“It’s gorgeous,” Alexa tells me. “That was very nice of him.”
It was. “I don’t know if I should shatter it or hang it.” I sniff.
“Definitely hang it,” Emilee shrieks as she rips it from my hands.
THIRTY
GRAVE
ANOTHER NIGHT IN my hotel room. Cross sits on the couch across from me. “Let’s go out tonight,” he offers.
I shake my head. “Not in the mood.”
“I’m bored.” He stands.
“Then leave.” I wave goodbye.
“I don’t agree with Titan and Bones, but this isn’t good for you either, Grave. It’s been over a week. You need to get out.”
No, I don’t. Too much temptation. Drugs, women. I don’t want either of them at the moment.
“What if I called some girls and had them come here?” He pulls his cell out of his pocket.
“Then you better get your own hotel room.”
He sighs and drops back down onto his ass.
A cell vibrates, and I glance at the coffee table.It’s mine.I stare at Cross. He looks at me, and after a second, he growls, reaching forward and picking it up.
“It’s a message,” he states.
“Yeah? Tell them to fuck off.”
His eyes meet mine. “That’s not the response you’re going to want to give.”
“Why is that?” I can only imagine my brother texting me to get my ass to Kingdom. Again. He only sends me about five a day. For someone who gave me an ultimatum, he sure wants me back at Kingdom awfully bad.
“Because it’s April. And she received her drawing.”
“What?” I jump up off the couch and snatch my cell from his hand.
April: I got the drawing. Thank you. That was very sweet of you to frame it. I have plans tonight, but I was wondering if we could have dinner this weekend. If you’re not busy, I’d like to talk.
THIRTY-ONE
GRAVE
WHEN I WAS in high school, I stole a motorcycle off the showroom floor and took it for a joyride. I lost control going into a sharp turn and ended up driving it right off a bridge into the lake. I managed to crawl out and make it home. My father just happened to be home. He beat the shit out of me. I was in a coma for a week because of his hands. I’m not sure if the fractured femur and broken arm were due to him or my wreck.
By the time they released me from the hospital, my father had pulled strings and got me cleared. No arrest. I should have just done the time. He never let me forget what he did for me. Then he beat me some more. Said that I deserved to know what hell felt like. What he didn’t know was that I was already living in hell. And that’s why I did what I did, to feel alive.
That’s what April is to me. My hell. I knew all along it would end just like that day I stole the motorcycle. It was going to ruin me when she realized who I was and that she’d be better off without me.
I bring my car to a stop in her driveway and let out a long breath. I accepted her offer to dinner. I wasn’t going to pass upany chance of seeing her, even if it makes it harder to go without her tomorrow.
I exit my car and stride to her door. Knocking twice, I wait for her to answer. I’m nervous. For once in my life, I’m ashamed of who I am. But I know I can be better. For her. For us. I just need the chance to prove that to her.
The door opens, and she stands before me in denim shorts and a black T-shirt that readsAlways and foreveracross the chest. My gaze trails over her purple hair, cascading down and silky straight. She did her makeup how I like it, with black lining her eyes and dark lips.
