The harsh reality hit me harder than the brick Peanut got me with on the head. We weren’t welcome back at the park and we had no other family. It was me, Ginny, and Bernadette. I’d actually thought Zayn could be included in our lives, but knowing what he was...changed everything.
Was this the first person he’d killed? I doubted it. I’d seen the darkness in his eyes, hadn’t I? Sensed there was something deeper inside him. I should’ve listened to my instincts instead of my dick. Ginny could’ve been hurt.
“Bubba, where are we going?” Ginny yawned as the Uber headed in the direction of a cheap motel. I only had enough cash for a few nights, and then we’d be homeless. They didn’t allow pets, but I was going to sneak Bernadette inside.
“We’re staying at a motel tonight, Gins.” I brushed her hair off her forehead and placed a kiss there before dragging her against my side. She yawned and closed her eyes.
“Why?” Her voice was barely a whisper. “What happened to Zayn’s house? Bernadette and I have our own room there.”
I flinched. I didn’t know what to tell her. She wouldn’t understand anything about this situation, especially when it came to relationships. And I definitely wasn’t going to tell her that Zayn killed people. The thought made me frown. Was there a reason he approached me in the first place? Was I...one of his targets?
“It’s just for a few days.” Then, I’d figure out where we’d go next, although, I had no fucking idea. I didn’t even have any friends I could rely on. I had a small, sad life.
“Is Zayn coming?” Her lashes fluttered open and she glanced up with innocent big brown eyes. She liked him, I could tell, and that hurt more than anything else. I’d let him into our lives, and Ginny cared for him. She didn’t show her hurt over Mom’s death, but I’d heard her crying in her bed last night. When I’d entered her room, she’d hugged me tight and apologized, as though she had anything to be sorry for. That’s how I knew Zayn wasn’t home.
“No, Buggy. He’s not.” And I hated how much I wished he was. He’d killed Roger. For me. Should I not appreciate it? What had he looked like with that kitchen knife as he’d stabbed Roger over and over again? The thought sent a weird shiver down my spine. He hadn’t stopped there, though, had he? No. He’d pulled out Roger’s large intestine and wrapped it around his neck, all because Roger had insulted me and made me feel dumb. No one had ever done anything like that for me. Not even close.
The Uber pulled into the parking lot of the motel, and I gave the driver a simple nod as a thank-you before I ushered Bernadette and Ginny out of the back seat.
“Take Bernadette around the corner of that building, Gins.” I pointed at the main brick structure where the rooms were located. “And hide her around there. Don’t talk to anyone, okay? If someone gets too close, Bernadette will protect you.”
She pouted, but it was weakened by a massive yawn that stretched her mouth. She patted her lips and blinked tired eyes up at me. “But why, Bubba?”
“Because she’s not allowed here and we don’t want anyone to know.” I nudged her gently. “Go.”
She sighed, but this wasn’t the first time we’d had to hide the pit bull. She guided Bernadette in the direction I’d told her to go, and once they were hidden, I walked toward the office, carrying the booster seat. Behind the counter was a young woman with pink hair pulled up into pigtails on each side of her head. She was staring at her phone and popping gum. When the belltingedas I entered, she glanced up and grinned widely.
“Hi! Welcome to the Rose Elite.”
I held in a snort. Strange name for a seedy motel that I was sure most people used as a hookup spot. “I made a reservation online.”
She eyed me curiously before her expression lit up. “Keaton?”
My name—real name, not my nickname—out of her mouth made me stiffen. Frowning, I eyed her young face and vibrant purple eyes. She wore contacts. I only knew one person who’d ever done that.
“Pandora?” I asked, hesitant. Pandora Green was a girl who’d gone to the same school as me. Everyone had always thought she was weird, but I’d liked her. We weren’t friends because I was a loner, but I’d said hello to her when I’d seen her in the hallways.
“Yeah!” She laughed and dropped her phone on the counter. Her grin stretched across her awkwardly slim face, giving her a wild and creepy appearance. “Hi. I haven’t seen you since junior year. How are you?” She gave me a slow once-over. “Damn, you’ve gotten big since I last saw you. Oh man, I had such a crush on you in school.”
“I’m gay.” The words blurted out before I could stop them. I froze. I’d never admitted that to someone so quickly, not unless I was in a gay friendly bar. Fear iced my veins and I clenched my fists at my sides.
She chuckled. “And I’m a lesbian. Yay us!”
She hopped up and came around the counter to stand in front of me. I think she only reached my shoulders, though it was hard to tell with how bouncy she was on her feet.
“Oh man, it’ssogood to see you again. It’s so cool that you’re gay.” She peeked around me. “Is that your sister and dog?”
I spun around and groaned. Ginny was standing outside the glass door, Bernadette at her side. Bernadette barked, the sound echoing. Ginny waved because that’s the type of little girl she was. Fuck. Guess we wouldn’t be allowed to stay here now. Looking back at Pandora, I winced. “Ah. Yeah. Virginia and Bernadette.”
She pursed her lips in thought. “You aren’t allowed pets here.” Then, she grinned again. “But you were always nice to me at school. As long as you make sure she doesn’t leave a mess, what my parents don’t know won’t hurt them.”
“Your parents own this place?” I peered around the office. It was clean, though small.
“Mm-hmm.” She strode back around the counter and grabbed a set of keys. She passed them over to me, and I took them cautiously. “Like I said, don’t leave a mess. Make sure she goes to the bathroom outside.” She tucked a long piece of her bangs around her ear. “Maybe we could hang out sometime. I see you’re here for a few nights. I could order pizza. On me.”
I frowned. I had just thought about having no friends and Pandora had always been nice. Maybe hanging wouldn’t be so bad. “Yeah, maybe.”
I smiled at her, though it felt awkward, before I gave her a nod of thanks and walked back outside where Ginny andBernadette were waiting. Herding them toward the room—105, as it said on the keys—I glanced once more at Pandora, who waved through the glass door, her grin not dimming.
