“Oh yeah?” I asked gruffly. “And did it work?”
“For a little while,” she agreed. “But when the grief came for me again, it dug its claws in that bit harder.”
I hummed beneath my breath, but I didn’t really have anything constructive that I could say to that. She was right, it would hurt more when I let myself feel it again, but I still kept doing this shit. I needed the reprieve. However long it lasted. Whatever it cost me to claim it.
We pulled up outside The Temple and I grabbed her bag from the back, carrying it inside for her as she followed me.
“You wanna watch TV in my room with me before dinner, Cinders?” I asked her casually as we approached the door. I was really asking if she wanted to come in and spend several hours making out with me, letting me worship her as I kept my grief at bay a little longer and I was pretty sure she knew it.
She looked up at me, an answer sitting on her lips, but before she could give it, the door swung open and Saint was there, frowning at me before narrowing his eyes on her.
“I hear you crashed a golf cart into the library,” he said, glancing at me again, his lips twitching in amusement.
“That’s a vicious rumour,” I joked.
“There’s videos online,” he added.
“Faked,” I joked and he quirked a smile.
“Fair enough. Come along, Barbie, there’s time for your punishment before dinner.” He offered her his hand and she glanced at me again, an apology in her eyes like she knew how much I didn’t want to be alone right now. Or maybe I was just imagining that. Because she placed her palm in his and the two of them disappeared off to his room up on the balcony and I was left with a sinking feeling in my gut and the grief creeping back in again.
I tossed the front door closed behind me and sighed as I headed to the fridge to pull out a six pack of beers. I dropped onto the couch and pulled the Xbox control into my lap as I cracked one open, wondering if Kyan might appear to join me soon or if I’d have to wallow in my own company tonight. Either way, the adrenaline was starting to fade and my body was beginning to ache. But it had been nice to forget for a little while.
***
I woke to music echoing around The Temple and my body aching all over as I realised I’d fallen asleep on the couch.
“Fuck,” I groaned as I pushed myself upright, squinting around as my head pounded and my swollen tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth.
“Get up, get showered and get ready to catch a stalker,” Saint growled behind me and I damn near leapt out of my skin.
“What?” I asked.
“While you were drinking yourself into oblivion last night, the rest of us were preparing to catch the stalker. So get up, sober up and let’s go.”
I groaned as I dropped my face into my hands and someone nudged me with a cool glass. I accepted the water and looked up to find Tatum watching me as I drank it down. She offered me some painkillers too and I grunted a thanks as my head pounded.
I forced myself to get to my feet and frowned as I realised it was still dark out.
“What time is it?” I croaked, heading to the sink to get a second glass of water.
“Four am,” Monroe’s voice came from the doorway and I looked around in surprise to find him drinking a cup of coffee as he waited for us to get ready.
“Why the fuck are we doing this at four am?” I grouched. If we’d waited until a reasonable hour, I might have slept off some more of this fucking alcohol.
“Because, it requires the element of surprise to catch someone like this,” Saint purred.
“Where’s Kyan?” I asked.
“Still asleep. But feel free to go wake him for me,” Saint suggested and I groaned as I stomped down the hall towards Kyan’s room.
“Wake up, asshole!” I shouted as I burst in on him.
“You can’t just ride a tiger,” he mumbled. “You gotta earn the trust of a big pussy like that first…”
I eyed the hunting knife which was wedged beneath his pillow with concern and crossed into the bathroom, taking a piss to relieve myself before grabbing a tube of toothpaste and heading back into his room.
I leaned forward and squirted a generous dollop of minty freshness onto his open palm then moved around the side of the bed, blowing gently on his ear so that his hair fluttered over it, tickling him.
It took three attempts before he slapped at the tickle and a roar of rage left him as toothpaste splattered everywhere.
I was running before he was even upright, a laugh tearing from my lips as he took chase. I darted back to the others and put the couch between us as he charged into the room with that fucking knife in his grip and toothpaste all over one side of his face.
“Enough!” Saint bellowed as Tatum started laughing and Monroe barked a surprised laugh too. “Save that aggression for the stalker. Today’s the fucking day.”
Kyan cursed me as he turned and stormed back to his room, managing not to stab anyone as he went and slamming the door behind him.
I poured myself a coffee to help with the hangover and jumped in surprise as a warm hand curled around mine.
“How are things this morning?” Tatum breathed and that look in her eyes said she really did care,
