Page 12 of Hide and Keep

Shit. I forgot.

I tuck my chin down, cutting off her view.

Only able to see as high as her neck now, I notice a couple hickeys there, one fainter than the other. Below that is her black crop top, so short it barely skims the bottom of her gray sports bra, with the words “I got wet” scrawled in white cursive across the chest.

I feel my expression settle into a frown. What a dumb fucking shirt. Reminds me of high school when everyone was so goddamn desperate for attention all the time, they’d embarrass the fuck out of themselves to get even a shred of it. This girl graduated though. Sheshouldbe mature enough to behave better, but obviously, she’s still seeking attention. Probably always will.

Spoiled brat.

I’m not expecting her to duck down, catching my eye, but she does. She fucking does. And I…freeze. Again.

What the fuck is wrong with me? It’s not like she is…the butterfly…is she?

Our eyes locked on each other’s, she says, “What—”

“Never, meet Crue Brantley…your new executive protection agent,” Arthur announces confidently even though I didn’t accept the position and have no intention to, especially after coming face to face with Ever. There’s no way this girl isn’t out and about all the time. That’s so many people to encounter. So many gazes to avoid.

Those sea-glass eyes wince briefly before leaving mine altogether.

“You’re shitting me. Another one?”

“Don’t use that expression. It makes you sound as common as you currently look.”

Arms out at her sides, she yells, “It’s funny!”

“Do I look amused?” Arthur asks her with a chilling tone before saying, “You did this to yourself, Never.”

The first time he said it, I thought I must’ve misheard him, but now there’s no mistaking him purposely calling his daughter Never.

“You were given ample time to get your act together and conduct yourself like a Munreaux. Instead, you’ve chosen to make a mockery of my good name and I won’t have it. Not anymore. Too much is at stake, more now than ever.”

“Father, I—”

“If you’re going to act like an insolent child, you will be treated like an insolent child. If you need to be watched day and night, then you will be watched—”

“Father?”

“—day and night.”

“Ugh!” Ever spins my way again, practically spitting, “I wouldn’t get too comfortable if I were you. I’ll have you back out on the streets by the end of the night like I did the others he tried putting on me.”

“I’m not from the streets,” I say, shoving to my feet before I know what I’m doing. I don’t even attempt to hide my scar. I know she’s seen it anyway. Let her look.

Closing the gap between our bodies, she does exactly that but with an added lip snarl to say, “My bad. I get my levels of poor confused when the stench of destitution becomes unbearable.” Then she plugs her nose and pushes past me.

Fuck. You. Bitch.I may not live like the Munreauxs but I’ve never been destitute in my life.

I twist to watch her leave, those back dimples prominent as her hips sway aggressively, and conclude with absolute certainty that there’s no fucking way she’s the girl from Hide and Keep.

“Take your shirt off.”

Ever pauses at her dad’s voice, then shakes her head, sneering, “Like I don’t work out in my sports bra every day anyway.”

To keep up those abs, all eight of them, tight and toned to perfection, I’m sure she does work out every day. This girl’s in better condition than I am. She’s fuckingcut.

“Not you,” Arthur says as she grabs the high-ass hemline of her shirt.

I turn to face her father, finding him looking at…me.

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