“That’s not possible.” My head is a jumbled mess. Goose broke into Monte’s room? She put herself on the line. For me? Without asking for anything. Without even telling me.

“Clearly, we’ve already established hell has frozen over. Who do you think paid for that lawyer?”

The guy said it was pro bono. I should have fucking known. No one has ever helped me out without wanting something in return. No one except Elizabeth. Even when I had nothing, when everyone thought I was a drugged-up loser, she was there for me.

“What the actual fuck?” I manage to stammer in complete shock. My heart is racing faster than if I’d mainlined an energy drink. I have to see her. I have to know.

“Wait, you didn’t know?” Jackie’s surprised voice rings in my ears. “I thought that’s what all this Curator of Dark Douchebagness bullshit was about. You trying to pay her back.”

“It’s not.”

“Then what—”

I don’t bother answering Jackie. I’m already out of the door.

I manage the twenty-minute drive to Elizabeth’s in ten and storm into her apartment without knocking. She launches off the couch like it’s electrified.

“Why would you do it?” I practically scream at her.

“Austin,” she screeches in terror, just about jumping out of her skin. I caught her off guard. Serves her right. She should’ve locked her door.

I stalk closer to her, my chest heaving from basically running here. I need to know the truth. “Why?” I demand.

She’s staring at me, completely dumbstruck. The silence is killing me.

“Elizabeth,” I say her name as a warning and she finally snaps back to reality.

“Why what?” she asks, throwing her arms up. Between her pinched forehead and clenched jaw, it’s obvious she’s royally pissed.

“That lawyer. Why did you save my ass?”

There’s an entire apartment between us, but I’m suffocating. Being in the same room with her again takes my breath away.

“How did you find out?” she asks, avoiding answering my question. Her eyes shoot to the floor and her shoulders slouch.

“Jackie.”

Elizabeth lets out an aggravated huff. “That stupid blabbermouth. It was supposed to be anonymous.”

“So it’s true?”

She nods. I dig my nails into my palms to keep from reaching out for her.

“That night at the party, why were you in Monte’s room?”

She purses her lips, angry that she has to answer when I already know the reason. “To get his password. Prove it was him. That you’re innocent.”

“All of it. It was all you?” She shrugs, like it was nothing. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. “Tell me why you did it.”

She bites her lip, drawing my eyes down to her beautiful mouth. Jesus, I want to kiss her.

She crosses her arms, juts out a hip and declares, “You know why.”