Drew leaned over, picked up the box, and said, “Yup, let’s crack this puppy open!”
Chapter Sixteen
Lettered in Secrets and Lies
“It’s locked,” I said, shocked and heard Echo’s smug giggle. “This is freaking fantastic!” I was beyond agitated. I got up mad as hell and paced the floor trying to calm down. “Maybe throwing the damn thing against the wall will crack it open,” I said spinning around to grab it. I stopped dead in my tracks as I watched Drew, cross-legged, turning the box over. He had an inquisitive look in his eyes and a determined expression on his face. I’d have to be blind not to see the hamster running the wheel in his head.
He put the box down, regarded it for a moment longer, and then glanced up at me. His expression changed yet again as he looked me up and down admirably. “You know, you really are something to look at,” he said as his eyes continued to roam.
I could feel my ears grow warm and then chase the flush down my neck. “Drew—the box,” I asked, pointing to the wooden square.
He chuckled and shook his head like he was shaking his thoughts off and said, “Well, there are two possible solutions here—three if I count your suggestion, which I’m not. The first one is to pick the lock which should be easy enough. The second one is to find the key.”
I felt Echo’s mood take a nose dive but had no way of knowing what option had caused the reaction. “I have no idea where to look for a key to a box that has remained hidden for over seventeen years,” I said, feeling useless. I was a lot of things, but psychic was not one of them.
“Sure you do, the answer is already in you,” Drew suggested lifting a brow.
“She’s never gonna tell me where it is, Drew!”
Yes, I will. Echo gave a conniving little giggle, and it made my hackles rise. All you have to do is ask.
I snorted as disbelief settled over me. “Seriously, now you want to offer help? Why don't I believe you? ”
“Okay, Okay, sorry, that was a bad idea. You don’t need to be sarcastic. It was just a thought,” Drew said, defensively looking a little hurt over my comment.
“No, no, Drew, that’s not what I meant! Echo just told me I only have to ask, and she’ll tell me where the key is,” I said pointing at my head and whispering.
Drew folded his arms over his chest after standing up and pinned me with a dry look.
“What,” I asked when his expression changed, and he looked at me like he thought I was losing it.
“You know Echo can hear you even if you’re whispering, right?”
I felt like an idiot, and rather than give the obvious answer, I turned my thoughts inward and asked. “Echo where’s the key?”
“Buried,” she said simply.
I stood there waiting for the rest, but it never came. Echo remained silent, but her emotions where trimmed with a sense of childish satisfaction. I realized she was purposely screwing with me, and I didn’t like it one bit. I heard her snicker at my realization and felt her confidence in her ability to manipulate me rise.
“Fine,” I shouted, making Drew damn near jump out of his skin, and marched out of my room. I crossed the hall and went into the bathroom. “Say goodnight Echo,” I said to my reflection in the mirror before throwing open the medicine cabinet and taking the pill bottle down.
Drew followed me and made it to the doorway as I pulled the bottle off the shelf. “Eden, what are you doing?” Fear danced across his features, but his voice was calm.
I glanced at him with tears in my eyes and could see just how much I had really rattled him. My crying did nothing to ease the worry. His eyes darted from me to the bottle in my hand and back several times.
“Eden—baby, give me the bottle, she isn’t worth killing yourself.”
The new pet name had me pausing from my rage, and then what he was implying came back and slapped me in the face.
“I’m not going to kill myself, Drew! This is my psych medication. I'm gonna start taking it again. In a week, she won’t be able to screw with me anymore.” I looked at my reflection in the mirror, and the pill bottle shook in my hand as the tears streaked paths down my cheeks, turning my face into a red blotchy mess.
“I have to do something. She’s driving me crazy, Drew!”
“I know, I know. Whatever you decide to do, I’m here for you,” he said as he pulled me into his arms and took the pill bottle from my hand. I buried my face in his chest and was aware that he was checking the label anyway. I heard him set the pill bottle on the counter and wrap me more securely in his arms. “When do you see your shrink again? What’s her name?”
“Janet.”
“Well, I think that talking things out with her might make you feel better. If that’s not an option, you always have me.”
“Thanks for the offer; I hope you know what you just signed up for because telling Janet is completely out of the question! I am fairly sure Dad would miraculously find out just like every other time.” I had a bitter taste in my mouth. “Right now, Echo is a distraction and hindrance I do NOT need.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme though Eden,” he said into my hair as he held me close.
At least one of you
