Page 173 of Hide and Keep

Against my better judgment, I open it. Not a moment later, the screen gets taken up by a celebrity. Did someone send me a post from social media?

I’m about to close it out when the video starts playing automatically.

“Ayo, Crue, this is Julez. I got a message for you.”

Julez? The rapper? Why the fuck would he have a message for me?

“Before all that though, I’m supposed to tell yinz to come see me this summer on my Family Julez Tour hitting whatever-the-fuck city is near you.”

The rapper rolls his eyes while taking a hit from a blunt. It looks like he’s in a recording studio, but with a lot more people in it than I would imagine is supposed to be in one.

“TheCollette’s gonna be opening for me, so don’t miss it.” The background, as well as everyone in it, disappears as Julez brings his phone in close to his face to say quieter, “Mark my words, she’s gonna be my wife one day.”

He cracks up, probably because he’s high but also because…Collette is a popstar with a kid and a squeaky-clean image. Julez not only is a rapper but has a rap sheet as well. It’s clearly a joke.

“Anyway, about this message. Ever wanted me to tell you…” Julez holds his phone out as far as his long arm can stretch, then says, “You’re welcome.”

The video ends, returning the staircase to silence.

Does she know him personally?

If that was a favor though, he wouldn’t have plugged his tour.

“You paid him just to say that?” I ask, getting—no surprise—nothing in return.

See. This is why I’m always fucking grumpy. This shit right here.

Feeling as petty as my protectee, I delete the personalized video message, then go into the Recently Deleted folder and do the same there, too.

Never listening to that motherfucker’s music again. It’s too bad because I actually liked the song he did with Collette.

Ever and I descend the rest of the stairs without another word to each other.

You’re welcome.That’s what I should’ve said to her yesterday instead of all that “good” bullshit.

I didn’t know what else to say. She got so angry so fast. She just…

I’m supposed to think like she does and guess what her next steps are so I can protect her before anything bad happens, and for the most part, I have been. It’s the stuff that involves me where my brain seems to shut down and stop working altogether. I never know what she’s gonna say or do to me.

I don’t have experience with this—girls, sex. Well, sex repeatedly with the same person. That’s a whole different ballgame than a one-night stand. One-night stands are such lowpressure because you’re never gonna see that person again. At least that’s the hope.

Ever literally told me to get off her while her cum was still drying on my cheeks. If that happened during a one-night stand—which itneverhas—I’d never have to face that girl again. But I don’t have a choice here. I don’t just have to face Ever, I have to continue facing her every minute of every fucking day for the foreseeable future.

That was shitty. She owes me an apology for that. Will I get one though? From the carelessly malicious Ever Munreaux? Not likely. There are only two scenarios I can think of that happening. One, Ever tricks me again. Or two, hell freezes over. Shit might be frosty between us right now but Satan’s spawn is still fuming. Her willing to pay a celebrity to deliver a smartass message for her proves that.

“Good morning, Miss Munreaux. Will you be eating your breakfast—”

“To go,” Ever says shortly, cutting off Chef Ryan.

As usual, Arthur’s already in here, eating at the table. Sometimes he acknowledges his daughter, but most times he doesn’t. It seems he only does if he has a bone to pick with her. Luckily, he remains silent today, allowing us to be on our way in the span of a couple of minutes.

In Ever’s car, she sets the teddy bear on her lap, giving me a view of the face that was tucked against her chest.

“What the fuck happened to him?” His face doesn’t look anything like it did when I gave it to her.

Lifting the bear, Ever examines him like she hadn’t noticed. How could she not? The face is concave at this point.

“Crue?”

---