Chapter 12
I wake with a start, unsure of where I am.
It takes me a minute to realize I am in Kit’s room.
In his bed, to be precise.
Seems I ended up in here regardless of my protests.
Whether it was from the alcohol or the fact that I had two mind-blowing orgasms, I pretty much passed out. I remember getting into bed and not much after that.
I feel rested, but I’m also concerned.
Being with Kit is easy, so easy that I’ve lowered my guard and forgotten who I am.
Is that such a bad thing? I ask myself.
I know the answer to that.
“Morning,” Kit says, entering his room, a cup of coffee in hand.
Does he have to look this good in the morning? His hair is wet, fresh from the shower. His cologne is woodsy and spicy. The sunlight streaming in through the window only seems to highlight the vibrancy of his eyes.
My cheeks instantly heat when remembering him between my legs, ordering me to come on his tongue like a good girl.
Jesus…
I thought they only said that kind of stuff in romance books.
What do I know, it seems.
“Sleep okay?” he asks, offering me the coffee.
Sitting up, I realize I’m in an oversized tee.
It belongs to Kit.
“Cupcake, you were riding my face and calling me Daddy last night. Modesty no longer exists.”
I throw a pillow at him playfully, which he dodges with a grin.
“I did not call you Daddy!”
“No?” he asks, brow arched in amusement as he pretends to think over the events of last night. “Next time, then.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“You asked for one of my T-shirts,” he explains. “I didn’t ask questions. You put that on after I left the room and slept on the couch.”
My mouth parts. “Oh? You didn’t sleep in here?” I ask, slightly disappointed.
He shakes his head. “No, I told you the bed is all yours.”
Okay, now I’m confused.
After last night, I thought sleeping side by side was proper etiquette.
But what do I know?
I don’t make a fuss and sip my coffee.
Kit’s cell rings, and when he looks at the screen, he mutes it. I wonder who it is.
I only just noticed he’s wearing blue overalls and a tight-fitting T-shirt. Of course, he’s going to work, which reminds me that I need to do the same. Well, find a job that is.
“I’ll get out of your hair,” I say, tossing aside the covers and getting out of bed.
Kit walks over to me calmly.
I barely breathe.
He removes the coffee cup from my hand and places it on the bedside table. “Cupcake, I like you in my hair…especially when you’re pulling at it.”
He’s thoroughly enjoying watching me squirm. But he soon turns serious.
“Stay for as long as you need. I like having you around.” Before I can say a word, he plants a soft kiss on my lips.
His taste lingers as he pulls away. “I’ll be downstairs if you need anything.”
His cell rings again, but he doesn’t answer it. He obviously doesn’t want to talk to someone. I wonder who the caller is?
And with that, Kit leaves me alone.
My time is mine and mine alone. I don’t know what to do. I always had something to do at the orphanage. But now, I have nowhere to be.
How my life has changed in such a short period of time.
I shower, taking my time, a luxury I haven’t had sharing a communal bathroom. I didn’t mind, but this is nice.
Once I’m showered, I hunt through my box of things and slip into a simple white summer dress. I really don’t have a lot of things, and that’s fine. But I wonder if perhaps I should go buy some new clothes.
I need a job, but what I have isn’t appropriate for a job interview.
So, with that task on the agenda, I finish getting ready.
I make the bed and wash the few dishes that are in the sink. I want to pull my weight. I don’t expect to stay with Kit for free. I know this is a temporary gig, but I still intend to pay my way.
Once the apartment is neat and tidy, I walk downstairs and hear some rock song blasting over the radio. Kit is under the hood of a car. It’s hard not to admire him. He’s handsome, inside and out.
I am so fucking screwed.
“Hey.”
He stops tinkering, looks up from under the hood, and his eyes smolder when he takes a long, hard look at me. “Damn, Cupcake.”
I nervously adjust the strap on my bag. “I’m just heading out. I need some new clothes for job hunting.”
He slips out from the hood, wipes his hands on a rag, and asks, “Do you need money?”
I shake my head firmly. “No, I’m all good. But thank you.”
He nods before grabbing a set of keys off the workbench. “Take my truck.”
“Thank you.” Because that is something I do need. “Do you need anything while I’m out?”
“Maybe pick up some groceries? We can’t have vodka and pizza every night,” he teases with a grin. “There’s some cash in the drawer.”
He gestures to the workbench.
“No, it’s fine. I’ve got it. It’s the least I can do for letting me crash.”
A customer walks in, clearly unsure whether he’s interrupted something private.
“I’ll see you later.”
He nods and tends to the customer.
