I pull the blanket right up over my head and completely cover myself in darkness before grabbing my Kindle and trying to lose myself in the book, only my mind keeps taking me back to him and ruining the story for me. Which sucks as I’ve been waiting for the release of this book forever and now it’s being ruined by Nate.
Damn it.
I shut off my Kindle and clench my eyes closed, begging the images to leave my mind so I start thinking about anything and everything else.
I think about kittens. I think about my classes. I think about Josh’s sloppy kisses. And then I think about that scene in ‘Paranormal Activity’ where the blanket is lifted. And then I shudder.
Just great. All I’ve managed to do is freak myself out in a home that is not mine. I need to turn the light on, but now all I can think about is something grabbing my feet when I dash across the room. So, I reach over and turn the side lamp on as there’s no way in hell I’ll be sleeping in the dark tonight.
Maybe I’m better off thinking about Nate’s body all over me than the images that haunt me from ‘Paranormal Activity’.
Just as I start to tune everything out and my mind finally begins to ease, I hear him on the stairs, only he’s not alone. The girl giggles and a moment later, his door is closed followed by the sounds of her loud moans.
I lay in bed, wide awake, listening to the whole thing. The beginning, the long, drawn out repetition of the middle, and then finally, the explosive end.
It’s damn lucky his parents sleep way over the other side of this big house as I can’t image Trish and Cade being particularly thrilled about finding a random girl in his room in the middle of the night. But at least this gives me something for when he threatens to tell my secret as I now have something on him. Something that could destroy his relationship with Ashley and something that would finally open his mother’s eyes to the fact that her baby is not the good little boy he makes himself out to be.
Chapter 6
My phone ringing in the dead of the night has me bolting upright in bed to realize it’s not actually the dead of night, but first thing in the morning. Jesus. How is it morning already? After the night I had, I’d do just about anything to sleep for another century, maybe that might help to take the images of Nate out of my head.
I glance around to remember that I’m not in the safety of my own home but being held hostage as Nate’s personal punching bag. My phone continues yelling at me and I reach across and rip it off its charger
I smile down at the caller ID and hit accept. “Hey, mom,” I say on a yawn. “How’re things going over there?”
“Hi, baby. We’re good. It’s been a hard few days so far, but we’re holding up,” she says in a tone that tells me she’s worried. “Listen, I know it’s early at home, but it’s getting pretty late here and I’m exhausted. So, I wanted to catch you before school,” she explains before letting out a breath. “I got a call from Trish earlier saying you’re at her place. Is everything ok, honey? She mentioned you were sick at dinner.”
Shit.
“Yeah, mom. Everything is fine,” I lie. “It was just a little lonely at home by myself and Trish cooks better than I can. She said it was ok that I stay.”
“Oh, yes,” she says. “I’m not worried about that. I’m more concerned about you being sick at dinner. You’re not throwing up again, are you? I thought we were past that.”
I cringe, hating to lie to my mother. “I’m ok,” I tell her. “Really. I think it was something I ate yesterday at lunch. Maybe food poisoning. But I feel good now, it must be gone.”
She’s silent for a short while as she considers my explanation. “You’re sure?” she questions.
“Yeah, mom. Promise. I’m fine now. I’m feeling much better this morning.”
She lets out a relieved sigh. “Ok. I was worried there. I don’t think I could handle you being sick again, not with everything that’s going on with your Nanna.”
“How is she?” I question, happy to change the topic and have the spotlight off me.
“It’s not looking good, sweetie,” she says in a pained voice. “I think this might be the end of the road for Nanna, but she’s putting up a tough fight. You should prepare yourself.”
“Really?” I question with a heavy heart as my eyes grow watery. “Do you think I could maybe video chat with her? Or maybe I could make her a video for you to play for her.”