of question marks.

Rather than try to text her, I call. Somehow, I don’t think she’s the kind of girl who goes to bed at ten thirty.

“Oh my god, Claire, tell me you’re staying in the Vesper House!” she practically screams, picking up on third ring.

I chuckle. “I’m staying in the Vesper House.”

“Girl, Tell me everything.”

I hesitate, because wasn’t I just punished, in a legendary, memorable fashion for saying too much?

I’m wondering what I can and can’t say, when my door slides open.

Keller walks in, like this morning, dressed in nothing but a towel. Before I can say a word, he brings his finger to his lips, gesturing me to shush, and winks.

I assume he means, don’t tell her he’s here. My eyes following his approach, I clear my throat.

“Well, I went to the Vesper House to ask Keller if he could help with my situation.”

The man in question has just reached the foot of my bed. My throat dries up on the spot as he climbs on, keeping his eyes on me. His mouth drops to my feet, lips barely touching my ankle. It’s featherlight, teasing, but I feel it rippling everywhere, to the tips of my nipples, and the nub of nerves burning between my legs.

Oh, god.

“Huuh, Keller said…” Keller’s mouth slides up my leg, to my shin. I clear my throat. “He said he couldn’t—” The back of my knee.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“That he couldn’t let me stay in the dorm. The board said no. Student privacy and all that.”

He slides my leg over his shoulder, mouth on my thigh.

“Assholes. I mean, I know they’re super strict over what can and cannot be shared about the school, but that’s a bit much. I heard what you said to the cops. It wasn’t that bad. And you didn’t go back.”

I would probably be far more invested in the conversation if Keller hadn’t reached the hem of my shorts, casually pushing them aside to bring his mouth to my folds.

“Yeah. Hm, yeah.”

“So, he’s letting you stay in the Vesper House instead,” she guesses.