Page 147 of Hide and Keep

“If I’m not outside your room in the morning, it’s because I died in my sleep,” I say, laying it on thicker than unstirred peanut butter.

“Maybe you should close your eyes now and see. That way the driver can take your body straight over to the morgue.” She follows her cruel suggestion with a smug-ass smirk I’d kiss off her if she let me.

She may be evil but by God is she gorgeous, especially when she smiles. I don’t even care that it’s about my death, only that she’s no longer ignoring me.

I roll my eyes at her…and myself. Banter shouldn’t turn me on the way it does.

A vibration on my stomach jolts me awake, this time without the usual accompanying scent of honey. I crack an eye to see…my phone.

It’s this manor, specifically this wing of it. Ever’s scent is so strong, it fucking tortures me. Every morning, I wake up feeling as if she’s right next to me, and I can’t stop the disappointment whenever I discover she’s not.

It’s insane to even consider. She would never come to me willingly, not like that.

My phone’s screen lights up, and I lift it off my stomach. Last thing I remember was returning a text to my mom, so I must’ve fallen asleep still holding it. Checking for her response, I find a notification for Ever’s door instead. It’s 2:57 a.m. Where’s she going?

Nowhere without me.

I drag my ass out of bed, my eyes at half-mast and blurry because I’m fucking beat. I don’t know how the hell Ever’s awake right now. She did way more cheer shit than I did today.

Yesterday. Whatever.

A body much bigger than Ever’s standing in the middle of the hallway puts all of my muscles on lock, prepped for fucking battle, until it spins to face me.

“Mr. Brantley? Is that you?” Chef Ryan whispers.

Who else would it be?

“Crue.”

“Right. Yes. Mr. Crue Brantley.”

My head shakes. I don’t have the patience for this shit. Just get to the point already.

“What’s up?”

“I apologize. I must’ve mixed up the doors.”

He knocked on Ever’s door thinking it was mine? Fuck. Hopefully Ever didn’t hear it.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“There’s a…” He jiggles his head. “I’m not sure how to describe it but it sounded like someone, a person, you know…perhaps, was trying to get in through my window. And I thought…”

“The house alarm wasn’t tripped, was it?”

“Uh, no, I don’t believe so.”

“It’s probably fine.”

No offense to Ryan, his food’s good and all, but I don’t particularly care about someone going into his room. Only if they make it up to Ever’s.

“That’s a good point. I didn’t think of that.”

He hesitates, looking more spooked than awkward. For a second, I consider the possibility that Arthur lied and there really is an external threat against Ever. Could be. She is fucking irritating.

“I can check it out if it’d make you feel better,” I half-suggest, half-sigh.

I wasn’t hired to protect him, but if someone is trying to break into Munreaux Manor, better I know now than if they do get near Ever.

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