Page 86 of 2204 Hunter Lane
“I couldn’t think of a rhyme to save my damn life.”
“Well if it really was life or death, you’d be dead.” I bantered.
Zipping my head around, I surveyed the faces of the room, illuminated by the neon lights.Man, who the fuck is staring at me?
“Josh, I’m gon’ get up right now and head to the bathroom. Text me if ya see someone following.”
I didn’t give him a chance to object as I stepped out of the booth and stalked towards the restroom hall.
When I reached the corridor, I leaned my back against the wall and unlocked my phone to find a text from Josh that read –
“Hunter.”
My eyes met the girl named down in Josh’s response. She was dressed in a beige dress, tight at the waist that flowed down her legs. Her dark hair was swooped up into a ponytail, exposing every contour of her bone structure.
“You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me.” I released, ready to retreat but she grabbed my hand.
I hadn’t seen her since the day of the flea market, and while she did resemble herself, she didn’t at all.
Every part of me wanted to stand and analyze the change I could see, but it wasn’t physical, it was just… there wassomething.
Those tiny, bony fingers curled around my pinky as she begged me to stay even one second. In her right hand, she held an envelope, similar to the ones Payton had given me only this one was longer.
“I’m not goin’ to read it, Marley.” I started. “I haven’t read the others, and I’m not gon’ read this one.”
After I crumpled each of her letters, I tossed it in my recycling box waiting to throw it out. But for some reason, I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have to read the damn things, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t pique my interest.
A single tear dripped down her cheek, leaving a white stain residue that separated her face makeup.Christ.
“If you do decide to read any of them, please read this one.”
She let go of my hand and replaced it with the envelope, staring up at me with glossy chocolate eyes before moving out of the corridor.
I stood immobile for a few seconds before I snapped out of the goddamn spell I was under and shoved the envelope in my back pocket.
When I made it back to the booth, all our drinks were spread out on the table and Josh was full of fucking questions.
“Did you talk to her?”
“Yep.”
“What did she say?” He pried.
“Nothin’ important.”
He stared in confusion, looking me up and down with squinted eyes.
“What the hell are you checkin’ me out for? Let’s drink.” I tipped back a shot of dark liquid and scowled. “It’s fuckin’ tar, man. Try it.”
But he didn’t move a muscle. He just continued to glare at me with that dumb ass expression.
“Go on.” I pushed.
“What’d she say to you, Hunt?”
“Damn it, Josh!” I slammed my palm on the table, rattling the glasses up top. “I don’t want to fuckin’ talk about her. I’ve talked about her enough, I’ve thought about her enough, I’ve had enough! I’ve had fuckin’ enough.”
My whisky was down in two seconds, and another shot, and another.
