Chapter 12
CHAPTER
TWELVE
SLOANE
“What the fuck is going on?” I don’t bother being polite or asking how she’s doing. I want to know why my best friend left her own home without a word to me about it, and I want to know what the fuck is going on with Storm.
Remi says, “Turn the music down,” in a sharp tone to who I assume is Cortland, and the Deftones playing in the background grows so low, I can’t hear it anymore. “Sloane. What are you talking about? What’s going on?”
I glance out my windshield in the parking lot of my apartment complex. I left both drinks with Storm and got out of his house as fast as I could. He tried to stop me, but I wouldn’t listen. I don’t know who hurt him or why Remi and Cortland and Lyle left, but I know it must be connected, right?
“Where are you? Why did you leave? I came over earlier and Storm…” I trail off, then lean my head back against my driver’s seat.
My doors are locked, windows rolled up, and my car is still on.
My phone is connected to my speakers so I’m free to clench my fists tight into balls, my nails pushing into my palms.
“Storm?” Remi says his name sharply.
In the background, I hear Lyle cooing, and it’s the only thing that brings a smile to my lips.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she keeps going, but there’s apprehension in her words. “Lyle had a rough night last night and Cortland didn’t tell me he wanted to leave until this morning and—”
“Baby,” Cortland says, no doubt from the driver’s side. “I’m sorry, but I’m spontaneous, you know.” But there’s a smile in his words. As long as she’s beside him, he doesn’t care about anything.
“Wait,” Remi says, ignoring Cortland. “What is it you wanted to talk to me about? Is that why you came over? I would have stayed if I’d known.”
“I know, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. But…”
There’s silence as I trail off, and Remi is the one to break it.
“It’s about Storm, isn’t it?” Her voice is deadpan.
“Oh, fuck,” Cortland swears in the background.
I clench my teeth. Oh, fuck is right.
“I knew it,” Remi says, and this time she has annoyance in her tone. “I knew he was starting to obsess over you. Every time you come over, he’s staring right at you with his creepy fucking eyes. He likes you, doesn’t he? Don’t fuck him, whatever you do, Sloane, don’t—”
“And why the hell not?” Cortland bites out, and he sounds angry. “Is it because you liked it too much? Are you saying he’s good or something? I swear I’ll break his fucking neck, Remi—”
“I haven’t fucked him,” I hurry up with. “And I definitely don’t think he’s obsessed with me, but—”
“Oh no, he is.” Remi still seems to be ignoring Cortland which makes me want to laugh despite all of this shit. “Why wouldn’t he be? You’re like an angel to his devil and—”
“Sloane, listen to me. He is a devil.” Those are Cortland’s words, and he sounds deadly serious.
I take a breath. “Why did you guys have to leave so soon?”
Remi is quiet, and Cortland doesn’t say anything about spontaneity anymore. Was that a lie for my sake? Then she says, “Storm told us it’d be better if we were gone a few days earlier.”
“And he didn’t say why?” I press. “Cortland just listened to him without running his mouth?”
Remi laughs, but it lacks real humor. “He said it was something to do with work. It was going bad, and since we have Lyle, we should go.”
There’s quiet between us.
I don’t know what to say.
I think of the coffin nails. The suspicion Storm had when he asked me about riddle.
“Why?” Remi presses. “What did he say to you?” She’s defensive over me, I can hear it in her voice.
“Stay away from him, Sloane,” Cortland says, raising his voice so I can hear him. “He might be my best friend, but he’s not as nice as he pretends to be with you.”
“Sloane,” Remi says quietly. “What’s going on?”
I swallow hard. “Do you think I should stay away from him?” I ask her. Not Cortland. And I don’t know if I’m asking for permission, or for advice.
After a moment, Remi just says, “He’s dark, Sloane. Darker than you realize.”