Page 67

Try me, Beth.

Gabe paces behind the counter, his eyes on me as I finish preparing some sauces. Beth pours wine. Everyone’s acting like life is perfectly ordinary, like I’m ordinary.

Beth fixes her gaze between Gabe and me as I stand close to him, and he puts his hand on the small of my back. A hint of pink hits Beth’s cheeks, and her entire demeanor shifts, and a darkness infiltrates me. Is she jealous?

She walks to the window and waves my dad in. He waves back, points to the tree, and shrugs. I glance at the dining table set up in the next room. It’s set for four…Jake was never planning on eating with us. Beth sighs and says to the rest of us, “I hope you don’t mind, Jake’s in the middle of a project, so it’ll be the four of us for dinner.”

I can’t keep my eyes off Nick, who is still helping him, keeping my attention fixated on his every move. His emotions are shadowed, and I’m still not entirely certain I’m not in a dream.

As if on cue, Gabe squeezes me with a possessive edge. And Nick steps by Jake, moving to the center of the yard. My breath hitches as he watches us through the window, giving off the psychopath murder vibes that are settled just beneath those devilish golden eyes.

Gabe gazes at me. “Everything alright, Layla?” he asks, following my gaze out to the yard where Nick is standing in plain sight, holding a jack saw. I’m shaking, I realize, as a frigid chill sweeps through me. My lips part as Nick tilts his head, and I swallow a lump in my throat.

“Dinner,” Beth shrills. “Layla, please come help.” I blink a few times, and Nick is gone. I let out a giant breath and turn to Gabe, giving him a sweet smile.

A few minutes later, the four of us are all seated around the table. “So, the art piece is coming along nicely,” Gabe says, placing his arm around the back of my chair, musing at me. “Seems like your memories are returning. The figure in the painting has quite a scar. Military almost, but not quite.”

The fact he even looked at it feels like an invasion of privacy.

This catches Beth’s attention—our eyes meet like fire. She knew of Nick, she must have. His father died at our lumber site. Does she know the depth of our relationship? Although I suppose she wouldn’t, since I don’t even fully understand how deep we go.

I killed his sister, and as my mind unravels, I’m not entirely positive it wasn’t an accident.

Beth crinkles her face. “Isn’t that an odd thing to paint.”

I lower my eyelids, then glance at Regina, begging her for help. How much has Regina told Beth about the Archer?

“Healing comes in many forms, Beth,” Regina says, saving me in this moment.

“It’s fascinating,” Gabe remarks, his gaze distant, drifting off to the spot Nick was just standing. “The latent violence in your mind that hides just beneath the surface. It’s as if he were two different people.” His eyes find mine. “Who was he? He must have been someone significant in your life.” He smirks, and my insides curdle. He leaked the painting onto the internet. I know he did.

My insides start to burn. I need to find a way out of this dinner.

Gabe rubs his thumb over my arm, and my stomach curdles. I sit with my back straight, unable to move, unable to think.

“It reminds me of that Cross kid, the one who went off to the army,” Beth says.

I snap my mouth shut. Beth knew Nick…of course she did.

Beth observes me, pinching her eyes. “Do you remember him, Layla?”

My lips part, unable to answer. I twist my attention outside where Jake is still working away on the tree…alone.

Gabe frowns, then lifts the corner of his mouth sweeping his tongue along his bottom lip He knows something…Everyone knows something.

Beth rises abruptly and grabs her plate. “Layla, help me get cleaned up. Your father, Regina, and I are going to go out tonight. Gabe would like to meet with you alone about your representation and an upcoming art show he’d like you to take part in.”

Is she fucking serious? My stomach drops.

Dead serious from the look she’s giving me. Her face grows sour.

I rise and help clear the plates, taking them to the kitchen. “I’m tired, can I just go to my room and sleep. I can meet with Gabe tomorrow.”

“You’ve been sleeping all day,” Beth hisses.

I fold my arms. “So?”

Her face loses all color. “Gabe has a buyer willing to spend a lot of money on you. Don’t mess this up for us.”