Page 39 of Hide and Keep

“I did,” I lie.

She studies me for a moment longer, looking for…something before spinning to cross the terrace.

“Mm,” she says like she isn’t bothered but I know she is. “At least I know where to send your belongings after your body’s been discovered.”

“You kill me, you’ll never fucking sleep again.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ll haunt every waking second of your life and I’ll make sure you’re awake for all of them.”

Another rumble of laughter rolls through her just before she says, “You’ll be in good company.”

“Whose? Yours?” I ask, holding back laughter of my own.

At a set of French doors, she spins to face me.

“Father didn’t tell you? This house is haunted.”

“Good thing I’m staying in the guesthouse.”

“You could stay at your own house.”

“Then how would I keep an eye on you?”

“Leave one behind. The rest of you doesn’t need to be here.”

My fucking eye? Jesus, she’s morbid.

“Your father would disagree. Now get inside before I throw you over my shoulder again.”

She tries arguing, so I reach past her and turn the handle myself, pushing her inside. Edwin didn’t give me a complete tourof the main house yet, so I don’t know where her room is, but I keep prodding her, hoping she’ll just go there herself.

Thankfully she does. I know when we reach her room because her entire body goes rigid as soon as we’re a few feet away from the door.

“Okay, I’m here. You can go.”

“Go into your room first.”

“Am I a prisoner already?”

“Some prison,” I murmur as I drive her forward. Whoever thought herding cats was hard never worked with Ever Munreaux.

She lets out a little growl that would be amusing if I didn’t find everything she does annoying as fuck.

Before I can touch the handle, she shoots ahead of me and opens the door herself, only keeping it cracked slightly as she slides her body through the thin opening.

It feels a little date-ish, walking her to her door, so I give her an awkward nod and turn to leave. Her calling my name stops me though and I twist to look back at her.

“Yeah?”

“You might need this tonight.” Careful to keep herself wedged between her door and the jamb, she reaches behind her to get something. I can’t make out anything in the room, just that it’s as dark as the rest of the house.

Preparing for her to pull a fucking Taser on me or some shit, I start to move toward the wall her room’s on, but all she does is brandish yet another middle finger for me, except this time she mouths the words, “Fuck. You,” along with the display of hostility.

“Go ahead and hold on to that one,” I tell her. “Considering I ruined your fuck earlier, you’ll be needing it more than me tonight.”

Her door slamming shut ends the conversation but brings a genuine smile to my face. Peace at last.

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