thoughts, a sudden remi

he end of the world. The embarrassment burned hot in my cheeks, but night had fallen. At least no one had

f?" a raspy voice murmur

hit like a flick to t

a's voice cu

come from? And why on earth wasn't he wearing a shirt? Was this some

my stare for a long moment before his gaze slid a

f them shirtless in the freezing night, look

scene a strange, predatory intensity. For a second, I felt so disoriente

e belongings that had spilled across the driveway. My clothes and possess

me. The discomfort simmering inside me swelled, then

lank

othe

and-the kind of treasure you cling to because

d to treat it like a rag. And yet, this boy held it at ar

" Isla

gth to ask for it back. The wo

from the house, her posture rigi

ide me. Her gaze landed instantly on the blanket. "Young man, I

frayed nerves. It was like an anchor;

om his grasp, and clutched it to my chest, burying my face in the worn fabric. I didn't care

nswer. "The rest can wait until tomorrow." She then turn

wrapped in politeness. Isla

e hot chocolate," my grandmother a

a mentioned she'd left her phone in the car, an excuse t

e car was locked. Then, with a knot of unease tightening in my stomach,

t, the force anything but innocent. He yanked me back t

his voice a low, brutal t

idn't dare struggle. My body went rigid, every fiber screaming for me to run, but a strange confusion crept throug

I whispered, my vo

n the curve of my neck and took a long, deep

ocean," he breathed, his

meone like that? Who pressed their face against

of guilty curiosity at the warmth of his breath, the solid press of his

go. He simply vanished back into the nig

gh. He could walk away, but he was still out there. He had gotten

nk onto the couch. The hot chocolate burned my fingers, but I to

ess of his grip, his face in my neck, and that impossibl

soft laugh chasing away the ghosts in the room. "Isla was just

ed me back to a more ordinary reality-classes to attend,

olling my eyes. "Only six more

e held out her hand. "Thanks for having me. I should get g

a small smile in return. Despite everything, she was the

ind her, I looked at my grandm

. "Maybe your first friend here. Her brother

hat always surprised me; she wasn't one for crude language. But her com

hole," she added with an

something magnetic about h

ndmother said, winking as she took my empt

only twenty when she had my mom; people often mistook her

t some sleep now." She gestured to the couch. "It's

, Grandma,"

ied, and her words fell over my trembl