It’s kinder to her to let her hate me. I see that now. I open my mouth but am still sorting through my own motivations and desires and, god, I hate having to second guess while shit pours down on me. I owe her the truth, or some of it.
She’s only frowning at me now. Waiting.
If I tell her that I lied, which lie?
I never told her I might be a killer of women, except I never knew, until now. Though I should’ve guessed. The visions of bloodied, sliced-up females are a big, enormous hint.
Or do I say that my real name is Kail Stone? That I am from an alternate version of this world and haven’t trusted her enough to say.
Or maybe that I thought we were destined to be together, and now I can see we are star-crossed lovers, and fate wants to tear us apart, and tear me a new asshole.
Choose wisely. I huff, roll my shoulders, and turn to fully face her. “Fuck. I don’t know what to say…”
Yes, I’m a coward.Wait. Would that work?
“Sorry, Hailey. I’m a coward. I’m shit. Forget me.”
“I don’t believe you. Something has changed. Tell me, Kail, you prick, or I will…I will…do…something!”
Achievement unlocked. I’d rather be a dick than an evil killer. I’m ready to truly go when?—
Someone downstairs screams, “Fire! There’s fire in the basement!”
Which is when the thoughts clear and lock together, and I remember this is a house full of perverts. I was going to leave her here, alone with Zedder and co.
I rush back to her, scoop her up along with the bag she left on the bed, then fumble open the fucking window and bounce out into the night. It’s easy for a frankenstruct to leap down from this height onto the front lawn, even with a woman’s weight to carry. I mean, I wasn’t sure I could. I might’ve broken a leg but, bonus points, I haven’t.
Once we reach the Jeep, I strap her in and make sure she’s fit to drive, and that the engine is started. She smiles at me.
Past the top of the car, the part of the house where the small basement window resides is leaking a tendril of smoke. Someone must have opened that window. No flames, thankfully. A few people are running out the front door, but I guess most have stayed to rubberneck. A proper fire would have spread farther by now.
Hailey grabs my hand where it rests on the door frame. “Climb in. We can sort this out when we reach Molly’s.”
“Uh.” I close my eyes and take a breath. If only. “No. What I said before stands. This is the end of us. Have a greatlife, Hailey.” I hesitate then turn over her hand and kiss her palm.
Her eyes go wide, her mouth trembles.
You have to go.
This time she remains silent. She only stares as I turn away from her.
40
INSANITY IS INFECTIOUS
There’s blood on the sleeve of my costume. Luckily, harlequin means red is kinda everywhere. I navigated the stairs fine, but the downstairs hallway is difficult. Half the idiot party goers are heading to the front door. The rest, like me, are curious about the smoke and the fuss.
That Hailey and Mister Scary Muscles went out the bedroom window is a slight pity.
Zedder comes over to me. “You’ve blood on your nose.”
The basement stairs are a few yards further along and people are stopping and gawking or going down there.
I wipe my nose with my sleeve again. The coke hits and my vision blurs for a second. I grin at Zedder. “Not a fire?”
“Apparently not. Carlos! What’s happened? Not our house, but we can’t have it getting wrecked.”
Carlos has just emerged from the basement, and he threads past a rubbernecking couple. He’s big and dark-featured with enormous eyebrows and has a gut under his Predator costume. His grim expression intrigues me.
