Page 194 of Hide and Keep

“Ready, miss,” Crue says more than asks.

My lower jaw shifts on its hinges. He knows I despise when he calls me that.

Forgoing any niceties, I skirt around Ryan. Both Crue and I ignore my father’s call for my return to speak with him. I’ll stab pencils in my eardrums before admitting to hearing that. If hewants to talk to me that bad, he can get up off his ass and come get me. I’m done making anything easy for him.

Inside my Sapphire, Crue breaks the silence. “If you’re not gonna let me fill up on your cunt, you could at least let me eat real food.”

Should’ve thought of that before he insinuated I was a dog that needs walked. I was trying to be considerate, letting him walk me to my door.

I was also, if I’m being completely honest, scared.

No one should be scared inside their own home, but that’s just a fact of life for me, now, forever.

“You should’ve just grabbed something off the counter.”

Also, my cunt is no longer on your menu,I almost add but don’t because that’s not what I want at all. I just need to figure out what’s going on with me first. I’ve never not come when I could’ve. I’ve had bad sex where, of course, I didn’t come, but the reason was obvious. This time it wasn’t and that freaks me out.

“I was trying to get you out of there as quickly as possible.”

“Why?”

He’s quiet as he puts on his seat belt, but then mutters, “For your test.”

I have a sneaking suspicion Crue knows there is no test. But if that’s true, why else would he want me out of that kitchen?

That evening Ever goes for her regular seat, the one to the right of her father’s. Arthur always sits at the head of whatever table we’re at, with Ever on his right and me directly across from her on his left. I’ve eaten enough meals with the motorcycle mogul to know he’s right-handed.

I need to put myself between the two, but don’t see a way to do it without raising suspicion. Fuck it. This is probably gonna start a fight but what’s new?

“Why don’t you sit next to me tonight?” I suggest to Ever, earning myself a nasty sneer I was expecting but still don’t like to see directed at me.

“Why? So you don’t have to look at me?”

She has no idea. None. I’m lucky enough that Ever Munreaux’s the sun, but if she were the moon, I’d become nocturnal just to gaze at her every night.

“Not exactly,” I say while prodding her back…all the way over to my side of the table.

Because she’s still pissy about this morning, she sits two chairs away from mine. Since I don’t know if Arthur’s even gonna be okay with her sitting somewhere else, let alone that far down the table, I have no choice but to pull out the chair next to her and take a seat. If he makes her move, I’m moving, too. Arthur’s not getting close enough to hurt Ever again, not on my watch.

The second my ass touches the cushion, Ever’s shoving to her feet again.

I grab her elbow.

“I’m sorry, okay?”

She shakes me off, but doesn’t move, hopefully waiting for me to expand on that. I don’t really know what to say. Other than the truth.

“I fucked up. This morning was—”

“Oh, don’teventry pulling the regret card right now.”

“I’m not.” The only thing I regret—

The onlythingsI regret are not getting Ever to the finish line and how I acted after finding out I didn’t.

“You think I regret…that?” I say vaguely since I’m not sure when Arthur will be barging in here.

“You acted like it.”

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