The Summer I Left novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Water Kid

My dorm room was on the fourth floor, at the end of a hall that smelled like fresh paint and microwave popcorn.

The door was already open.

A big guy with red stubble and a faded hockey jersey was sitting on the lower bunk, eating cereal out of a mixing bowl.

He looked up.

"Drew?" he said around a mouthful. "I'm Eddie. I'm from Minnesota. I took the bottom bunk because I'm scared of heights, and I will fight you about it."

"I can take the top," I said.

"Good. Excellent. We're going to be great friends."

He stood up, looked at me properly, and stopped chewing.

"Whoa. What happened to your forehead?"

"A suitcase."

"Your arm?"

"Glass."

"Huh." He put the bowl down on the desk. "Are those stitches or are you just going for a look?"

I put my suitcase on the top bunk and didn't answer.

Eddie watched me pull a clean surgical mask out of my pocket.

I had worn one around the house for two months. My hands put it on before my head caught up.

He tilted his head.

"Are you sick? Because I'm not scared of germs. I have four sisters. I've had everything."

"No." I pulled the mask down to my chin. "My brother panics when he sees my face. So I wear it."

"Your brother's in Ohio."

"Yes."

"I'm not your brother."

"No."

"Then I don't see the problem."

I looked at him.

He looked at me, waiting, with his arms folded and not a trace of fear.

Slowly, I took the mask off and put it in my pocket.

Nothing happened.

← Chapter 5 · All chapters · Chapter 7 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend