I pull in a breath, pressing my thumb and forefinger to my temples. My heart won’t stop pounding, the ringing in my ears ping-pongs in my head, and I need ... I need ... shit, I need Blue. My feet are moving before I have my thoughts under control. The door slams behind me.
“Morning.”
I think that was Kimmie. I tip my chin toward her but don’t slow my pace. I can’t. Not until I have Blue in my arms. I just need to hold her. Breathe her in. Remind myself that she’s still mine, and she isn’t like him.
She isn’t leaving me.
Forgetting to knock, I pull open the Everests’ back door and barrel through the kitchen, past the living room, and up the stairs until I get to Blue’s room. She’s not there. My chest tightens as I scan the empty space—unmade bed, clothes draped over her chair, that braided grass stuff on her desk. No Blue in sight, and it’s just hitting me now that I don’t even have her number.
How the hell don’t I have my girl’s number?
She’s always been here or at school when I needed her before, and we both rarely use our phones as it is, so the thought never crossed my mind. But now ... now that I need her like a lifeline, I have no way to reach her, and my heart won’t slow enough for me to think.
I race back down the stairs, and I’m halfway to the front door when a familiar voice halts my steps.
“Hunt? Is that you?” Mr. Everest walks from the kitchen to the living room, an easy smile on his face until he spots me. His brows draw together as he looks me up and down. “Hey. What happened?”
Huh?
When he takes a step closer, gesturing toward my body, I look down.Shit, I completely forgot about last night’s fight. I’m usually so damn careful about covering up. Several nasty bruises mark my bicep and forearms, clear as day in the sleeveless white shirt I’m wearing on top of grey sweats. Luckily, he can’t see the throbbing in my ribs. The cut along the side of my jaw stings, but it’s got nothing on the raw ache still pulling on my chest.
“I’m fine, sir,” I manage.
Not a second later, her voice travels through the open window. My eyes dart to the front door. I could almost breathe a sigh of relief, but my strangled lungs won’t allow it. Not until I hold her, feel the proof that she still wants me.
“Doesn’t look fine to me.” Mr. Everest takes another step, then stops. His eyes narrow as he absorbs my serious expression. “You’d tell me if you were in some kind of trouble, right?”
I nod, my attention peeking toward the front window again when Blue’s laughter fades. “Yes, sir.” I swipe a palm over the cut on my jaw and around the back of my neck. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to catch Blue real quick.”
He follows my gaze toward the voices outside. “I see. All right. Come find me later, though, will you?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.” I’m out the door before I finish the words, my hungry gaze searching the empty sidewalk.
Another laugh registers, drifting farther away, and this time, it’s mixed with a familiar masculine sound.
My muscles tense.
I follow the voices to the side of the house and around the back until I find her. When I do, my frown deepens.
She’s leaning over the lavender, Tommy peering over her shoulder with one hand resting on her waist. I can’t stop watching as it slides a little lower, over the curve of her hip, sending a sharp spasm through my clenched fist. I vaguely register Kimmie shouting something from the pool, but I barely hear her over the throbbing in my ears.
I’ve never felt desperation like this. All-consuming, hopeless possessiveness, and it’s nothing short of terrifying.
You’re just like me, son.
You’ll always be just like me.
Blue scoots away, then looks up at Tommy, saying something while pointing at the flowers. He flashes her a lopsided grin, moves closer again, and brushes the hair back from her face.
That’s it.
All the pain, hurt, and rage meld together, forming a sweltering flame of turmoil I can’t see or think past.
I snap.
Blue
Before I can respond, Tommy’s moving closer, brushing a lock of hair from my cheek. Discomfort roils through me, and my eyes dart behind him. The unease I was already feeling expands at the sight of Joshua’s closed door.
