Page 26 of The Spider Queen

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Anita stood in the doorway and peered inside with trepidation. When she saw that the spider was nowhere in sight, she flounced in and plopped down on the bed.

“So, do you like Hunter?”

I opened a dresser drawer and riffled through it to find my oldest pair of sweats. They’d once been black, but they’d been washed so many times they were faded.

“I like Hunter,” I admitted slowly. “But it’s complicated.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“That’s not a reason.”

“I don’t have time for a boyfriend.”

“Yes, you do. Next excuse.”

“I’m not attracted to him.”

“Yes, you are. Next.”

I removed my ponytail holder and let my hair down. Picking up a brush, I fingered the prongs for a moment before dragging it against my scalp.

I thought about my dreams of the dark-haired man. I thought about the spider in the cube. I thought about the fact that I might be losing my mind.

There were just some things I couldn’t tell my cousin. Some things should be kept to myself.

Chapter 9

“Jeez,” I muttered, setting my phone aside. “Excessive much?” I had three missed calls from Hunter.

“Told you—he’s so into you,” Anita said. “Infatuated.” She stood at the kitchen counter dousing a pita with spaghetti sauce and shredded cheddar cheese.

I didn’t want to discuss Hunter. “So, is Jonah everything you thought he’d be?”

She put the pita pizzas in the oven and hit the timer. “I know what you’re doing.”

“Come on, you know you want to talk about him.” I took a sip of my beer and waited.

“You’re right, I do. I’m dying to talk about him. He is not your typical frat guy athlete,” she said, a hazy look entering her eyes. “I think—”

“What?”

“Nah, you’ll think I’m crazy.”

I raised an eyebrow. She had no idea…

“I think he’s the one.”

“Really?”

Anita nodded. “He’s just so—”

“You barely know him. And it’s new. Things change. Things can—”

“I’ll make you a deal,” she interrupted. “I won’t ask you about what’s going on with you and you don’t judge me for following my heart. I know you’re rational through and through, so love—”

A phone vibrated. This time it was Anita’s.

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