Never Let Go (16 page)

“Oh.
That
package.” Katy’s eyes lift from her phone. “Dunno.”

“What do you mean? Didn’t you open it yet?”

“Nope,” Katy says quickly. “It wasn’t for me.”

“It had your name and our address on it.”

“Can’t argue with that. But I didn’t order it.”

“So what, you just took it back to the mail center without even looking inside?”

“Yup.”

“Weren’t you curious?”

“Maybe. But you know there are all types of loons that put crazy shit in packages. What if it was one of those bombs? I didn’t want to risk it.”

I laugh. “You’re paranoid.”

“Hey, better safe than sorry, eh? That’s what my dad used to tell me, anyway.” She turns her attention back to her phone. “Although I don’t know how often I listened.”

“I’m sure he’d be proud you did this one time,” I tease.

“Spencer said he’s coming over tonight.” Katy changes the subject smoothly. “Is that something you arranged, or did he just impose again?”

“No, that’s fine. I invited him.”

Katy’s eyebrows shoot up. “Do you want me out of here, then? To give you two some privacy?”

“It’s not like that, Katy,” I tell her. “I invited him over as a friend.”

Katy snorts a laugh. “Good luck with that. Want to place a bet how long that’ll last?”

“No. It will
last
until he screws it up. And then we’ll go back to the way things were before.” I sit down by her on the couch. “Besides, he knows I’m not interested in him that way.”

“Some of your recent behavior would say otherwise,” Katy reminds me. “But who am I to judge? You do whatever you want, babe, and more power to you.”

“Thanks,” I smile weakly. “You want to grab some food soon? I’m starving.”

***

We get back to our room around five. Spencer’s due here in half an hour. I want to change out of my tight jeans and sleeveless shirt into something a bit more casual.

Just to make sure Spencer isn’t tempted.

I find a large, tattered hoodie in the closet and throw it over my head. It belonged to the boyfriend of one of my roommates from boarding school. He’d left it in our dorm one weekend. Somehow, it ended up in my luggage when I moved out.

“Hey, Katy!” I call out, “Do you have those gray sweats that you always wear?”

“Slumming it up for Spencer, are you?” she laughs. “Sure! Check my bottom drawer. If they’re not there, they’re probably under the bed.”

I look through her drawer quickly. Not finding them, I go on all fours and check beneath our bed. I see them right away in the far back corner. I go flat on my stomach and try to reach.

My arm’s not long enough. I scoot a little closer and feel around blindly for them. Eventually, my fingers brush cotton. I pull the pants out.

One of the legs hitches onto Katy’s backpack, and without meaning to, I pull it out along with the pants.

Her backpack tips over as I’m standing up. A few papers fall out. I grunt in displeasure and kneel down to stuff them back in.

As I’m doing so, my hand hits something hard. I look inside without thinking, and find that same brown package—the one I’d brought up and Katy said she’s given back—nestled snugly in there.

Weird, I think. Why would she say she took it back if she had kept it?

I feel guilty stumbling upon it like this, though. I have no business or interest in prying. I put everything back the way it was and try to forget about it.

“Wow,” Katy says when she sees me. “You look like you belong in the ghetto.”

I giggle. “That’s perfect, then.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t think it’s going to deter Spencer, you know.”

“It never hurts to have an advantage,” I point out.

“Yeah.” Katy picks up Pickles and rubs his neck. “Whew! Is it just me, or is it really hot in here?”

I glance out the window, where a steady rain and dark clouds block out the sun. I give her a strange look. “Um, I think it’s just you.”

“I need a drink,” Katy says, pushing herself up and plodding to the kitchen. Her gait seems heavier than before.

“Hey, is everything okay?” I ask, concerned when she downs her third glass of water in a row.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she says. She leans against the countertop and takes a few deep breaths. “I’m just really hot, that’s all.”

“You’re not getting sick, are you?” I ask, starting toward her. “Maybe you have a fever?”

She tries to shoo me away with her hands. “I’m good,” she tells me. “This happens to me from time to time.”

“Hot flashes?”

“Yeah. It’s nothing to worry about.”

As I come near her, I feel the heat radiating from her body before our skin even touches.

