“I’d ruin you, Em.”
>
My eyes widen.
Then I blink.
I’d ruin you first.
Chapter Fifteen
Kaiden leaves shortly after his brazen remark. It leaves me bothered in a lot more ways than I anticipate, so I brush it off by picking up a book and reading until I fall asleep.
Unfortunately, I dream of Kaiden. And not in a friendly or brotherly way. I dream about him like I’d dream of one of my many book boyfriends who want to devour and claim me and love me in ways Kaiden certainly doesn’t.
And that’s…well, that’s a problem.
A big problem.
Because he may not do labels, but I do.
Like stepbrother.
And stepmother.
And fatal.
Fatal attraction.
Fatal affection.
Fatal disease.
He thinks he’ll ruin me, but he has no idea what unstoppable forces are in my arsenal. I’m my own weapon, a nightmare that lives in reality. It isn’t something I can control, and he has no idea. I don’t think getting close to him will do any good, whether it’s friendly or not.
If he still struggles with his father’s death, what would mine do to him?
I’m not sure I want to find out.
For once, I wish I was seeing Mama’s teary golden eyes instead of Kaiden Monroe. I wish I was listening to Lo’s playful laughter instead of Kaiden’s husky words. Wishes don’t come true though, because this isn’t some fairytale.
It’s reality.
And reality is a mean bitch.
Chapter Sixteen
Tomorrow is the day before October break and everyone is loud and eager to have a week off. I already heard at least half the senior class mention skipping tomorrow and starting early, especially because Halloween is on Saturday. Apparently parties are common for the holiday, costume or not, and I even heard one guy mention going out after midnight redecorating people’s houses with toilet paper and who knows what else.
When Mr. Nichols realizes he doesn’t have everyone’s attention at Book Club, he reminds us to start reading the next book for the week after break and then lets us go. Considering it’s my selection, I probably won’t spend a lot of time gathering quotes and ideas for discussion, especially since Dad agreed to take me to Mama’s for the week.
Honestly, I’m nervous. I called Grandma asking if she thought it’d be okay, and she seemed excited. That doesn’t mean Mama will feel the same, and I’m not sure how she’ll react when she sees me.
It’ll be good. That’s what I keep telling myself. It gives me time back home to visit with everyone, especially Logan. Plus, it gives me a chance to breathe. Things with Dad haven’t been bad, but that doesn’t extend to Kaiden.
Ever since our impromptu movie night, he finds ways to make me blush—winks, hand brushes, crude comments. Usually, he doesn’t pay me much attention if we’re both home. He does his thing and I do mine. Once in a while he’ll barge into my room while I’m doing homework and ask me pointless questions, pestering me because he can.
It makes Cam smile.