Christian was still fuming by the time we got back to his house. His dad was gone for the week, which was good for us, because we needed some time alone to talk about things.460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8GSgqPgNt
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"I cannot believe her, your own mother," he snapped as he put me down on the couch. "How could she say all those nasty things to you, and then go and hit you like it was nothing? I mean, fuck, Kendall! Aren't you even mad at her?"460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59Fm77zu2v
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlAIPOB74z
"Of course I'm mad at her," I said, glancing at him. "I'm just choosing to not express it as volatile as you are."460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdvzw3r7JW
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA6CNaSsAk
"It's frustrating to see you go through all of this and not react," he said as he sat next to me. Then he hugged me close, his lips pressed into my hair. "I think your session with Dr. Alder tomorrow is going to take longer than usual."460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEySb3sblLN
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VYtYHxlZD
"I don't think I'm going," I murmured. "I don't want to have to see her, take up her time, with every little bad thing that happens. She can't help with my mom, or the dreams, or even what happened with Jude."460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOSyU9V56b
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXf4e8M8wqy
Christian blinked, untangled himself from me, and said, "What happened with Jude?"460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzLjNaoqXn
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I bit my lip, mentally cursing myself, and took a breath. "He's been watching me." No use telling him about the kiss. "He said he was paid a lot of money to get information on me. I didn't meet him on accident."460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBonc7eobJV
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs278sCX8Ns
For a few minutes, Christian didn't speak. His silence was sometimes worse than his words, and this time I didn't blame him for being quiet. I wouldn't have known what to say if I were him. I closed my eyes and waited. Waited for him to start cursing and screaming. Waited for his horrible temper. Waited for him to break something.460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERFYM4Crnh
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQCnUa7qHr
"What a fucking prick," he mumbled. "Did you punch him in the face?"460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwn2aHNXGA
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwtMMC0LOv
"I really wanted to." I shrugged, glancing at him. I reached out and gripped his hand, squeezing his fingers. I was grateful when he returned the gesture. "But I was too stunned to do anything, especially after I found the pictures."460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNZEcy2L6h
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfNNjaZDJp
This time he looked at me, his eyes narrowing, darkening. His grip on my hand tightened before he growled, "What pictures, Kendall? What the fuck is going on?"460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16j4mUC7Fk
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVYSKF9upq
"They're just of me. Nothing too creepy. But whoever wanted information on me probably wanted to know what I looked like, too. Ugh." I placed my head in my hands and shook it. "This is all so weird. First the letters, then this. What's next?"460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVGvGZkG7F
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStKwIta5CS
"Letters?" Christian muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Jesus, Scott, you're holding out on me."460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4kXvTvOkq
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKATA2Wm2g
I looked away from his face, unable to tell him the biggest secret. The wounds I'd suffered through all of this had been too much, and I just needed to calm down before I told him anything else. I laid my head against his chest and closed my eyes, said I needed a minute, and tried my best to relax.460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzylc0oDFdC
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmpLqwfXn7
The next time I opened my eyes, it was dark out. I lifted my head and looked around the quiet room. When I didn't feel him beside me or hear him breathing, I started to get up. Since it was pitch black, I didn't see the ottoman in front of me, so I tripped over it, landing on the floor. I let out a shriek and watched one of the lights in another part of the house turn on.460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb34WoOL1d
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSfYNxbZHm
"Are you okay?" Christian's shadow loomed in front of the light from the kitchen, and as he bent down, his body swallowed the glow. He touched my head, my hair, my cheeks and lips. Then he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezqy8ojq1w
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"I'm okay," I said. "I just tripped."460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJcCDmNlSZ
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Even in the darkness, I could feel him smiling when he said, "That's typical of you. Are you ready to tell me your other secret now?"460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YogDvHiFa
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnCxD9WKyD
Before I replied, I heard a soft vibration. My phone. I could see it trembling, the light from the screen illuminating the other side of the couch. I reached for it, flipped it open, and read the message.460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4rgOSoBEl
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbwAAEo4jL
One New Message From: Unknown Number460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxzD9fL7Tw
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Turn on the news.460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbbRO0mrgx
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When I found the remote and hit the power button, the TV flooded with white light at first, then a voice spoke. It sent chills down my spine.460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArufo1OB45
460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqJNNBesga
"The body of a local teen was found in this clearing behind me. Authorities believe the body to be that of missing boy, Jared Davis. No further details can be provided at this time."460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZXHZzPPxT
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I dared a glance beside me, where he sat.460Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡER3nddpzAX
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Christian was gone.