Chapter Eleven
Waverly
I’m glad he has it all figured out because I have no idea what the hell is going on or where we’re going for that matter. The hospital put a different cast on my wrist and made sure to tell me I can get this one wet, not that I’m complaining. A bath sounds fucking magical right about now.
My mind keeps slipping back to that kiss.
It wasn’t like the others. The other kisses were ones you would give your sister or best friend, quick and light.
This one was…different. Wasn’t it? What the hell do I know?
Maybe he kisses every woman who isn’t his mom or sisters like that?
Maybe it was nothing, but to me it left me…
adrift. It was very much like a wave that came over me and swept me out to where my feet couldn’t touch the ground.
I opened my eyes to find myself clinging to him, my fingers sinking into his thick arms, and the world around me changed on a certain level.
It took me a whole five minutes to realize the kiss was in front of everyone milling around.
It must not have meant as much to him, and that’s why he didn’t care about so many people standing around watching and I’m just blowing it out of proportion.
I’m so deep in thought it takes me longer than it should have to realize we’ve left our little town behind and are, in fact, in the deep, dark woods.
“Where are we? Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He looks over at me with a smirk that kicks one corner of his lips up and causes him to look younger. I can totally see him as a teenager out with the popular girl who everyone loves. I’m not that person, and that’s not really an answer I’m comfortable with.
“Look, um, Memphis, I don’t really have a lot of money to stay in a hotel or whatever, and it wouldn’t matter anyway because…”
“We’re not going to a hotel.”
Then where the hell are we going? I’m sick and tired of not being in control of any fucking thing. I stopped being in control when I decided I was going to go tra-la-laing in someone’s flower garden and someone got kidnapped, damn it! And I’m a little fed up with it!
“Memphis, just tell me where we’re going and when I can go back!”
Even though the night outside the car is dark and I can’t see him very well, I know that smirk isn’t on his face now.
“Your apartment just got vandalized, you got attacked, and in case you missed it, someone is very much trying to kill you. Going back isn’t an option now, Waverly.”
Shit! When he puts it like that, it doesn’t sound great at all.
“I’m taking you to a cabin my family owns. It’s secluded and out of the way. No one knows about it except mom and dad and the Chief.”
“We’re hiding. You’re doing like a protective custody thing with me like that one detective suggested.” Panic floods through me at the thought of being left in the middle of nowhere alone.
“No, not like he suggested.”
“But you’re going to take me out here and leave me.” So much for staying in control. My voice just keeps climbing at the thought.
“What?” He turns to look at me for a few seconds before turning his attention back to the winding road. “You think I would just take you out in the middle of the woods and dump you?”
“I…,” yeah, I kind of do.
“Why the hell would you think I would do that to someone?”
Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because my own mother would have done something like that, so she didn’t have to put up with all the trouble I caused.
“Why wouldn’t you? I’ve been nothing but trouble for you. I almost got you hurt in the hallway. I could have gotten Sadie hurt, and it would have been my fault. All because I needed some fucking air!”
He pulls the car over to the gravel shoulder, and before I can take my next breath, he has my seatbelt unbuckled pulling me into his lap while at the same time sliding his chair back.
“Hey, none of that stuff is your fault.” He takes my face between his hands, so I have to look into his dark blue eyes. “None of that shit is your fault, baby girl. That’s on the people who did it. Not you.”
I wish I was as sure about it as he seems to be. I’ve never been someone to shy away from responsibility, and I’m not going to start now, but is this something that is mine to carry?
“Everything is just spinning out of control, and I can’t find anything stable to hold myself together with. Nothing is there…”