Page 99 of The Addict

“No.” I didn’t even have to think about that one.

He clasped his hands together in a begging gesture, causing me to roll my eyes. “Pretty, pretty, pleease!” he begged.

I groaned, “If I get you some—”

“Thanks,” he squealed. “I want twizzlers.” He nodded three times as if agreeing with himself.

I stood with a scowl. Arguing with him was a useless game.

“Excuse me,” I muttered awkwardly, having to maneuver over both Chelsea’s and Delane’s laps.

Delane physically tensed as my legs brushed hers on my way to the aisle. I wanted to stop and address it right then, but with the area filled with people trying to watch the shitty movie, it wasn’t really the best time.

I made my way from the darkened theater and into the light of the snack bar that was right outside.

“Twizzlers, please.” I was not eager to spend more of my money on something that was going to make Alex twice as hyper, but I couldn’t return empty handed.

The lady behind the register batted her eyelashes. “Which kind?”

I squinted over her head, trying to read the options. “How many kinds of twizzlers are there?”

She smiled as if she was doing me a favor by existing. “Four.”

My lip twitched. “Are you kidding?” It would be my luck that Alex would complain if I brought him the wrong flavor.

“Do you want me to be?” She giggled and leaned across the counter so that her cleavage was clearly exposed from the V-neck cut in her shirt. Not only was she hitting on me, but selfishly invading my breathing room.

I sighed and angled my body back some, not wanting to hurt her feelings, but not enjoying the fact that I could smell her cherry flavored bubblegum either.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I took it out, reading the notification. It was from Silas. I opened it instantly.

So you didn’t go home.

The color drained from my face. No. No way.

I glanced around the concession area swiftly. “I’ll just take one of each,” I said to the cashier, giving in and taking out my credit card. I needed to get back into the theater. Silas wouldn’t be here, would he?

I swiped my card without looking at the total, taking the candy and going.

Alex was bouncing in his seat with joy when I returned with his loot.

“OOH goodie, so many choices!” He shrieked and I dumped the bags into his lap.

“Now,” I brought my finger to his face. “Quit bugging me, alright?”

Alex gave the thumbs up, unable to speak due to the fact that he had already torn one bag of candy open and began devouring it.

I was on edge now. I wasn’t sure how I was going to even calm myself back down from the text I had just gotten. How would Silas know I wasn’t home? Did he go to my house? Was he here at the movie theater? When I finally quieted my thoughts enough to face the screen, I wasn’t met with the sight of bloody violence. There were three females practically craning over the seats in front of us, blocking my vision. One of the girls was nearly in my lap with how much she leaned back. The other two had physically turned themselves around in their seats to gawk at me.

“Can I help you?” I asked, unable to ignore their blatant call for attention.

One held up her cell phone and smiled. “Can we take a picture of you?”

I stared at her. “Excuse me?”

“You’re a Hansen, right? Your brother was on the news a few days ago,” one of the girls said, covering her giggle.