Page 107 of Chaotic Curse
Nope.
I pivot, cut through the side hall, slip past the vending machines and out the service door.Heat slaps my face.It’s a normal Texas afternoon.
I approach my Mustang and tap unlock on my key fob.
“Daniela!”Jordan’s voice carries.
I don’t turn.
I’m done with him for today.
I slide in, slam the door, and lock it.I throw my bag onto the passenger seat and breathe.
In.Out.Slow.
My phone vibrates.
Hawk.
A tight ache blooms under my ribs.I swipe.“What took you so long?”
“You wouldn’t believe the fucking day I’ve had.”His voice is low, rough.
“The day you’ve had?”I stare through the windshield.“Let’s talk about the day you had yesterday.”
Silence.
“Before you came over to Vinnie and Raven’s,” I say.“Did you, for example, stalk Jordan and then break into his house?”
He exhales.A long, tired sound.He doesn’t reply.
“I need the truth,” I say.“I need it now.”
Another beat.Then, “Yes.”
My throat goes tight.“Yes what?”
“Yes, I followed him.Yes, I went into his house.”
I close my eyes.The heat presses in even with the AC on.“He’s suspicious,” I say.“He thinks it was you.But as far as I know, he doesn’t have concrete proof.But why would you do all that behind my back?”
“Because you got roses wrapped in barbed wire,” he says.“Because the guy who smiles at you in class also watches you like you belong to him.I’m not leaving that to chance.”
“I told you I was pretty sure he wasn’t behind the gifts,” I say.“He’s a run-of-the-mill douchebag, not a criminal mastermind.I specifically asked you not to go after him.”
“I heard you.”
“And you did it anyway.”
“I did.”
I grip the wheel until my knuckles whiten.“Now I have to worry about him finding out more.Cameras.Plates.A trail.”
“Jordan is the least of my worries right now.”
“What does that mean?”
He goes quiet.I hear something in the background.Wind?A door?I imagine him in motion, always moving, always looking for the next thing to break.
