Page 283 of Hide and Keep

“That was a mistake. I shouldn’t have called you that.”

“It was genius. It made the whole thing more believable.”

“I still regret saying it.”

We kiss, our lips seeking the forgiveness for all their sins.

“Crue?” I ask during a breather.

“Yeah?”

“Is that Crue 2.0?” I point over my shoulder at the closet I could’ve sworn I saw the bear sitting on the floor of earlier.

Crue’s head jolts off the bed. “Is it? I don’t, uh, know. I don’t think it…” He drops his head, admitting, “Yeah, it is. I took that fucker on my way out.”

“You were in my room?”

He nods.

“Why?”

“I wanted to see if I could find anything else you were hiding from me.”

“And?”

“And… What’s with the dress at the bottom of your closet?”

Oh shit. I was supposed to throw that away. I just…got busy. Crue and I have been practically inseparable since that night.

“Must’ve fallen off its hanger,” I say shortly.

“It was dirty. And ripped.”

I don’t reply. I don’t think I even breathe.

“Who tore it? You or him?”

“Him,” comes out so quiet my own ears barely pick it up.

“Was it wanted?”

After a moment, I give my head a single shake.

He runs his hand through my hair, tucking it behind my ear.

“He’s going to pay for that.”

And just like I did when we were talking about my father, I say, “He’s got the money.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that night?”

“What would you’ve done? Something to get you fired?”

His silence is telling.

“That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“What happened?”

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