“Wanna get me alone?” She arches a brow.
I smile at her. “Maybe.”
“Where you wanna take me?” she asks but doesn’t let me answer. “I’m guessing the woods. Somewhere quiet and secluded so you can kill me.”
I’m not sure if she’s joking or being serious. “The only reason I would take you out to the woods would be to bury your body.” I step into her, reach out, and grab a piece of bleach blond hair. “If I wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead.” She swallows. “I would have done it while you laid on your bed with your hands tied behind your back. I could have wrapped my hands around your neck and squeezed while you gasped for breath. I could have made it quick and snapped your neck, or I could have held a pillow over your face and suffocated you,” I whisper. “Murder doesn’t have to be messy, princess. It can be sensual, or it can be brutal, depending on my mood.”
Her eyes search mine, clearly understanding my sincerity. “You’ve thought about it.”
“That wasn’t the only thing on my mind that night.” My eyes drop to her thighs, letting her know exactly what I mean.
“Okay.” Cole enters, rubbing his hands together. He spots us and exits the kitchen just as quickly.
“I can’t,” she finally answers, pulling away from me.
“Have plans already?” I tease, not in the least bit worried that she just turned me down. Demi Holt has gotten my attention, and I won’t let her walk away easily.
“Yes. With Seth.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
DEMI
FINALLY, FRIDAY ROLLEDaround. I’ve been able to avoid Deke since I spent the night at his house and slept with him. Again. Things were starting to get weird. The sex was too soft. He was too nice. I didn’t need him to coddle me or pretend I’m Becky. Maybe he just can’t help it, but I wasn’t going to stick around to find out. And then the whole thing about going on a date. At least that’s what I thinklet me take you outmeans. Hell, to a murderer, it might mean something completely different. And then he told me how he would do it. I hate that it turned me on. Fuck, I need therapy. I’m going to tell my mom to call her friend that she’s been trying to get me to see for years now. I didn’t lie about my plans with Seth this weekend, but I could tell Deke was pissed about it. He clearly forgot that I have a fake boyfriend. I didn’t stay after that.
I exit the bathroom and enter my walk-in closet. As soon as I got home from school, I showered, ready to get the hell out of here for the weekend. Seth had messaged me earlier about going to the cabin for the evening. We were supposed to go see a movie, but the idea of getting away sounded better. I didn’t realize how much I needed to get away and clear the fog of Deke Biggs until I read his message with our change of plans.
I pull on a pair of underwear and holey jeans along with a white T-shirt that has some donut holes on it that sayseat my hole. I grab my Louis Vuitton bag from the top shelf and start throwing clothes in it as I hear my door open. I storm out of my closet to see if it’s my sister. She’s been MIA ever since her argument with Austin on Monday. I’m guessing she went back to Collins, but who knows when she’ll return. I come to a stop when I see it’s my mother.
“How was school today?” she asks.
“Fine.”Like she cares.
She nods her head once, and asks, “Are you making friends?”
Really? It’s November. I’m three months into my senior year, and she wants to know now if I’m making friends. She knows the only one I bring around is Lauren. And Seth. “Yep.” If she only knew I’ve friended Deke, Austin, and Cole. She never liked Cole. Said he was evil. She thinks he killed his mother. She never cared much for Deke, but when she found out Becky was dating him, she began to come around to the idea of them together because the Biggs have money. A lot of it. I’m talking millions. And she’d rather a man support her daughter than her.
“Good. How are things with Seth?”
What is with all the questions? “Good. He’s busy with football.” Not a total lie. They have a bye weekend this weekend. That’s why he wanted to hang out tonight.
“Going somewhere?” she asks, looking at my bag.
“Yeah. Lauren asked me to stay the night with her tonight.”
She reaches up and grabs her pearls that hang around her neck, usually a clear sign that she’s going to turn me down. I used Lauren as my excuse when I passed out at Deke’s Tuesday night. She didn’t like it, but she didn’t ground me over it.
“She had a bad day,” I add. “You know? With her parents and all …”
“Ahh. I see.” She glances around the room. It’s spotless. I have a thing about tidiness when it comes to my personal space. The rest of the house I couldn’t care less about. “Is your homework done?”
I hold in a sigh. “Yes.” From a young age, my mother drilled into me that education is important—make good grades and make something of yourself—but she never once said that to Becky. It was like Becky was destined to marry royalty, and if I didn’t get into college, I’d be scrubbing toilets. And I find nothing wrong with that profession.
“May I go?” I ask, trying not to show my anger. I hate that Becky gets to come and go as she pleases, yet I have to ask. I still have three months before I turn eighteen, but that won’t matter. As long as I’m in school, I’ll have to do what she says.
“I suppose.” She sighs before leaving the next second. No goodbye. No I love you. Nothing. And I’m totally fine with it. I’m used to not being shown any kind of affection.
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