If anything, I felt as if Maddox had pulled away from me, instead of what had happened between us bringing us closer. It confused me. Fucking boys.
ToxicCharm:Is he a good kisser at least? I need a pic, and I will be judging him so hard.
I bit my lip, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth as my fingers hovered over the keyboard. I didn’t need experience to know that Maddox was skilled at kissing. He was exceptional. Perhaps too good, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about knowing those lips had been attached to other girls’ mouths. The thought produced irrational hot jealousy within me.
Before I typed a response, Jade lifted her head suddenly, her whole body going rigid. Ears twitching forward.
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang through the house, making me jump, which made Jade jump. My fingers stilled on the keyboard.Who the hell would be here at—I glanced at the clock—10:47 at night?
My mind ran through a list of reasonable explanations, eliminating each one just as quickly.
Mom had a key. She wouldn’t bother ringing the bell.
Maddox would have texted me first.
Paisley or Atlas would have called.
I frowned at my bedroom door, trying to decide if I should ignore whoever might be outside or get off my ass and check. Mom had installed several security measures, including cameras at the front door. Rolling over, I pulled the app up on my phone, but the loading screen just kept spinning.
Ding-dong.
The bell rang a second time. Obviously, this person was impatient and not going anywhere. Groaning at the distraction, I quickly typed a message to Keegan.
Me:Someone’s at the door. brb.
I pushed off the bed, my feet hitting the rug with barely a sound. Jade watched me with wide eyes, pupils dilated in the dim light, her tail twitching with agitation.You and me both.
I crossed the room and peered out the window that faced the front yard, pulling the curtain back to check the driveway, but there were no cars. No delivery truck idling at the curb. So did this person walk to my house? Was it possible that it was one of my neighbors?
Weird.
I jogged downstairs. When I reached the door, I peeked out the glass pane, expecting to see someone waiting for me, but no one was visible from any angle. I flipped the locks and opened the door, surprised to see the porch empty. For someone so persistent, they hadn’t stuck around long.
“Hello?” I called out just in case they were within hearing distance, but my voice echoed into the night; only the evening air greeted me in return. I stepped out onto the porch, bare feet hitting cold wood. Glancing left, then right, I scanned the yard and the street beyond.
Empty.
No package on the welcome mat. No person retreating down the walk. No sign anyone had even been there.
What the fuck?
This was all too…bizarre. A chill slid down my spine, raising goose bumps along my arms.
“Okay…” I muttered, wrapping my arms around myself against the cold.
Ding-dong ditch? It had to be. Just kids messing around, thinking it was funny.
Right?
I stepped back inside and shut the door, engaging the deadbolt and then the chain. I was being overly paranoid. I did not need to worry. Yet.
Heading back upstairs, my feet moved faster than they should, taking the steps two at a time, but the second I reentered my room, I froze.
My breath snagged as my gaze fixed on the single black rose stretched across my white pillowcase.
29
