Page 45 of Unhinged Kallie

“Nothing. I just think I need to do a little digging after school.”

I covered my eyes and swore. This would end badly, I could see it coming, and it would be like trying to stop a train going full steam. You either let Kallie do her thing or got run over.

Chapter Seventeen

KALLIE

CHRISTMAS

After our moment in the hospital and over the last few weeks, I thought I was getting somewhere with Carter. He seemed more open and didn’t jump when I touched him, but I was wrong. He started pushing me away again as soon as he could walk and train. We were playing footsies under the table, and I know I saw heated glances, but he took off as soon as Christmas dinner was done. Why was he so fucking stubborn? We both wanted each other, I couldn’t wrap my head around his logic.

Just like I didn’t understand why we had Christmas dinner in the first place when my dad and Uncle Abel weren’t even remotely religious. But Aunt Aspen insisted, so here I was, picking at a piece of pumpkin pie and staring at Carter’s empty seat.

“Why so glum, chum,” Bo asked, and I shrugged. “Is it because lover boy left?” I glanced around, but everyone was preoccupied with something else.

“He’s not my lover, and keep your voice down.”

“He is the reason, though, isn’t he?”

“What does it matter if he is?”

Picking up a fork, Bo grabbed my plate and ate my mangled pie. “You didn’t want this did you,” he asked as he stuffed a forkful in his mouth.

“Not now.” I didn’t care about the pie, but I was tempted to stab his hand. It was annoying that he knew why I was upset.

“Look, all I’m going to say is that he’s not like us. As much as he tries and would do anything for you, he’s not a killer.” Bo pointed around the room. “You should find someone like us, or shit like this will keep happening.”

“That’s ironic coming from you, considering who you’re stalking.” Bo paused with the forkful of pumpkin halfway to his mouth. “Don’t look at me all surprised. I see everything, Bo. You would do well to remember that.” I leaned a little closer to him, my voice dropping. “Just like how I know you have videos of a certain someone you really shouldn’t have.” His face paled. “I can vividly picture what you do with those videos late at night when you think you’re all alone. But are you?” My lip curled up. “I may even have made a copy or two.”

I’d never snuck into Bo’s room, and I certainly had no interest in watching him jerk off to my cousin, but he didn’t need to know that. He just needed to wonder if I had.

“What do you want?”

I screwed up my face. “Nothing. At least not now.” I smiled, plucking the fork from his fingers and eating the last bite of pie. “Rule number three, always be prepared for anything.”

Smiling, I stood and wandered home. I was sick of playing the part of the happy Santa loving family.

* * *

FEBRUARY

“No, you can’t come with me,” Carter said as he pulled on his favorite hoodie.

“But you just said that you’re going to get ice cream. Why can’t I come for that?” He sighed as he walked toward the bathroom.

“Because I’m not going alone. It’s a date.”

I ground my teeth together. “Fine, whatever.”

“Fine?” Carter poked his head out of the bathroom. “What does that mean?”

“Last I checked, it still meant fine.”

Turning around, I stomped away and slammed my door closed but tiptoed back down the hallway. He didn’t want to take me, fine. Carter still wanted to try and deny us, no problem. Nothing was stopping me from having a little fun with it.

I ran out the back door and down to the small slaughter area Dad set up years ago. Going to the freezer, I pulled out one of the pig heads. It always amazed me how heavy they were. Luckily, there had been an early thaw and then a cold snap, so all the snow was gone, and the ground was nice and hard to hide my tracks.

I glanced up at the house, then opened the rear door on the old truck Carter bought, placing the head on the backseat. He always had an extra sweater or something in here, and sure enough, there was a black sweater on the floor. I tossed it over the head, not bothering to tuck it in so it would easily slip off.