Eden

It’s a relief when the end of the week comes and we’ve only got one night left before we fly back to California. I can’t believe I’m actually looking forward to being at Angelview, because it at least means I don’t have to be here anymore.

Loni and I dig out a bottle of wine from the cottage’s bar and pour ourselves generous glasses while we pack in preparation for the morning’s departure. We knock on Rosalind’s door, and for once, she comes out and we pour her a glass as well.

We manage to pack up Loni and Rosalind’s things before there’s a knock on our front door. We all freeze, halfway to my room, and share uncertain glances before I move forward to answer the door.

To my surprise, it’s the gods.

“We need to talk,” Liam says, pushing into our cottage without an invitation.

“Great.” Gabe avoids my eye as he passes by, but Saint meets my gaze and holds it until he’s walked away.

I close the door and turn to follow them. Loni catches my eye, her brown eyes wide, and I just shrug. I don’t know what the fuck is going on.

Rosalind’s cheeks are bright red, and I think for a moment that she’s going to bolt back to her room, but her curiosity must be as overwhelming as mine is, because she stays rooted in place.

In total silence, we all move into the living room. Nobody sits, and we just stand and stare at each other for several long moments.

“Okay, this is weird,” Loni says at last. “Just say it out already.”

Liam releases a heavy sigh before answering, “All right, here’s the deal. That first night we got here, a lot of shit came out that shouldn’t have.” He jerks his thumb to Gabe. “This dumb-fuck made a mess of everything, and now we all know secrets that none of us wanted out.”

“Thank you, stupid,” Loni snaps. “Would you like to point out other obvious, terrible facts for us?”

He shoots her with a dark look but continues, “What happened out on that beach stays here, okay?”

That’s all they wanted? It’s so simple that I could scream for joy.

“Yep, I’m in,” I say immediately. “That night never happened.”

Saint shoots me a look that I can’t fully decipher, but I think he’s a

“I agree.” Rosalind bobs her head furiously and fans her face with her hand. “It never happened.”

One by one, we all agree to keep our lips sealed.

As soon as we make our strange little pact, it feels as though some of the tension has evaporated from the room. Not all of it, but enough that I feel like we’ll be able to look each other in the eyes once we’re back at school.

It’s a start.

“Okay, anything else?” Loni asks, clapping her hands together.

After a beat of silence, Saint shoves the back of Gabe’s shoulder.

“All right, fine,” Gabe snaps. Facing the rest of us, he clears his throat and says, “I’m sorry for being such a fucking asshole, okay? It was shitty, what I did.”

“It was.”

He narrows his eyes at Loni. “Like I said … sorry.”

“Apologies are easy,” she counters. “What matters is what you do to follow them up.”

The resentment wafting between them is palpable.

My eyes slide to Saint. It’s not like I don’t have my own shit to work out, though.

“Can you two hate fuck each other another time?” he barks, avoiding me. “We’re all in agreement that the shit we learned about each other that night stays buried, and Gabe’s apologized for being a fuck-up. Whether you accept it or not is up to you. Since we’ve got that all covered, I’m done here.”

He turns for the door without another word and Liam and Gabe follow after him, both looking a little caught off guard by his abruptness. I don’t blame them. I’m a little thrown myself.

“Your boy is crazy,” Loni says.

“That’s just him being a dick. Don’t take it personally.”

“He must have a big dick.”

As the front door slams shut, we turn back to my room to get my stuff packed, and I can’t help but wonder if maybe I should be taking Saint’s attitude personally. I put on a happy face, though, and don’t say a word as we hurry to prepare to leave this godawful break behind.

It’s strange how at-peace I feel when we finally get back to campus. I should be more freaked out, knowing just how badly Saint’s dad wants to get rid of me, as well as Nora’s threats against me which I’m sure she’ll double down on once she figures out I went to Hawaii with the boy she specifically told me to stay away from. And yet, I’m strangely calm. Hell, I’m even looking forward to being back in the familiar setting of my dorm room. Despite the week away, I’m exhausted and feel like I need some downtime after my vacation.

Loni and I walk to our building together, then part ways in our hallway, promising to meet up in the morning for breakfast before class like usual. I open my door and let out a relieved sigh, my eyes falling to my bed immediately. Calling it an early night sounds like just the thing I need.

My phone suddenly buzzes in my pocket as I drop my suitcase in the corner, deciding to wait until tomorrow to actually unpack it. Grabbing my phone out, I check the caller ID, immediately recognizing the 706-number as it swirls around my memory.

Why’s he calling me?

My heart races as I debate whether or not I should answer it. Whatever Dylan wants, it can’t be good. Curiosity eats at me, and as I nibble my lip and debate what to do, the buzzing stops but then immediately starts back up again. Damn, he’s being persistent, which only makes me more interested.

With a groan, I give into temptation and answer the call.

“Hello?”

“I need to talk to you,” he says without preamble.

“Okay…” I tug at the hem of my t-shirt. “What about?”

“Not over the phone,” he says. He sounds anxious and breathless. What the hell is he doing? Ru

“What do you mean not over the phone? Isn’t that why you called me?”

“I called to ask you to meet up with me in person so we can talk,” he clarifies. “As soon as possible, Mallory. I swear to you, this is important.”

“Why can’t you just tell me now?” I don’t want to be alone with him face-to-face. Not again. For all I know, this could be some elaborate scheme to trick me into something. Like a recorded confession of what I did.

“Anyone could be listening,” he snarls.

“You sound paranoid,” I huff. “Who could possibly be listening right now?”

“Don’t be so naïve, Mallory. You go to a school with kids who have parents with co

It sounds crazy, but in this world, crazy tends to be plausible.

“Fine. Fine. When and where?”

“My classroom, tomorrow morning before classes start. Okay?”

Looks like I’ll have to cancel my breakfast plans with Loni. Or, maybe I should ask her to come along?

“Can I bring—”

“I will lose my shit if you bring Saint Angelle with you,” he barks before I can finish speaking my request. “Don’t tell anyone else you’re meeting me. I swear, Mallory, this is important. I’d never dream of calling you if it weren’t.”

That makes sense, actually.

“Whatever. I’ll meet you in your classroom. This better not be a fucking trick, Dylan, or I will make you regret it.”