“Jesus, Katy! You’re burning up!” I put a hand on her forehead and cringe. “I’ve never seen anyone this hot.”

“It’s nothing.” Katy shakes her head and steps away. “I’ll be just fine in the morning, I promise.”

“Katy, I think you actually might be really sick. There’s a nasty flu going around campus. You should see a doctor.”

“I’m
fine
,” she stresses, getting agitated. “I’d know if this were a fever, or the flu. I sure as hell wouldn’t be standing here if that were the case. Just lay off, will you?”

“Sorry,” I back off. “I was just worried.”

“Yeah, well, don’t be,” she snaps. She pushes away and starts down the hall. “I’m going to go take a cold shower. That always helps. Tell Spencer ‘hi’ for me if you guys leave before I come out.”

“Sure,” I say softly, watching her go. Halfway to the bathroom, Katy stumbles. She catches herself against the wall just as I start to run to her. She looks over her shoulder and shoots me such a nasty look that I stop short.

Katy slams the bathroom door. A few seconds later, I hear the sound of running water.

I sit on the couch and think back to what just happened. Is she mad at me? Have I done something wrong?

The only thing I can think of is finding the package in her bag—but I didn’t even mention that to her. It wasn’t like I was snooping!

My thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door. I’ve been so preoccupied thinking about Katy that I haven’t even realized the time.

I open the door for Spencer. A pair of dark aviators covers his eyes. He has a sleek leather jacket over his shoulders. Coupled with the very low crewneck tee shirt and the black jeans that fit perfectly around his legs, you get a very hard-to-resist combination.

“Hey,” he smiles when he sees me. He pushes the aviators to the top of his head. That gets his long hair out of his face. He steps inside and extends his arms to hug me. I quickly jump back and waggle a finger in his face.

“Nuh-uh,” I remind him. “Just friends, remember?”

“I hug all my friends,” he says, stepping into me and ignoring my protest. With his body pressed up so close to mine, I can smell the earthy aftershave he’s wearing.

It smells good.

“See?” he grins when he releases me. “That wasn’t so bad. Hell, I might even think you enjoyed it.”

“In your dreams,” I say, sticking my tongue out at him.

He laughs as he looks me over. “Are you planning on going out like that?” he asks.

“Yes,” I smile, pleased with how well my plan is working. “Why? Do you think there’s something wrong with the way I’m dressed?”

“Not to me,” Spencer says. “Though you might get a little cold on the back of my bike.”

My eyes widen. “You’re taking me on your
bike
?”

“Yeah. You’re not scared, are you?” The challenge is clear in his voice.

“No.” I toss my hair back.

“Good. The first thing you’ll learn about me is that I love my bike. If you can’t deal with that, then we can’t be friends.”

“What, so all I had to do before was tell you I hate your bike and you would have left me alone?” I tease.

“At one point, that might have been all it would take,” he agrees. “But not anymore.”

“I’m always late with these sorts of things,” I mumble beneath my breath. He frowns, and I smile to show I’m teasing.

“Lucky for me, then,” Spencer notes, that winning grin on his face again.

“Are you taking me far?” I ask. “I might consider putting a jacket on in that case.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

“Hmm. Okay. I’ll be right back.” I turn around and walk to my room.

“Kate?” Spencer calls out after I leave him. “You in here?”

“She’s in the shower!” I yell to him as I look through my closet for something waterproof.

“Maybe we could join her,” Spencer jokes when I walk back to him.

“Try that, and you lose your chances with me,” I warn.

“Don’t worry, kitten. I don’t sleep with anyone more than once.” He makes a point of meeting my eyes. “Unless I really like her.”

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about breaking that rule with me.” I smile sweetly at him. “Now, let’s go before I change my—”

I’m cut off by a deafening
thud
from down the hallway.

Spencer’s head whips around. “What was that?”

“Sounded like a shelf falling.”

“I think it came from the bathroom.”

“Shit. Katy’s in there!” I run to the door and pound my fist on it. “Katy! Katy, are you all right?”

There’s no answer.

Spencer rushes to me.

“Kate! It’s Spencer. What the hell’s going on?”

My worry doubles when there’s no reply. “I think she’s in trouble,” I say.

“Try the door.”

I do. “It’s locked.”

