Page 81 of The Monster I Am
I toss the pieces in his direction before heading toward the door. I half expect a paperweight to hit me in the back of the head or something but nothing comes. Nor are there any words. Which can only mean one thing…
Something bigger is on its way instead.
Chapter twenty-six
Bexley
I’m starting to get accustomed to our little midnight trips to Cedar Heights. Okay—midnightis using the term loosely since it’s more around 9:00 p.m. But try telling that to my sleep deprived ass.
Between spending time with the guys, my friends, spontaneous-kind-of planned trips to Cedar Heights, and studying for final exams, sleep is a fond distant memory. Thank fuck for coffee because without thesweetbean of life, I definitely wouldn’t be the lovable little heathen I am.
We have a much larger group this time. Turns out the more we plan, the more things get a bit out of control. Though, I still maintain my innocence.
Arch told Abby since he had to explain why he couldn’t get Thai food with her. And in turn, Abs told Soph. And from there everything snowballed. Before I knew it, my introverted bestie was tackling me in gym class demanding to come with us.
It didn’tquiteoccur to me that perhaps I should have run that idea by Tai before agreeing. I said yes before even contemplatingthe consequences. But hey… the consequences weren’t really a punishment. Not unless you count edging as one. He let me come eventually—only because I threatened to do it myself and was fully committed to that promise.
I’m not sure Tai realizes that even if he had managed to sex me into siding with him, it was never going to change Soph’s mind. She arrived at my house, fully donned in black attire like some movie spy before Tai had even finished showering at theirs. I guess that’s what happens when you spend too long having a disco party in the bathroom. Your siblings absolutely will take advantage of your karaoke sessions and bolt from the house despite the well-intended threats.
Of course there was a small heated exchange of words at mine before Tai relented. He had no choice when Abs and Archer rocked up, outnumbering him.
Then when we arrived at Cedar Heights, I wasn’t at all surprised to find Mills waiting with Parker. Soph nearly shit herself at his presence. Maybe it was the equally spy inspired hoodie he’s wearing… or the fact I actually saw himsmileat her? I was almost convinced those facial muscles didn’t exist in his anatomy, and I’m a bit sad that I only caught a glimpse of the rare occurrence since Mills tackled the fuck out of me when we got out of Tai’s car.
What did surprise me, however, was Steele’scompanion. I’m not entirely sure if the cause of Hunter’s sour expression was because Steele was standing near him… or because Peyton decided to tag along.
I’m not sure what hold Peyton has over her cousin but I’ll need to find out her tips and tricks because I’ve never known Hunter to have the ability to bite his damn tongue.
Or maybe that was just a Bexley special.
I’m actually glad Peyton is here. The poor girl needs to be surrounded by people who won’t treat her like shit and stab herin the back. Even though our start wasn’t desirable, I have no reason to doubt her. If anyone knows what it’s like being on the receiving end of Liv’s bullshit, it’s me and Peyton. Nothing like bonding over vapid airheads who think the world revolves around them.
Maybe a bigger person would feel guilty about stealing one of Liv’s best friends from her. Not me though. I’ll steal her friend and bone the guy she wants. Plus, you can’t steal what someone never had. She only has herself to blame for that.
“Are we ready?” I ask the group, fetching the key out of my pocket. I hand it over to Hunter like it’s part of the routine now. He takes it, still sucking on invisible lemons, while giving me a curt nod.
“Let’s make this quick,” he grumbles, avoiding eye contact with everyone.
Rylan slides up beside me with a shit-eating grin. “Ignore him. Pretty sure he was hoping to corner you alone to see ifhecould fuck you through a wall.”
I cock an eyebrow, lowering my voice. “We’re going in the tunnels,” I mumble, amused. “I’m not sure the walls are as unstable. Well… I fucking hope not, anyway.”
“He loves a challenge.”
“Are you two coming or not?!” Hunter snaps from the entrance.
Glancing over at him as the rest of the group heads inside the dark building, I throw him my best sympathetic—sorry, not sorry—puppy dog eyes. “Calm your tits, Hunter. It’s not that deep.”
“That’s what she said,” Rylan murmurs under his breath, giving his best friend a little pat on the shoulder as he moves past.
“Fuck off,” Hunter grouches at him, holding the door open for me. “And my tits are fine and well composed.”
I snuffle a laugh. “Are you sure? You look mildly annoyed at something.”
“I’m not annoyed.”
“Really?” I question, waiting as he closes the door behind us. The others are already out of sight, probably nearing the library. I can’t help but feel Hunter is dragging his feet deliberately, despite attempting to stress the urgency of us acting fast. “So, you’re cool with Peyton being here?”
He pauses, body tensing up. “I’m completely fine,” he says unconvincingly. “The more, the merrier.”
