Page 93 of The Cheerleader is Off Limits

“Charging behind you.” He nods to the other nightstand.

I reach for my phone, unplugging it, and I’m grateful to see it fully charged. “I did not bring a charger.”

“You did not. It’s mine. I didn’t want your phone to die.”Which I’ve let happen countless times when I’ve been drinking.

I immediately open my texts.

(12:38 a.m.) Mack:

Where’d you run off to?

(1:02 a.m.) Mack:

Damn, you left without saying bye?

(3:06 a.m.) Delaney:

I loveee you!

(3:08 a.m.) Delaney:

You’re not home!!! But I think you’re at Plane Guys house!! We will revisit tomorrow; I am too drunk to know for sure. Please still be alive in the morning.

(5:37 a.m.)

Mom: Thinking about you, darling! I miss you. I do not like you being so far away. Counting down till Christmas. FaceTime tomorrow?

I tear up at the last one. My mom and I have been keeping in touch, but I haven’t talked to her in a few days. Then, I wince, realizing I didn’t say goodbye to Mack, but I don’t feel like texting him back right now. I heart Delaney’s text before texting my mom that FaceTiming sounded good.

I toss my phone behind me, and I hear it land on the bed with a gentle thud before letting my eyes close again. “I should go, but your bed is comfortable, and it’s dark in here, and my hangover isn’t ready for bright lights.”

“Lucky for you, it’s raining,” he says before getting off the bed and opening his blackout curtains to reveal a dreary, dark day.

“Oh, thank God,” I say before he climbs back into bed. I see he’s put on his briefs. “You’re not still naked.”

He chuckles. “I didn’t want you to wake up and be uncomfortable if you didn’t remember anything…”

“I could be blackout drunk and still remember and be very happy after a night with your dick,” I say with my eyes closed.

“That’s good to know.”

I turn my head to his and give him a soft smile. “Where do we stand after last night?” I bite my bottom lip, preparing to lay all my cards down on the table once and for all. “I remember saying that I know this didn’t change anything, but… I guess I’m kind of hoping it does?”

“It definitely changed something. Thinking you were in trouble last night.” He rubs his thumb over his bottom lip. “I didn’t like it. And I keep thinking what if you hadn’t called me? What if you tried to get home alone and something happened, or you got in a car with someone who had been drinking, or stayed there and something happened…”

“Hey, hey… you’re spiraling, and the room is already kind of spinning,” I joke. I reach for one of his hands and gently squeeze it. “I love that you’re worried about me, but please remember I grew up partying in Europe. I’ve done therisky, how am I still alivebehaviors on a whole different continent,” I joke. “But I appreciate you looking out for me.”

“Someone has to.” I frown in response because I’m not sure what he means by that. “You told me you felt alone last night.”

“So what… this is all pity?” I try to sit up, but my head is starting to pound, and I need those painkillers to kick in like ten minutes ago.

He puts a hand on my chest and gently pushes me back down. “No. Not at all. I know you can take care of yourself. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to.”

His words feel like warm honey seeping into my bones, and I wish I was feeling less hungover so I could climb into his arms.“What should I do about Mack? Is it going to make you crazy to see me go to homecoming with him?”

“It’s not going to be my favorite thing to witness, but I want you to enjoy your senior year. You only have one year of high school, so I want you to experience everything. You told me last night that you told him you just wanted to go as friends.”

“I did tell him that. Also, based on his texts from last night, he might be mad at me and want to take the invitation back and take someone else.”Not that I would mind.