Page 33 of Stone Temptation

Time to change the awful ringtone.

Tom was calling.

“Morning,” I answered.

“You’re alive. Good.”

“Uh-huh.” I ran my hand over my face, my mouth furry and crying out for toothpaste. “What’s the time?”

The clock said half eleven in the morning.

“How did it go with Seth?”

I yawned. “Fine. Sorry for the brief text. I was so exhausted.”

“No problem. But you’re okay, right?”

No. I felt like shit from my heart breaking for Finn all over again, the weird vision—Seth’s nasty turn and command the poisoned rainbow sprinkles on top.

“I’m okay,” I said, peeling myself off the sofa.

“You sound fucked.”

“I feel fucked. So glad we’re off tonight.”

Well, he would be. I had a different job to do.

Sneaky Seth. Nasty Seth. Truly the vile piece of work everyone said he was, with me choosing to see his decent side.

What decent side?!

“I’m coming over.”

Tom took me by surprise. “What? Why?”

“Because I said so.”

If he came over, I might break down again. I needed some time to rebuild my walls, slap my game face on.

“Tom, I?—”

“See you in a bit. I’ll bring brekkie.”

He hung up.

“Crap!” I tossed the phone on the sofa, hurrying to the bathroom for a quick wash, change, and teeth clean.

Just as I returned to my living room in my comfies and slippers, Tom arrived with a greasy breakfast takeaway and coffee.

What a beautiful day out there. Sunshine, blue skies, a calm sea.

“I smell bacon,” I said.

“You’d be correct.”

I stepped aside, letting him in.

A monster with a puffer fish body and human legs hopped from side to side beside my car.