Jace looks at me for a moment, but then nods and turns out the light, returning us to darkness once again. I try to return to blissful oblivion, but the renewed awareness of his close proximity alights each of my senses and keeps sleep evasive.

I must fall asleep eventually, because when I open my eyes again I’m greeted by a broad expanse of golden tan skin. Hesitantly, I lift my head off Jace’s chest and slip out of his loose embrace. We fell asleep on opposite sides of the bed, so I have no idea how we ended up entangled in its center.

The first hints of morning sun filter through the transom window, softly illuminating my surroundings. I slide out of the warm bed, wincing when my toe jabs against a textbook lying on the hardwood floor.

The gray t-shirt I’m wearing has Fulton Football written on the front in white block letters. Snagging my wrinkled top and skirt off the floor, I pull the t-shirt off and drape it on Jace’s desk chair before re-dressing in last night’s outfit.

I start to make my way toward the door, but then catch a glimpse of myself in the full-length mirror on the inside of Jace’s ajar closet door. My blonde hair is completely disheveled, so I quickly pull it up in a messy bun and brush a few stray flakes of mascara off my face.

Glancing down at the deep creases in my revealing top, I pivot and tiptoe back over to Jace’s desk. I retrieve his t-shirt and yank it back on over my head. It covers most of my outfit, with only a small strip of my short skirt still visible. I twist the soft material into a tight knot on my right hip so it’s clear I’m wearing some sort of bottoms. Spotting a pad of post-it notes on the desk, I grab a pen and scribble thanks for the water (and nothing else). I sign it -V with a flourish, and place the neon paper on the creased pillow.

The quiet house is in a state of disarray and littered with trash. I’m thankful I don’t encounter a single person as I sneak through the house and out the front door.

As I walk down the brick path, I pull out my phone. A flash of movement catches my attention, and I look up to see Philip pulling the black sedan up in front of the house. I sigh before walking over to the car and climbing into the front passenger seat. The hard set of Philip’s jaw makes it clear that all is far from forgiven regarding the previous evening’s events.

“Did you stay here all night?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” I tell him earnestly. “I know I made things difficult for you last night, and that you’re just trying to keep me safe. It’s just—” I look out the window, trying to come up with a way to describe the reckless emotions driving my actions last night. “I just got a taste of what it’s like to be a normal college student, and I didn’t want it to end. It won’t happen again.”