Page 69 of Liars

And neither could I.

Her eyes locked onto mine. “It’s your father, isn’t it?”

I said nothing, which spoke volumes.

“Unbelievable.” She shook her head, her lips parting like she wanted to say something else, but then she turned away, reaching for the door handle.

The SUV barely rolled to a stop when she shoved it open. The wind had picked up on the way home, howling outside as she hopped out, her platinum hair whipping around her face. She rushed toward the house, never once looking back.

I sat there for a long moment, staring at the front door.

The truth was, I didn’t hate her.

Not even close.

And that was the real problem.

19

KAYLOR

The January wind bit through my clothes as I rushed into the house, the front door slamming shut behind me with a hollow thud. My hair whipped across my face, the icy sting of the night still clinging to my skin.

Inside, the house was dark, the kind of quiet that felt oppressive. The silence seemed to press down on me, suffocating and heavy.

I stood just inside the door, my breath visible in faint wisps from the cold outside. The darkness stretched before me, and for a moment, I couldn’t move.

The flashes came unbidden—candlelight flickering against stone walls, cruel laughter echoing in the cellar, rough hands gripping my arms, my shoulders, my waist. My chest tightened, and my breathing grew shallow.

I froze, my feet rooted to the floor as my fingers curled around the edge of the banister, gripping it so tightly my joints ached. The anger I’d felt toward Kreed on the drive home had shielded me, but now it was gone, leaving me vulnerable to the ugly reality of tonight.

“Kaylor.”

I jumped at the sound of his voice, spinning around to see Kreed standing in the doorway. The porch light lit his back, his sharp features illuminated by the faint glow. From his expression, he hadn’t expected to see me still downstairs and probably assumed I would have already locked myself in my room, which had been my intention, but shit happened.

“What’s wrong?” He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he took in my stiff posture and the way my hands gripped the banister. He scanned the dark surrounding us with a sharpening gaze, as if looking for an intruder, before landing back on my face.

I struggled to find the words, my throat tight as I stared at him. I had two choices. Suck it up and spend the night alone. Or… “Are you leaving?” I whispered. The question tumbled out before I could stop it, and my cheeks flushed.

He closed the door, banishing most of the porch light and leaving us alone in a cloak of twilight. “Do you mean your room or the house?”

My fingers flexed on the banister. “Either.”

For a moment, I thought he’d laugh or roll his eyes and leave, but to my surprise, he stepped into the room. His dark gaze stayed locked on mine, and the intensity of it made my cheeks burn hotter—made me wish I’d kept my mouth shut—until he replied, “I guess that depends on whether you want me to stay.”

“I do. Want you to stay,” I added, taking a deep breath and letting the air fill my lungs before releasing it slowly. “I don’t want to be alone.”

Without waiting for an answer, he gently pried my fingers away from the railing, his touch firm but careful. “Come on,” he said, guiding me toward the stairs.

I let him lead me, my legs moving mechanically as we climbed. I could feel his presence beside me, steady and solid,and it grounded me enough to speak. “Can you…turn on the light?”

He flicked the switch at the top of the stairs, flooding the hallway with a soft yellow glow. “Better?”

I nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. Once the door was shut, I leaned against it, my heart pounding. How the hell had I just asked Kreed to stay with me? The intimacy of my request hit me like a freight train. I hadn’t meant it like that, but now it was all I could think about.

Kreed.

And me.

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