Page 56 of Make Me Scream
“I know, runt.” He sighs as he draws me into his arms, encasing me in the warmest hug. I melt against him, but I don’t let the tears fall this time. Not again—I can’t. I save them for later—for when I absolutely can’t hold it back.
“I’ve gotta go,” I mutter against the warmth of his chest. The strong security I don’t want to walk away from.
“I know,” he says but doesn’t loosen his grip. If anything, he holds me tighter.Bruise me, baby.
My smile widens. “Elise is gonna be pissed,” I warn him, andthatmakes him stiffen.
“If you’re trying to get me to let go, that’s not the way to do that. If anything, it makes me want to go back inside even fucking less.”
“She’s gonna tear you apart,” I muse.
He huffs hotly against the top of my head. “To say the least.”
“Better call reinforcements.”
“Who? Like Gabe? I think not. He’d have a fucking field day—andhe’d take Ma’s side. I’m better off on my own.”
“True. Sorry I won’t be here.”
“Me too, runt. Me, too.” Lucy honks again, and this time, Peris loses it. His arms tighten around my head as he pins me against his chest.
“Would you shut the fuck up and give us a minute?!” he screams at her. The vibration of his voice rumbles inside my brain, and my eyes flutter closed.
“So romantic,” I mutter when he finally pulls away, dragging me with him.
His face pulls up in disgust, making me laugh so loudly, my entire body shakes with it. It’s a good feeling—one I hope follows me into my nightmares tonight as I lie in the cold darkness of a strange place.
“Don’t be fucking weird, runt. Now—" he grabs my shoulders and spins me around—"It’s time for you to leave me,” he mutters as he guides me toward Lucy’s car, bags in hand. I let him escort me, my mind numb and eyes unseeing.
He opens my door for me, his eyes narrowed and colder than I’ve ever fucking seen them as he dips down to press a kiss to my cheek in goodbye, handing me my backpack, knowing I need it in my possession.
That nearly breaks my composure.
“I was always going to leave you, Peris,” I say in parting to him, choking on the words.
He smiles at me—and I break. “I know, Abel.” With that, he slams my door and drops the duffle bag in the back. Lucy doesn’t waste any time pulling away without a word, leaving a trail of carbon emissions in her wake.
Peris stands in snow-covered grass, his sweatshirt-clad arms wrapped around his middle like he’s trying to keep his insidesinside.
Tears fall in fast tracks down my face as I watch his reflection in the rearview slowly dimmish into nothing as Lucy turns the corner, and he’s gone.
“Well, we are finally together!” she says, all fucking chipper.
I don’t bother wiping the stains away. If I could, I’d leave them until they scarred. It’s only fair.
“Don’t fucking talk to me.”
“Now, Abel…” she chastises, long fingers tapping on the wheel as she drives down Main Street.
“Nah, I mean it, Lucy.” I clutch my bag tighter in my fist. “You got what you wanted, but that doesn’t mean I have to play your fucking games.”
She sighs loudly with a slight groan. “You’re going to make this as difficult as possible, aren’t you?” The car lulls to a stop at a stop sign, and I have to fight the urge to shove the door open and justbolt.
I stare out at the glittering snow, the matted footprints, and indents from the soles. Pawprints and slush from the wheels pressed against the curbs—a curb I’d love to just smash my fucking head against until my skull cracks wide open…
A deep sigh of impatience draws me from the graphic depiction of my brains spilling across the concrete. And what a sight that would be.
“Why, of course, I am,” I reply easily.
