Page 91 of Hide and Keep

“Crue,” I tell her myself, making sure to shake hands with her since these people don’t appear to care about social status. Students of the elite Littoral, too, they gotta have some kind of money, but Ever and her clones must have the most, a fact they’re happy to shove in everyone’s faces with their fresh-off-the-runway outfits and their uber-healthy green drinks.

“Nice to meet you, Crue. Are you a fellow redbreast?”

At the mention of breasts, my eyes fall to hers. Bigger than Ever’s. Fuller, rounder, but not as natural. There’s definitely some padding going on. Still interesting though, especially when they start bouncing.

I glance up to see her holding back laughter.

Shit. She caught me.

“Redbreast,” she says again, then points above our heads at the banner, reminding me that the redbreast—known to some as Connecticut’s state bird and to most as the robin—is the university’s mascot.

“No, I’m—”

“Eighmey?” Ever’s voice cuts me off. “Weren’t the ass-eaters in charge of bringing lawn games?”

With Ever behind her, Eighmey’s eyes widen at me conspiratorially.

I mouth “Ass-eater?” to her and she shakes her head, trying to keep in another laugh.

“I had Larkin bring them all in her truck since my car’s too small,” she tells Ever without facing her.

“I could help you,” I offer while shooting a scan over my shoulder for a truck. If it buys me more time with this girl, then I’m all—

The pickle jar is torn from my grasp, causing me to whip my head back around. Ever Munreaux’s unpleasant face stares back at me. Or more accurately, hergloweringface.

“I also talked to my father this morning,” she says, spewing what I know for a fucking fact is another lie, “and he said since attackers are less likely to try anything in a public setting, you can watch today’s activity from afar.”

I hold my tongue because that’s exactly what I was hoping to do anyway. I only brought the pickles over as a safety precaution. And I was only talking to Eighmey…for a different safetyreason. My balls feel like they’re about to explode. I’m getting concerned.

Using those pickles, Ever gestures toward the parking lot, repeating, “From afar.”

She’s such an asshole. Strawberry rhubarb would look good smeared all over her perfect face.

A lot of things would look good smeared all over her perfect face. It’s a very jizzable face.

“Make sure to load up on anything with garlic,” I tell her. “You know, for your…” I glance down so she knows what I’m referring to. “…problem.”

While we were waiting in line at the grocery store, I looked up yeast infection remedies that didn’t require more insertion. Greek yogurt and garlic were foods that came up, along with several topical recommendations. Coconut oil was the only one that sounded like fun.

“Pleasuremeeting you,” I say to Eighmey, my voice bursting—better that than my balls—with innuendo. “See you around.”

As I’m walking away, I hear Eighmey ask Ever, “Vampire problem?” and smirk to myself.

Not anymore. I’m the only garlic she needs for that particular problem. No one’s going near that neck anytime soon.

Three hours of sitting in my Bronco later, the sun is sinking in the west, sending colors all across our East Coast skyline. My ass asleep, I get out and stretch, keeping a close eye on Ever. Her mouth hasn’t stopped moving since I left her under the gazebo but none of it for chewing. The only thing I’ve seen go near that mouth is a water bottle.

For all her yapping, at least no one’s touched her again. Well, she did do more of those stupid handshake things that go on and on and fucking on, but they were with girls, so I let them slide.

One of the few girls Ever didn’t do a handshake with heads my way, her grin visible despite the darkening haze of dusk.

I return Eighmey’s smile but don’t move toward her, instead letting her come to me. And come she does… Up to me.

Jesus, I need to jerk it already. Now that my nights are freed up thanks to those sensors I attached to Ever’s windows and door, I actually can.

Tonight.

If I don’t, I’m worried I might do something stupid like offer to rub coconut oil all over Ever’s cunt for the next two to three…years.

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