Ollie and I have been going hard the past few weeks. I think he's trying to bank it all up before school starts in a couple days. Being a teacher and a rational adult is hard for him. Alcohol and pussy seem to get him through his struggle.

It's not helping me very much. I've barely spoken to Regan in four days and haven't been home for longer than a few minutes in over a week. Our relationship is casual, but even I know this is a problem. That thought is immediately confirmed when I step inside the small apartment we share. My luggage is stacked by the door with my mail neatly piled on top. I drop my keys to the side table with a clang.

"Regan?"

I take a few steps into the living room as she is walking out from the bedroom down the short hallway. Her blonde hair is twisted in a messy bun and she has a look of irritation on her face. She stops a few feet from me and crosses her arms. "Here for a change of clothes?"

When I open my mouth to respond, she beats me to it and motions to the front door. "I figured I'd help you out."

I sigh. "I'm sorry I've been shitty at communicating lately, but—"

She scoffs loudly. "Shitty at communicating. Is that what you call it?" Her blue eyes narrow. "You've been gone since last Sunday."

"I was with Ollie."

"Well, I think you should staywith Ollie," she counters.

I release a long breath and run a hand through my hair. "Wow. Okay, you're pissed."

"I'm not pissed, Hunter. I'm over it. You were all out about it when we first started dating, but the moment it started to turn into something real you've been distancing yourself from me." She laughs bitterly, stepping around me. "You don't even bother to come home anymore."

Home. To be honest it never felt like a home with her. I barely know her. We rushed into this because we were both searching for something that neither one of us could provide the other. Regan longs for security and someone to take care of her, and I—well, I'm not sure what I'm searching for, but this isn't it.

"I'm sorry," I say again. It seems stupid, but I don't know what else tosay. I don't want to lie to the girl or drag something out that was never going to be anything. All of those things considered, it still puts me in a predicament. I'm basically homeless now. Fucking amazing.

She's staring at me and she must see the panic on my face because she sighs. "Look, you can stay here until you find a place. I'm not going to be a total bitch even though you kind of deserve it."

"I really am sorry," I say sincerely. I take a step towards her and surprisingly she doesn't pull back from me. She lets me hug her and I start to feel a little bit better. "I'll be out as soon as I can."

***

Oliver convinced me to stay with him while I figure out my new living situation. He excitedly offered up the guest house and refused to take no for an answer. We've also been day drinking since about ten in the morning. By the time I start moving my belongings in from my truck, it's already getting dark outside.

It's basically an entire house if you ask me. It has a large master bedroom with an attached bathroom that has the biggest Jacuzzi tub I've ever seen. I've spent quite a few memorable nights in there. I cringe a little at the memory. I hope they clean it regularly.

The front door opens and I turn around to see Elliot carrying an armful of sheets. She hands them to me with a smile. "Ollie's been in here—a lot."

I shake my head. "Say no more."

She flops down on the over-sized couch and tilts her head to me. "So, what do you want to do tonight?"

I raise an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

She rolls her eyes. "I'll ignore the fact that you just insinuated you don't want to hang out with me." She walks over and playfully slaps me in the chest with the back of her hand. "You're obviously heartbroken so I'm here to cheer you up."

I laugh. "Do I look upset to you?"

She purses her lips and does a small lap around me. "Hmm. I'm not sure. You could be hiding your sorrow well."

I set the sheets down on the bed and grab her shoulders so she has to face me. "Elliot, I'm fine. This wasn't much of a surprise."

Her face falls and she wraps her arms around my neck, catching me off guard. "You poor thing. You're in denial."

My laughter shakes us both as she squeezes me tighter. Her concern for me is adorable, but completely unwarranted. "Elle, you can hang out if it would make you feel better."

She pulls back and claps her hands together in excitement. "I thought you'd say that." She bounces quickly back to her bag and pulls out an assortment of candy and popcorn. She gives a wicked grin. "I also queued up some scary movies on Netflix."

It's my turn to grin. "So—you want to Netflix and chill with me?"

She tosses a throw pillow at my head. "Don't be a perv, Hunter. I'm here for support and not the kind you are thinking of."

I hold my hands up with another chuckle. "Okay, I'm sorry."

She smiles. "Good, because I really want to see the new Rob Zombie movie and I'm too scared to watch it by myself."

I chew on the inside of my cheek so I don't respond. If she wants to cuddle in the dark with me, all she has to do is ask. Pushing that thought aside, I nod toward the bedroom and proceed to walk in and start changing Oliver's sex sheets from the bed. Elliot follows behind me and lingers in the doorway.

"You okay?" I ask over my shoulder. Her forehead scrunches up like she's confused, so I keep going. "About Judah? He left yesterday."

"Yeah, that," she says. There's a briskness to her tone and I can't tell if it's bitter or sad. "He texted me when he got there and I haven't really said anything back since. I think it's best if we don't talk much."

I fluff the new sheet on the bed and then glance back to her again. "Out of sight, out mind, eh?"

Elliot laughs once. "Something like that." She walks over and straightens the corner of the sheet across from me. "He'll be back for Fall Festival in about a month so I guess we'll see how I feel until then."

I watch her motionlessly as she smooths the edges and stands to face me. By all accounts, she still looks flawless—but I can see through it. This is harder for her then she wants to admit and I don't think it's entirely because of him. Elliot isn't used to being alone. My biggest is fear is that she'll jump into something just as shallow and damaging as she had before.

She walks over and places her hand on my shoulder, comforting methis time. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," I say softly. She bites her lip and I can't help myself. The air in this room is far too heavy and she is far too sweet. "There is one thing."

She runs her hand through her hair and smiles. "Anything."

I want to tell her that she should never say something like to me. My mind goes into a montage of dirty things that it shouldn't. I brush it off with a smirk and lean into her.

"I'm kind of afraid of the dark—maybe you should stay." I press my lips together to keep my laughter inside and she punches me in the arm.

"I'll buy you a night light."

I shrug. "It was worth a try."

Instead of pretending to be fake-offended, her expression turns somewhat sad again. "You know what?" she almost whispers.

I brush the hair from her face and give a small smile. "What, sweetheart?"

Her eyes drift to the floor and she picks at the strings of her hoodie, not meeting my eyes for a moment. When she looks at up at me, her gaze is hesitant.

"I'm actually the one that could use the company tonight." She smiles again, but I swear I can see a tear forming in the corner of her eye. "I'm just really glad you're here."

Before she can say anything else, I pull her against my chest and hug her tight. I kiss her temple and then rest my chin on the top of her head. I can't describe how it feels to have her in my arms like this. I like it. I like having her close to me and I can't deny the new onset of fluttering in my chest. I'm all kinds of fucked up over this for so many reasons—but I don't want it to stop just yet.

"I'm glad I'm here, too."