I leave them to it and walk to the truck. It’s a beast of a thing, very much like its owner. It roars to life the moment I start it. I put it into drive and head into town.
I’ve been staring at this shelf in the grocery store for minutes, wondering whether Kit prefers smooth or crunchy peanut butter.
Today has been a success.
I found some practical yet cute outfits at the thrift store. The money goes back to the orphanage, so I overspent. They were things I needed, so I could justify the mini shopping spree.
I filled out a bunch of job applications and had an on-the-spot interview at the local diner. It seemed promising. Hardly flying under the radar, but I need to do something. I also need to blend in because that feeling of being watched lurked all day.
Yet whenever I glanced back, I didn’t see anyone.
The police have amped up their presence.
It made me nervous, but I tried my best to appear normal.
Still nothing from Jupiter. But I know she’s only biding her time.
I decide on the crunchy peanut butter and make my way down the aisle.
As I’m looking at breakfast cereals, I overhear two ladies speaking softly. “They’re having a town meeting to discuss you-know-what. Apparently, the police have a lead.”
The box I’m holding crashes to the floor, giving my eavesdropping away.
The women stop their gossiping and eye me warily.
Maintaining my composure, I grab the box and throw it into the cart and casually walk away. When I hear their gossip start up again, I let out the breath I was holding.
This is bad.
This is very fucking bad.
A lead?
Is that why Jupiter has been silent? Is she waiting to claim victory after my arrest?
Suddenly, everyone in the store seems to be staring at me, silently judging my actions. Their whispers and looks make it clear they know everything. Panic rises and threatens to strangle me. My feet are cemented to the floor. I can’t move. I can’t breathe.
“Miss, are you okay?” the teenager clerk kindly asks, and when he tries to comfort me, I yank my arm away, making a scene as I run from the store.
The automatic doors sound as I rush through them quickly, narrowly avoiding an elderly couple who are quietly minding their business.
They stare at me in confusion, a normal reaction to a frantic woman rushing toward them. But all I see is every set of eyes in town looking at me, judging.
I reach Kit’s car, relieved. With trembling fingers, I try to unlock the truck, but the reflection in the window makes me spin around, heart pounding.
It’s Jupiter.
A smug smile is glued to her face.
I don’t know what to say.
I simply stare at her.
“What’s the matter? Not happy to see your BFF?” Her comment drips with sarcasm.
“Enough.” I finally find my voice. “I’m done playing these games. What do you want?”
Jupiter tilts her head, lips pursed, deep in thought. “I want my best friend back,” she finally replies. “Because whoever this person is”—she gestures up and down to me—“I do not like.”
“I am me. I just can’t do this anymore. It’s too dangerous,” I add in a whisper. “Let’s get out of here. We can get you some help.”
The moment the suggestion leaves my lips, I realize my error.
“Get me help?” she spits. “Babe, there is no me, just us. We’re in this together. Remember? You were there. You could have stopped at any time, but you didn’t. Instead, you hide behind me, too afraid to accept who you really are.”
“And who am I?” I say softly, defeated.
She replies with one word, a word which equates to a thousand. “Me.”
She’s right.
I was drawn to her because we’re alike.
Our experiences.
Our suffocation.
Surrendering to the demons that rule us.
“I don’t want to be that person anymore.” It’s an almost plea.
“So you’re okay with those motherfuckers taking away your innocence? They’re walking away free, living the life you want to live. They stole that from you. They stole that from both of us.” She jabs her thumb at her chest.
I understand what she means because she too fell victim to the monsters lurking in the dark. We’re one and the same in that light.
I wait for a mom and her kids to walk past before replying. “Of course not.”
“Stop being a coward then and finish this.”
“Finish it how?”
She steps closer, brushing some hair behind my shoulder. Her familiar touch is calming. It’s because of this that I can’t turn away.
“We find those assholes and fucking kill them.” It’s so black and white when Jupiter is involved. “Then you’ll see who you really are!”
But I’ve come to learn that life is a kaleidoscope of colors.
“I’ve tried!” I declare angrily. “They may as well not exist.”
“And you just give up? Is that it?”
Feelings of shame overcome me. I feel like I’ve disappointed her.
“You’ve changed because of your new boyfriend. I get it. He’s hot. Maybe we could share?”
Instantly, possession and anger grip me in a choke hold. I get into her face, infuriated she would say such a thing. “You shut your mouth.”
“There she is.” Jupiter chuckles. “Perhaps he’s useful after all. Maybe I can take my anger out on him, and see if he’s as pretty on the inside as he is on the outside.”
“Stay away from him,” I caution, tightening my grip.
“Or what?”
“Or I’ll tell the police everything.”