“None of your fucking business.” Kipton snaps back.
I jump from the unexpected roar of his voice. While I usually avoid Caleb, I couldn’t be more thankful he walked in when he did. He reaches his hand out cautiously, unsure if I’ll accept it or not. When I do, he walks me out of the room. “Are you hurt, Sophie?”
“No. Not physically.” Inside his room he hands me a pair of his shorts and a T-shirt to put on. Kipton’s drenched shirt is barely clinging to my body. “Thank you.” I wipe away my frustrated tears, remembering the words my mom always told me as she bitched about my dad. Never let them see your tears, Sophie, it’s a sign of weakness. Save your tears for your pillow.
Caleb watches me, but doesn’t try to interfere. For once he knows when to shut his mouth. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”
“Thank you, Caleb.” As the words leave my mouth, I hear tires peel out of the driveway. This time, Kipton’s running.
With him gone, I take a minute to wrap my head around our argument. At least I know he has very little faith in me. I thought he understood why my life is the way it is, but obviously he didn’t hear everything I was saying to him last night. Or maybe, I wasn’t conveying things the way I needed to for him to understand. Either way, I don’t deserve his anger or judgment—especially without him knowing all the facts.
“You ready?” Caleb asks.
“Yeah.”
By the time I get back to my dorm, Cara’s waiting for me outside on the bench next to the entrance. “Sophie, I–”
“Save it Cara, I’m not in the mood.” I was upset at the house, but now I’m angry. How dare Kipton judge me the way he did. I stomp up the stairs, grinding his assumptions into the cement. Screw. You. Asshole.
“Sophie, my brother didn’t mean it. He’s worried about you. He would never be able to live with himself if something happened to you. Especially at his house.”
I stop walking up the last flight of stairs. Facing her, I tell her the truth. “Well he no longer has to worry about me. I won’t be at his house or in his damn bed. And I know he’s your brother, but I’m done, Cara. Done. So if you have a problem continuing to live with me, tell me now. I’ll pack my shit and get out.”
“No, Sophie. You don’t mean any of that. Of course I don’t want you to move. You and Kipton care about each other. Don’t give up on him. He’s an idiot sometimes, but he wants you in his life. That’s why he got so mad. He can’t lose you.”
Under normal circumstances I might take her words into consideration, but not today. “He’s making me fucking crazy.” I stalk down the hall, not even caring about the clothes I’m holding onto so I don’t walk right out of them. Heads are popping out of rooms, left and right, trying to get a look at the drama unfolding. Normally I’d be embarrassed, but right now it’s the least of my worries.
“Sophie, wait,” Cara stops my hand from turning the door knob. “Before you go in there, you have to calm down.”
Oh hell no. “He’s in there isn’t he?”
“Sophie, please. Calm down. You two need to talk.”
I don’t listen to her and when I open the door, I find Kipton sitting on my bed much like the way I found him after my shower. Only this time, he looks remorseful instead of angry. “What do you want, Kipton?”
He looks directly into my eyes. “I’m sorry, beautiful. I lost my shit, and I never should have accused you. I needed to cool off, but as soon as I got in my car I realized what an ass I was. Arguing won’t help you, I know that and I’m sorry.”
Does he deserve my forgiveness—probably. Does it mean he’s going to get it—not right now. “But you did anyway. And you know what, your words hurt. Especially after you told me we were in this together. But you lied—it’s always lies. Nobody can handle the truth.”
He takes a couple steps closer to me. I hold out my hands to stop him, but he continues anyway. “I’m not going anywhere until we talk, Sophie.”
“Then I’ll leave.” Stalking over to my closet, I pull out sweats and a tank top to replace Caleb’s borrowed clothing. I stuff them into my purse and grab my sneakers. I toss the boots back in Cara’s closet and continue packing what I’ll need for the rest of the day. I’ll find a hotel room where I can be alone.
Kipton watches me pack, but doesn’t give up. “I brought your clothes back. They’re in the bag on your desk.”
“Thanks,” I reply coldly as I continue packing my bag.
“Sophie, you can’t leave. We need to talk. Last night some pretty heavy shit was dished out, but we never addressed it the way we should have. Yes, I treated you like shit and jumped to conclusions. But I did that because I don’t know your triggers, or anything about what it is you do. So let’s sit down like two rational adults and talk this through.”
I hear the words he’s spewing, but I’m in flight or fight mode—and flight is winning. “I don’t do well with liars, Kipton. I’m tired of false promises.”
“Give me a chance to make it right. Please.”
I shift my purse on my shoulder and almost give in. But I’m tougher than he thinks. Misguided, maybe. Off track, yes. But for whatever reason, his accusations hurt more than any other argument we’ve ever had. I gave him a glimpse inside the darkness and he threw it in my face. “Please move.”
“I can’t do that Sophie.”
I turn around and pick up the room phone. Dialing Drew’s number, I wait for him to pick up.
“Guys what’s going on? I’m getting complaints about an argument.”
I hang up now that Drew’s standing in the doorway. “I was dialing your number. Can you please escort Kipton out of the building? I’d like him to leave and he’s refusing.” Kipton glares at me. Oh well.
Drew looks back and forth between the two of us and sighs. “Everyone have a seat for a minute.” He closes the door so it’s just the four of us and shifts into resident advisor mode. This ought to be fun. “Cara, do you mind waiting in my room?”
“She can stay,” I tell Drew. “I want her to hear every single word so I don’t get accused of anything else today.” I glare back at Kipton, but he’s no longer looking like he wants to throw things. Instead, his eyes have softened and he’s watching me cautiously. The longer our gazes are locked, the more my defenses start to crumble. I fight hard to put them back in place, but I’m not sure I succeed. I snap out of it when Cara slithers her way behind Drew and takes a seat on her bed.
Drew stands in the middle of the room, directing his conversation my way. “Sophie, I’ll start with you. I won’t pretend like I don’t know what’s been going on because I owe you more than that. Cara’s been up front with me and explained her concerns and what she’s witnessed. As your advisor, it’s in your best interest to meet up with a campus counselor. Obviously, I can’t force you to do anything, but I will have to write up an incident report today because of the complaints.”
“You’re serious right now? All because Cara can’t keep her damn mouth shut.”
Cara’s face pales and she shifts around nervously on the bed. “Sophie, I’ve been so worried about you. I needed someone to talk to. Drew’s my boyfriend.”
I laugh at her reasoning. “So much for not mixing business with pleasure, huh? You know I can report you, Drew? For dating your residents. From what I hear, that’s frowned upon.”
Cara gasps. “Sophie, please don’t get him in trouble because of me. I was only looking out for your best interest.”
“I know I’m being a royal bitch right now, but none of you get it. At all. None of you have spent a day in my shoes. You’ve lived privileged lives with country clubs and fancy cars while I’ve been fucking dying inside. So whatever I’m going through right now, I’ll deal with on my own. Only I can make it better—not you.”
Drew bravely speaks first. “Sophie, we can’t force you to do anything, you’re right about that. But you’re speaking out of frustration.”