Page 38 of Property of Hayride
“You’ll have to give up fucking club girls,” I tease him. They love Phantom. “Heard you like to fuck several at a time.”
He snorts. “Gotta keep up my stamina.”
“Or you just like to get laid.”
“There’s that.”
Chasing pussy used to be fun for me. I know things have changed, thatI’vechanged, because I don’t want any woman but my Nat.
Phantom is right. I need to make sure she knows how I feel.
Even if she rejects me.
Chapter 10 Natalya
Thad is alive.
I’ve never been so relieved and horrified at the same time. The wounds. His suffering. I’ll never forgive myself for dragging him to Raven’s Crest. It’s not my fault, but I feel horrible.
The recurring thought in my head, that won’t stop, is that I’ve been obsessed with the Hillside Stalker. His killing spree. The rumors about a cult following. But it just seems so stupid now. I never could have imagined that my brother would become a victim of someone copying Rayford Allen or picking up where he left off. It makes me sick to think about it.
Thad doesn’t deserve any of this.
He’s not had a chance to say much because he’s on several heavy painkillers. The doctors informed us of his injuries. Thad has a broken arm, sprained ankle, and laryngeal trauma. There are so many cuts and bruises on his body that he’s going to have scars—a lot of them.
He’s being sedated for now to help promote healing and reduce the stress on his body. I hold my dad’s hand as we sit beside Thad’s hospital bed. We’ve both cried.
Now, we’re just waiting and hoping that Thad won’t have long-term effects and will fully heal. But it’s likely he’s going to need therapy after this. I can’t imagine what he’s gone through or how terrifying it must have been. He was all alone. The thought makes me want to cry. Again.
Dad’s eyes close, and he finally sleeps. If my worry has kept me up, I can’t imagine how my parents are feeling. Dad is exhausted. He needs to rest.
I slide my hand free and walk to the doorway. I need to stretch. I’ve been sitting too long. My body feels tired, but my mind is wired.
I just need a quick walk to shake this off. As I leave the room, my thoughts shift to Hayride. He’s sent me a text and a cryptic message about needing to talk. I don’t know if that’s guy-speak for“we’re breaking up” or“I can’t live without you.”
I hope it’s the second option because Thad is going to be hospitalized for a while, and I need to be here for him. More than that, I still want to see Hayride. We’re just beginning to explore this thing between us, and I don’t want that to end.
“Natalya?”
I turn around and see none other than Granny Jo from the Butter Bliss Bakery. “Hi.” What is she doing here?
Granny Jo lifts the pink box in her hands. “I’ve got a special delivery.”
Oh. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”
“Of course. Is there a place we can talk? Alone?”
That’s an odd request. “Sure. The family waiting room is empty.” I gesture to the right, where I can see through the glass windows. The blinds are open. No one is inside.
“Perfect.”
She follows me inside, and I shut the door. Granny Jo sets the pink box on the table between us as we take a seat. “How’s your brother?”
“Okay. He’s got a long road of recovery ahead of him.”
“I’m so sorry, honey. I can’t imagine how awful this has been.”
“Pretty awful,” I admit, trying not to cry. “I appreciate you coming by. It means a lot.”
