The Locket

“Oh God, get a room,” Reese chuckled from the back seat, but we ignored him and continued to relish each other’s mouths.

Brent pulled back, grasping my hair in his hands, and held my gaze. “You are one amazing woman, you know that? What you did for Logan took a great deal of courage. I love you so much!”

I smiled, his compliment causing my cheeks to flush. “I missed you so much!”

“Did I miss something, because a half hour ago she was playing kissy face with Logan and you were really pissed?” Reese asked, teasing the two of us.

Without pulling my gaze from Brent, I answered. “It was all just a misunderstanding, Reese.”

I peeked over the seat at Reese and winked at him. He rolled his eyes.

“Whatever!” he drawled, making me laugh.

“Um, Blake?” Brent spoke in a raspy voice that made me wish we were somewhere private. “As much as I would love to stay here and kiss your beautiful face all day, we need to go.” He nudged me back to the passenger seat.

I climbed back over the console, settling into the passenger seat, still wild with excitement from that one word, Blake.

“I’m Blake again, huh” I questioned, smiling at him.

His eyes pulled sideways when he realized he was caught. “What do you mean? You’ve always been Blake?”

I swallowed my smile. “Nice try. When you’re upset or serious, I’m Claire, not Blake.”

He looked back over at me and laughed teasingly.

“Oh, you noticed that, huh?” he said putting his hand on my knee and squeezing.

“As a matter of fact, I did, Cassidy,” I said, raising an eyebrow at him. “I also noticed that you use the F-word frequently too. You know, only someone with an inept vocabulary uses that word so often,” I teased, sticking my tongue out at him. I always wanted to use my father’s words on someone.

“Is that so,” he said, both eyebrows raised.

“Yes, it is,” I responded proudly.

“Hmm, did you ever think that your stubborn independence makes me crazy? That maybe you get so far under my skin that I lose my fuc….” He caught himself. “Ever loving mi

nd?”

He grinned triumphantly.

I laughed. “No, I had not, but was that so hard? I like that choice of words so much better.”

“I like you.” Brent replied, strumming his fingers delicately across my knee, desire burning in his eyes.

“I like you more,” I vowed, smiling.

“Oh barf,” Reese choked out from the back, making us all break out in laughter and it felt so good.

CHAPTER 18

“The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.” – G.K. Chesterton

When I disappeared with Logan, Brent had borrowed his dad’s Explorer. His sister said she would pick up my Audi from the mill today and return it to the garage at my aunt’s house. I was hoping it would still be in one piece.

The drive was pretty quiet. It was midafternoon but the sun was hidden behind the clouds making it feel like it was later in the day. I used the time to reflect on how much had happened in one short week. The last seven days felt more like seven years. I was proud of what I accomplished with Logan, and looked forward to watching him turn his life around.

I pondered what would happen when I eventually encountered Kace. I knew it was inevitable considering it was my design. I felt so much hatred towards him and reminded myself to store it. I learned from my experience with Logan how quickly hatred could take over your life if you let it consume you.

I wanted to bombard the boys with questions about what happened when I left Reese’s house, and how they figured out where I was, but I didn’t. Knowing that fear and uncertainty lay ahead, I was just happy to be back with the two of them.