Page 156 of Composed
Creaking wood cuts thought the quiet.
My eyelids flicker.
I scrub at them, moaning as the haze dims, and moonlight slithers into my periphery. The door slaps against the wall. I glance over my shoulder.
Carter looms in the frame. He watches both Saint and me for a long beat, his lips tugging down and his shoulders sagging. Phone in his hand, he drags his thumbs over the screen and steps into the shed.
“We’ve been looking everywhere for you two,” he says.
“You can't have looked hard,” I murmur, trying not stir Saint who is still snoring as I shuffle myself upright. “We've been in here the whole time.”
“You couldn’t text one of us to let us know that you’d slinked off?”
“You’re kidding, right?” I scoff. “Did any of you text me when you fucked off to God knows where? I was looking for you all for over an hour. I tried calling, texting, and not one of you could be bothered to pick up your phones and let me know where you were.”
Carter’s face falls and he steps closer. “We had something to do.”
“Cool. Glad we cleared that up.”
I ease Saint off me, tug down the worn blanket from the back of the touch, and drape a blanket over him.
He rolls onto his side with a soft grumble.
I suck in a breath as I face Carter. “I’m gonna head out.”
“Where are you going?” Carter asks.
I don’t answer him.
Saint's arms creeps out, warm, sweat-slicked fingers curling around my wrist. A gentle squeeze, and my stomach drops. I lean down and place a kiss to the centre of his head before peeling his hand away and stepping away.
Carter watches me closely as I slip around him. “Will you look after Saint?”
His gaze slants over me, searching my expression.
Then, he nods. “We’ve got him.”
“Good.”
I start for the door, but Carter wraps his hand around my bicep and pulls me into his chest.
He winds his arms around my back, tight and unyielding as he props his chin on top of my head. Every muscle in my body tightens. There was a time I could fall into any of these guys' arms and feel like I was coming home.
Now it all just feels empty.
“We love you. You know that, right?” Carter whispers, combing the ends of my hair with his fingers. “You’re our favourite girl.”
I bite down on my tongue, hard enough to taste the bitter tang of blood. “Uh-uh.”
“You and Cole will figure things out, and everything’s gonna be great. Tell me you know that.”
“I know.”
I blink away hot stinging, tears, my hands clenched into fists as I push Carter back gently.
He inches away, eyes hard as they burn into me.
I keep my expression blank. “I need to go. I’ve gotta be up early tomorrow to get back to uni.”
