Page 156 of Hyde and Seek

Grabbing my bag, I ran to my car and drove to Hyde.

I pulled up to the garage and saw that Jake was already outside waiting for me. When my phone rang, I almost ignored it until I saw Rhys’ name.

After what he’d heard at the police station, he’d started calling or texting more often to check on me. I didn’t want to leave him hanging.

“Hey, hon, now’s not a great time. Can I call you later?”

“Yeah. I just wanted to double check with you about cancelling the cake with Green. I wouldn’t blame you. That dude is a half-ass voice with a full-scale ego. But you seemed so determined.”

I shook my head as if he could see me. “I’m not cancelling.” Looking out the window, I watched Jake pace as his hand rubbed the back of his neck.

“And that’s why I was calling to see. Jake texted that you decided not to do the cake. He offered to pay someone else to take over on such short notice.”

“I have to go. The cake is still a go. Sorry about the confusion.”

“Cut him some slack, yeah? He’s used to making the decisions. It comes with owning a business,” he explained, knowing it wasn’t a misunderstanding that caused Jake to text. “You know he’s protective of you. This is all new to him.”

“Maybe not as new as everyone thinks. Bye, Rhys.” I hung up on him talking.

I’ll feel bad later, but right now I’m pissed.

Beyond pissed.

Furious.

I was barely out of my car when Jake started talking. “I talked to Ray. And Edge. I have no clue what the fuck that message was. I haven’t sent shit to Chloe.”

“Does she send you naked pictures?”

“She could. I delete anythin’ from her without lookin’. I swear to you, I haven’t seen or texted her.”

“Did you cancel my cake order?”

Guilt flashed across his face as he reached for me.

On clumsy feet, I took a few steps back. If he touched me, I’d give in.

I always did.

No wonder he thinks he can just do what he wants.

“Piper.” His voice was rough as he looked at my feet. “I kept thinkin’ about what Green said to you, all the shit about the trash I fucked. How you fuckin’ me made you trash. Then Z told me about some shit he overheard him sayin’. We got enough with the fuckin’ sicko out there. You don’t need to be puttin’ yourself through that.”

“You don’t always get to tell me what to do!” I screamed, stomping my foot. “I’m an adult.”

Minus the foot stomp.

“You need to trust me to know when it’s too much. And it isn’t. I can ignore him. I don’t know where you’re getting all your information from, but he barely says shit to me. He’s a joke. What’s not a joke is you promising to trust me, and then going behind my back to do what you want.”

“Piper, just—” Jake said softly as he reached for me again.

And again, I backed away. It was unmistakable, such was the distance I put between us.

Pain followed by anger shrouded his face.

“I’m supposed to trust that the screenshot Isaw, withyourname,” I said, pointing at him, “fromyournumber, isn’t you. You expect me to believe you, but you won’t do the same for me.”

“But—”

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