Chapter Nine
Blaine
“Could you be any more cryptic? Christ. I’m leaving. I’ll be over here icing my balls and spitting up blood. Carry on.”
I’ve had about all I can stand of his vague-ass bullshit. Soon I won’t be the only one pushing for answers. Matt already looks like he’d gladly punch him next.
Hutton doesn’t react at all to me. Like usual.
I leave the lounge feeling like a complete loser. If I can’t find the culprits, it’s easy to blame Matt. He should have kept her safe. And bringing up my drinking and pill popping in front of the future serial killer is too much.
I take the opportunity to call Anna, Eden’s foster mom. When the news first caught on to the story, she called me. Not reaching Eden by phone brought years of worry back to the forefront for her. Confirming her worst fears, she wanted to be kept up to date. “She’s been found.”
Anna’s crying can be heard over the phone, “Oh, I was convinced… I thought…” She blows her nose. “Thank you, thank you for letting me know. I’m on my way.”
“Hey…” I shift slightly in the chair to ease the throbbing in my groin. Fucking elbowed because of my own clownish behavior. “The Center shut the news stories down. They issued a bullshit story and shut it down.” Anna is a crusader by nature. She won’t take this kindly.
“I figured. Dr. Hart has been leaving me messages kissing my ass. It’s all about image.” Anna makes an agitated sound. “Eden’s life has been a series of tragedies. What’s one more, right?” She tells me where she’ll be staying and when to expect her.
One more person in Eden’s corner is more than welcome.
Matt takes a glance into the hallway at me and shakes his head. “Tantrum-throwing over?” The damn bastard seems amused by the fact I threw a fit. I have about five insults ready, but I’m tired. Sober. Raw. I stop myself from picking another fight.
“Yeah, all done.” I give him a fake smile.
“Perfect, we don’t have time to deal with your fragile ego.”
“Oooh… anyone ever tell you that you could use some sensitivity training?” Okay, one last little dig. That gets a half smile from him as he leans on the doorway, looking too damn good.
“What would that consist of? Hugs for everyone? Look… I’m not going to let it go.” He gives me a meaningful look. “You can’t just make the underlying issues go away; you have to deal with it and get help.”
It’s almost like he fucking cares or something.
Rolling my eyes so hard I almost see my brain; I purposely keep my gaze off him. Damn him and his fucking attractiveness. “One thing at a time. Let’s make sure that Eden gets through this first.”
He barely nods, but acknowledges what I said, before turning to address Hutton.
I lean back and close my eyes. If the first step is admitting I have a problem, fine. I’m there.
I’m not sure where to go from that. I’ve admitted to myself many times that my behavior has been risky. Sophomore year at Belmont, Eden tried to do what Matt’s doing now.
Look at how well that went.
A few months passed and then a fight with dad was all it took for me to pop a couple of pills and wash them down with a few shots.
Six years earlier
“Dance with me, Ed.” I grab her hand laughing. Soaring so fucking high. Coke paired with champagne. A New Year’s Eve to remember. She shakes her head at me while backing away.
“Put some clothes on.” Fraternity tradition (three-part party, three articles of clothing) was as wild as usual.
I opted for three socks… on my feet and my favorite appendage.
Eden’s not amused though. “B, get off the table and cover up!” I can’t hear her well over the pulsing club music. It’s a sea of bodies in the frat house.
“Fuck… did I ever tell you that you’re a deadly combination? Good sense of humor, dirty mind, and beautiful heart?” I can’t tell if she hears me. It’s loud as fuck. She reaches up to try grabbing my hand, wearing a shimmery blue dress and a pair of heeled boots.
“B, what did you take tonight?” She keeps getting bumped into, but she steadies herself holding onto the table I’m jumping around on.
She can’t stop looking at the way my dick bounces around.
I tease taking the sock on my dick off and her eyes bug out.
“I’m begging you at this point. Get the hell off the table! ”
I half fall off the table, laughing hysterically at her. She tosses her jacket over my shoulders. It’s way too small, but she tries. Then she grabs my arm and hauls me to the front door.
More than a few hands tug at my dick as we pass. A couple of times I stop, wanting it to continue.
I’m horny as fuck.
Clear of the noise of the house, I’m trying to find my footing on the sloping lawn, Eden turns to me, red-faced, tears forming. “You’re going to overdose or get in an accident. Something is going to happen if you keep partying this hard.”
God, I’m transfixed by her—beautiful and out of reach.
“Are you even listening?” She narrows her eyes at me. “B, what was it tonight?”
I slip on toilet paper strung from a tree, and my sock slides. Briefly, I think about pulling it off in front of her for a reaction. “Just a line or two, then… maybe an Adderall. Some shots of… something.” I wink at her with a laugh. “Then the bottle of bubbly.”
“You need to stop. I’ll help you, but you need rehab. B?” I’m staring up at the night sky. My heart racing so fast it feels like it’ll fucking take flight. She pats my cheek. “Are you paying attention?”
She’s never going to know that I pay too much attention when it comes to her.