The Senior (College Years 4)

“Of course,” I tell him softly. “I don’t think I did much, but you’re welcome.”

“It helped just knowing you were there.” He glances over at me, his gaze meeting mine. “It always helps, knowing you’re in my corner.”

My chest grows tight at his admission. “I will always be in your corner, Eli. Even when we were broken up and you were being a jerk, I was still totally in your corner. Always supporting you.”

He’s quiet, returning his concentration to the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. I watch him, noting the exhaustion lining his face. His hair mussed from him running his fingers through it. Faint lines bracket either side of his mouth, and for the first time ever, I realize he looks so much older.

And so tired.

“You want me to take you home?” he asks, his voice quiet.

When he looks in my direction, I slowly shake my head. “I want to go home with you, Eli.”

Twenty-Three

Eli

I’m stunned by Ava’s request, but then again not. We did just pretty much make up back at Jackson’s party. I was about to take off her clothes too, until the phone call.

Still can’t believe my mom crashed her car into a damn tree, all to save a stupid rabbit.

I shake my head, frustration mixed with anger making my blood simmer. Her car accident was stupid. I can think this because she didn’t badly hurt herself, thank God. It could’ve been so much worse. She could’ve wrecked with another car. She could’ve killed innocent people—

No. I can’t think about it. Something needs to change. It’s going to be a hard conversation to have with her but, damn it, my mother needs to lay off the booze once and for all.

And it’s all on me to make her stop.

I head into the turn lane, grateful when the light turns green almost immediately and I’m able to whip a U-turn, heading back the way we came until we pass the hospital and we’re on the way to my apartment.

Caleb won’t be home. They’re staying the night up at Jackson’s rental. That had been my plan too, until this.

I scrub a hand over my face, trying to tamp down my frustration.

“I guess you’re okay with me coming home with you?” she asks, amusement lacing her tone.

“Definitely,” I say gruffly, reaching out to settle my hand on her bare knee, my fingers sliding upward along her thigh. If I was in a better mood, I might try to get her off while driving, but my mood is actually for shit and I’m exhausted.

So I lift my hand from her thigh and settle it back on the steering wheel like a boring ass chump.

By the time we’re pulling into the parking lot of my apartment complex, my eyelids feel like they have concrete blocks sitting on top of them, they’re so heavy. We climb out of the car and I lock it, then Ava follows me to my apartment building.

“This is nice,” she says as she looks around, a shiver moving through her since it’s so late at night and pretty fucking cold, especially considering what she’s wearing, which isn’t much. “Looks brand-new.”

“It is,” I tell her, leading her right to our front door. I unlock it and let her inside first, following after her and shutting and locking the door behind me. I don’t bother turning on any lights. I just head straight for my bedroom and Ava falls into step behind me, hurrying along.

The moment we’re in my room I close the door, toeing off my shoes almost immediately.

“I’m exhausted.”

“I’m sure,” she murmurs, watching as I collapse on the edge of the mattress and pull my shirt up and over my head, dropping it onto the floor. I undo the fly of my jeans and rise to my feet, once more, tugging them off. Until I’m just standing there in only my boxers and my socks, wishing I was in the mood to take this in a different direction.

But I’m not. I need sleep.

I just want to forget what happened tonight with my mom. At least for a little bit.

“Come on.” Ava approaches me, her fingers curling around mine. She turns me to face the bed, then reaches for the comforter and tugs it back. “Get into bed.”

I let go of her hand and crawl under the covers, rolling onto my back at the same time that she covers me with the comforter, pulling it up to my chin. “Taking care of me?”