“You…saw that?”
“Uh-huh. It’s slowly coming back to me.” She grins like a Cheshire cat. “That’s when the fucking happened, right?”
“Ava!”
“All right! I can’t believe you’re still a prude even after sex with a beast like Jeremy. He looks like he likes it rough.”
You have no idea.
“Can we change the subject, please?”
“Okay, okay.” She leans over and wraps me in a hug. “I’m so happy for you and how you’re finally moving on from Jonah.”
I automatically stiffen at the mention of his name, and I hate that. I hate that he affects me even long after he got out of my life.
“What are you talking about?” I speak in a tone so awkward, it vibrates through my chest cavity. “I was over Jonah a long time ago.”
“Bollocks.” She pulls back and strokes my hair. “You haven’t been the same since you broke up with him. It’s like a piece of you has been missing or something. You weren’t always so gloomy and distant before him and you stopped wearing dresses and dolling up after he got out of your life. It’s like he sucked out your energy and left you with nothing. I did ask Bran and Creigh if we should find the arsehole and kick him in the balls for hurting you, but Creigh said you probably wouldn’t like that. I still scratched his car and ruined clothes for daring to hurt you.”
My lips part as I listen to her. This is the first time I’ve heard their perspective about that clusterfuck. Ava wouldn’t stop asking why I broke up with him, and I told her we weren’t compatible.
That’s the only excuse I could come up with at the time.
I thought they’d let it go, but apparently, that’s not the case.
“Point is.” Ava smiles. “I’m glad you’re regaining your old self, even if slowly. And while I’m not sure if Jeremy is good enough for you, if he makes you smile while looking at his texts, then it’s a start. I’ll totally kick him in the nuts if he hurts you. He might kill me, but I will have died for a good cause.”
“You’re saying that as if Eli would let him put a finger on you.”
“Shhh. Not He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.” She squints, then her eyes widen. “Oh, fuck.”
“What?”
“Remember the tidbit about how things are slowly coming back to me?”
“Yeah?”
“I think He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named was at the club.” She physically shivers.
“RIP. I love you.”
“Cecy!” She glares but then touches her hair, pretending everything is perfect. “But whatever, it doesn’t matter.”
Uh-huh.
“Point is, I’m so happy and excited for you. Jeremy better treat you right.” She hugs me again, and I wrap my arms around her.
Maybe it’s time I finally choose to be happy.
Later that night, I drive to the cottage.
Jeremy and I didn’t really talk about whether or not our arrangement will remain the same, but there’s no reason it shouldn’t.
Not only is this place ours, but it also hides us from the world so that it’s only the two of us.
And maybe I like that a little.
Okay, a lot.
Ava stepped out of her room and waggled her brows at me when I attempted to sneak out.
I threw a fluffy pillow at her, then picked it up after she dodged it and let it fall to the floor.
She just danced excitedly, made me put on her favorite lipstick, and did some provocative gesturing, but she didn’t make a sound so she wouldn’t wake Glyn up.
Earlier tonight, we were at the pub with everyone else, including Glyn, Anni, and Creigh. Because, of course, Ava completely forgot about last night's epic hangover and chose to have fun again.
Creigh sort of dragged Anni out of the circle soon after we got there, and Remi spent the rest of the night being dramatic about how he lost his spawn and how fast children grow up.
I think he really believes himself to be his father sometimes.
Me, on the other hand? I was bubbling with energy, counting the hours until I could come here.
I have no idea when this place started to grow so close to my heart, but it’s managed to snag a place.
As I park the car in front of the house, I pause when I find no trace of Jeremy’s bike.
I look at my smartwatch, and it’s about one in the morning—the time we normally meet.
Jeremy is usually here first, but I did come a little early tonight.
Trying not to feel dejected, I grab the bag of groceries and cleaning supplies I brought with me, then step into the house.
I light the fireplace and cook some soup and casserole. While waiting, I do some cleaning.
Not that the place is dirty, but it could glow up a bit more. It has its charm with its cozy furniture and intimate structure, but you have to look past the gothic feeling first.
After the food is ready, I cover it so it stays warm, then I go upstairs for a shower.
Fifteen minutes later, I step out dressed in a bathrobe while drying my hair. My phone vibrates once on the side table and I basically jog over to check the text.
The name Jeremy doesn’t appear on my screen, and I hate how my chest deflates.
It’s about three in the morning, and there’s still no sign of him or even a text.
Instead, it’s my best friend, who should be sleeping by now.
So should you.
Ava: Sooo I know you’re probably busy, but I just learned something weird. Like super weird. Remember the guys from last night? The ones Jeremy pummeled to the ground for coming near you?
I sit on the bed and type.
Cecily: What about them?
Ava: Snap! Why are you here?
Cecily: What about you, then? Shouldn’t you be sleeping?
Ava: I was practicing. Anyway, back to the topic. My gossip antennas let me know that two TKU students were admitted to A&E today. One of whom is in the ICU. Guess who? They’re Larry and Steven! The latter is in the ICU.
A shiver snakes beneath my skin and I swallow thickly. There’s no way this is just some coincidence or an arbitrary incident.
Larry and Steven approached me and ended up in the hospital.
Steven touched me and said that weird sentence that threw me off, and he’s in the ICU.
Ava: AND, you know what the strangest part is? Their friend, Donovan? The guy who was with me at the bar. He completely disappeared. That’s just next-level scary.
I grip the phone tighter, my fingers unsteady as I reply.
Cecily: Are Steven and Larry okay?
Ava: They’ll live. But with pain. I feel so sorry for them. Do you think Jeremy did it?
Even she thought of that.
That’s the most logical answer, after all. It all lines up.
Cecily: I don’t know.
I hope not, though I’m kind of sure he did.
My chest constricts at the thought that he hurt those people severely just because they talked to me or touched me.
And where the hell is he, anyway?
I click on his contact.
Cecily: I’m here. You’re not.
I wait for him to read it and reply.
And wait.
And wait.
Then I fall asleep while waiting.
I wake up feeling a shiver of cold. At first, I’m disoriented, then the events from last night rush back to my memory.
The first thing I notice is the empty spot by my side.