Aaron registered Keeley's burning lips. He needed to get her to a hospital, yet found himself kissing her back passionately. His self-control vanished as quickly as his shirt.

It was cruel. He hadn't enjoyed the taste of her lips in thirty years, aside from one accidental kiss that had earned him a slap from Keeley.

He knew he should stop, but he couldn't. This wasn't fair to her. She was unconscious, and would likely be horrified and end their friendship if she discovered this.

That thought snapped him back to reality just as she reached for his belt.

"Keeley," he sighed, his breath against her lips.

"Mm?"

He grabbed her shoulders, holding her six inches away. "Stop. You're not yourself. You don't want this."

Her head tilted; a confused expression softened her glassy eyes, still clouded by the drug. Tears streamed down her face. "Why don't you want me? Why do you always reject me? Why? Why don't you love me?"

Where was this coming from? He loved her so much he'd almost taken advantage of her vulnerability! She was probably referring to the man she called "glacier." The adrenaline drained from him.

"Of course he loves you," he said mechanically. "Who wouldn't?"

She shook her head, sniffling. "He doesn't! He left me for an ocean. A glacier and an ocean match perfectly, don't they? Penguins can't measure up. Stupid glacier, why did he change his mind? Well, I can change my mind too. I don't want him anymore. I want you."

Keeley kissed him again. He forcefully pushed her away before losing his judgment a second time.

She weakly pounded his chest. "Why. Don't. You. Want. Me."

Aaron chuckled painfully. He wanted her desperately, but now wasn't the time. "I promise you, if you still want me after we get this drug out of your system, I'm all yours."

"But I want you now," she whined.

He sighed, pulling her closer to maneuver her over his shoulder. She protested vehemently, kicking and biting, before he managed to get her into the bathroom and barricade the door. He put his shirt back on and searched for her phone to call Robert.

"Let me out! Get back here, Neptune! I wasn't done with you!" she yelled, banging on the door.

Aaron ignored her, finding Keeley's phone in her backpack's front pocket. More than twenty missed calls and countless texts—all from Robert. He took a deep breath before calling him back.

Robert's frantic voice answered on the first ring. "Keeley, where are you? What happened? I tried to call the police, but they said it was too early to file a missing person report!"

"Mr. Hall, I'm Aaron Hale. We had dinner at your house."

"Yes, I remember you," he said faintly. "Where's my daughter?"

"I'm taking her to the hospital. Someone drugged her; it's some kind of hallucinogen. She's…not herself. Can you meet me at Midtown General?"

"I'll be there in 30 minutes."

Robert hung up, no doubt rushing from Brooklyn.

Now he needed to get Keeley downstairs without a fuss. Aaron texted Carlton—who worked for his parents but kept secrets—asking for a ride to room 522.

He braced himself for "Hurricane Keeley" and opened the bathroom door. She immediately jumped him, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing his face.

"Bad Neptune, don't leave me again," she scolded between kisses and nibbles on his ears.

The universe tested his patience. Carlton couldn't arrive fast enough. Aaron focused on his breathing. Keeley was suffering far more than he was.

"Aaron…"

He jolted. Was she regaining consciousness? She'd jumped him, but he was still holding her. This didn't look good.

"This is your fault, Aaron," she mumbled sleepily against his neck, going limp. She seemed to be talking to herself.

She was right; it was his fault. Lacy was likely responsible, though he didn't know who sent the text—an accomplice with a guilty conscience, perhaps? Lacy wouldn't send the man she liked to a drugged girl, unless she didn't know the effects and wanted him to see her embarrass herself…no, that didn't make sense. It had to be an accomplice.

Max was the most likely suspect, but he couldn't be certain. This redo of his life had changed the game.

"I know. I'm sorry," he whispered, stroking her hair.

She wouldn't be in this situation if he hadn't provoked Lacy. He only seemed to make things worse for her. This was far more severe than anything Lacy had done in high school in his first life. He hadn't even seen it coming.