We’re in the same room. You could just ask me.
Pandora
I’ll be there in a few. No murder without me.
Blabe
Ok, we’ll save the murder for when you’re here.
Boyfriend
He’s thoughtful that way.
I clutch the gun, and I consider how easily I’d be able to take out the three of them. I wouldn’t need more than three bullets. They wouldn’t see it coming.
That makes the sobs worse, though.
I guess I don’t want them dead after all, despite everything.
I want them to want me.
I want them at my side.
I want to trust them.
After another two breaths, I place the gun and the business card in the compartment underneath the driver’s seat.
The drive to their house is over faster than I anticipated. I hadn’t gone that far off course after all. River’s car is already there, blocking in Blaze’s fancier one.
I park on the street, and I look down at my hands. I should wash them before I talk to them, or they’ll get worried.
There’s no blood, not on my hands and not on the steering wheel.
Oh, duh.
Maybe Papa wasn’t wrong about me needing professional help. But I like his murder plan more. Murder sounds easier. Less painful.
For me, anyway.
I take a deep breath and head out to the house. The door opens before I even get near it, and Asch and River approach me.
“You two are really hard up, huh?” I say with a bright smile that strains my cheeks. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave you hanging.”
“Good,” Asch says. He takes my hand and tugs me close, brushing his lips against mine. “We missed you, that’s all.”
River nods, but I know that’s not what he’s really thinking.
I turn away from River and focus on Asch instead.
“It’s been a while, boyfriend,” I say, kissing him again. I raise my thigh to rub it against his. “I’ve got some ideas of how we can make up for all those days apart.”
“Then let’s get inside before I freeze my balls off,” Asch says. “I don’t know how you can handle these winters. This is my second year here, and I thought, hey, it won’t be so bad this year. I was wrong.” He steps back and coaxes me into the doorway.
River steps aside, his expression intent upon mine until I catch him staring. Then he glances at Asch before following us inside.
“It builds character!” I say. “And you can’t play in the snow if the weather is too warm to even create snow.”
I take my boots off at the door and hang my coat up on the coat hanger. Blaze really likes his things neat and tidy, although I spot a hint of Asch’s mess in the shoe rack, which is in complete disarray.