“Dammit,” Spencer growls. He slams his palm against the door as he yells, “Kate! Kate, you better answer, or I’m fucking coming in there!”

We both wait a few seconds for her reply. When it doesn’t come, Spencer shoves me aside. “Stand back.”

I yelp and jump back as he slams his shoulder into the door. The old wood bends but doesn’t break. Spencer curses, backs up, and tries again.

He runs into the door with enormous force. The wood doesn’t give, but the lock snaps. The door swings open, and Spencer staggers inside, propelled by his momentum.

I run in behind him and gasp.

Katy’s lying in the bathtub, out cold. Part of the shower curtain is draped over her body, ripped from the rungs when she fell. Water rushes from the nozzle onto her unconscious form.

Spencer acts right away. He dives in and pulls Katy from the tub, getting his jacket soaked as he does it. He grabs a towel and wraps it around her body, then sets her down against his leg. My heart is beating so hard it feels like it’s going to burst free and fly from my chest.

“She’s still breathing,” Spencer rasps. “But her body is so hot. What the
fuck
happened here, Paige?”

“I… I don’t know,” I stutter. “She started acting weird when we got home an hour ago. Said she was really hot.”

“Did she take anything?” Spencer presses. “Drugs? Pills? Anything like that? I knew her last year. She never shied away from party drugs.”

I shake my head vehemently. “I don’t know! I didn’t see anything!” I’m closing in on full-blown panic. “What’s wrong with her, Spencer?”

He lifts one of her eyelids and looks into her eye. “Her pupils are fine,” he says. “Fuck! I’ve never seen anything like this. Call an ambulance.
RUN
!”

I nod and rush to my phone. My fingers fumble for the keys. The operator picks up. I don’t remember what I say to her. When I come back, Spencer has put another towel under Katy and propped her up against a wall so she’s in a sitting position.

“They’re coming,” I tell him. “Just another few minutes.” I take Katy’s hand. “Hold on, baby. Just hold on.”

“Do you swear you didn’t see her take anything?” Spencer grills me. His eyes are dark and intense. “Don’t lie to me, Paige! It could be the difference between life and death!”

I squeeze my eyes shut and bite my lip, thinking hard. I’d spent pretty much all day with Katy. I never saw her take anything. Except…

“Wait!” I exclaim, scrambling up. “A package arrived for her this morning. She said it wasn’t hers but then I found it in our room. Maybe there’s something inside.”

“Don’t just stand there, woman! Run! Get it!”

I bolt out of the bathroom and slide to my knees before the bed. I dig around for Katy’s bag. My fingers wrap around the cardboard package, and I rush back to Spencer.

“Here,” I say, breathless. “This is it.”

Spencer takes the package from me. It’s already open. He reaches in and takes out a white plastic bottle. When he shakes it, I hear pills rattling around inside.

“What is it?” I ask.

Spencer turns the bottle over in his hands. His face goes pale when he sees the label.

He shows it to me in a kind of daze. “DNP.”

I blink, shaking my head. “What is that? Some kind of party drug? I’ve never heard of it.”

Spencer unscrews the top and sticks a finger in. When he brings it out, it’s stained a vibrant yellow.

“Worse,” he says, shoving the bottle back into the brown package. “It’s a weight-loss drug. Except, it’s so dangerous it was banned at the start of the 1900s. It’s what dynamite is made from. Body builders use it to lean out for a show. But it builds up in your system over time. You don’t see the effects right away. A single extra pill can be enough to overdose. It boosts your metabolism like crazy. Your body produces enormous amounts of extra heat, and if you’re not careful, it literally burns you up from the inside.”

“That’s what she took?” I exclaim, aghast. I had no idea Kate had body image problems. She ate normally, never giving a hint of having trouble.

“It makes sense based on what you said. Her complaining about heat. Passing out in the shower. Even now—look! You put your hands over her and she’s like a damn furnace.

“What do we do?”

Spencer shakes his head. “Hope that she didn’t take enough of it to kill herself, and wait for the paramedics to arrive. Even when they get here, there’s no way to get the drug out of her system.” He looks down at Katy’s limp body. “It’s all up to her, now.”

“That can’t be it,” I protest, despite. “Please, we have to help her!”