Page 48 of Hide From Me

“Yes, blossom. What part of burning your father alive meant I was mentally stable?”

She was silent for a few seconds.

“I want answers,” she finally said.

I looked at the time. I still had time. Maybe seeing her would curb the craving that I didn’t seem to be able to do with beating the shit out of the bags at the gym.

“Ask the right questions and you’ll have them.”

She growled over the phone, which was only made worse when I chuckled.

“You’re such a prick. What happened to the guy who stopped my father from pimping me out night after night?”

I grunted because that guy was still here. How did I answer that she just hadn’t been around long enough to see all of me to know that?

“Baby, you mistook my charity for sanity. That’s not my problem now, is it?”

She was quiet as I grabbed my bag and walked into the showers of the gym. I needed to rinse the shit of the day away, but I waited for her answer before I got in.

“You’re a prick,” was all she said before she hung up.

Good, I needed her to see that I wasn’t whatever she had built up in that pretty little head of hers. I would never be her Prince. I would always be the beast who locked her in a gilded cage. She just hadn’t realized that yet.

NINETEEN

rylee

After that quickmorning photoshoot of pretty boy, I was home, and I was trying to decide how far to push this date thing. Or, rather, how far I could push Cas before he did something I’d regret.

I had a name now for the handsy asshole, but it didn’t matter. I couldn’t be sad for someone who was probably only out to rape unsuspecting women, but still, I was fuming. I looked at the door up to my apartment.

I could go upstairs and be alone or I could go next door. The Dove coffee shop seemed quiet, but it was midday. I still didn’t know any of my neighbors. For all the growth I’d made, I still had issues meeting new people and trusting them, and gee, I wonder why. That was it. I headed straight for the little shop. I didn’t know what I’d accomplish, but at least I wasn’t alone.

Look at me all self-growthing and stuff. The door dinged as I walked in. There was a girl I didn’t recognize behind the counter, but she seemed nice enough as I walked up to her.

“Hey, what can I getcha?”

I looked at the menu and then the case of goodies.

“What do you recommend?”

The girl had a pleasant enough face, but the tattoos on her fingers told me she was from around here, and that meant she wasn’t the innocent little personality that she displayed here.

“Gran makes the best scones. This is my favorite.”

She reached in the case and pulled out what was labeled as white chocolate raspberry.

“I’ll warm it up. Want a coffee too?”

I nodded. My head was still remembering the drinks from last night, even if my stomach had decided to get on board with being an adult.

“Have a seat and I’ll bring it out.”

I grabbed out my wallet. “What do I owe you?”

A voice I remembered from earlier hollered from the back.

“Your money is no good here, dear. Go have a seat and Maddie will bring it out.”