Page 170 of Under the Bed

The air in the stall shifts. Kaleb’s done coddling me. The warmth vanishes. A chill sweeps over my bones.

His shadow does that to me. His presence.

It’s pure evil. But he doesn’t aim any of it at me.

His entire focus, his fiery wrath, is directed at the stall’s door. At the people on the other side of it.

I’m staring up at him. At this menace. At the danger in his eyes. The vengeance.

Standing at his full, intimidating height, he returns my gaze.

His golden eyes look downright murderous. His jaw clenches.

For a person who hardly feels anything, catching that much emotion in his expression is terrifying.

I’m ready, my body language tells him.

He answers by squeezing my shoulder. Once.

“We just came here t-to use the bathroom before we leave,” Eddy’s stuttering.

“Stop being self-righteous,” the woman groans. “Sheisn’t here to pee, is she? She’s here to get a dick. Any dick, it seems like.”

Kaleb bends to the floor, picking up his mask.

“Let’s go home.” Eddy has a sense of responsibility for his students. Unfortunately for him, it won’t be enough to save anyone here.

Kaleb rises, slipping the mask over his head. His eyes are nothing but black holes, but I see through them.

The message they send is crystal clear.

No one’s allowed to talk to me like that. No one will ever survive saying these things about me. No one will ever look down on me.

His princess.

That awareness is the shot of adrenaline I’ve been craving. The final slap on the face to shake me out of my daze.

It obliterates the shame.

Silently, we communicate like only the two of us can.

Like stepsiblings. Like soulmates.

We’re together in this.

Always.

“Oh, please.” Hinges squeak as someone opens one of the stall’s doors. The woman, judging by how close she sounds. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for that easy pussy”—she’s louder, doubling down on the obnoxious tone—“too.”

Kaleb brings his hands to my painted cheeks. At her vicious words, he squeezes my face. His passion, love, and depravity are just as strong as mine.

I blink. Once.I’m okay. I’m ready.

Gloves. He takes them out of his hoodie pocket, pulling them over my hands first, then his.

One swift movement and I’m shoved behind him.

“Please mind your l-language. Miss Talbot is—” Whatever Eddy was about to say dies on his lips.

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