Page 92
Story: Distorted Obsession
“I’m sorry,” Colter says, meaning every word. His anger is not aimed at her or her words. It’s for the destructive butterfly that has sliced us open, leaving us to die under the rays of the sun at Furnace Creek.
She wipes the tears building in her watery eyes. “It’s okay,” she sighs. “I understand the pain and anger.”
Guilt gnaws at me. I hate to see my mom anything but happy. And hurting Eva—that’s a bridge with all the warning signs not to cross. Or your hairs standing on edge, telling you not to enter the dark woods on a cold rainy night. Both would be no-go zones to most, but it’s all green lights ahead for us.
I pause, weigh the collateral cost of this path to revenge. They do say when you seek revenge, dig two holes. I can only pray that at the end of this, we don’t lose our mother.
Shaking my head clear, I refocus my attention to the screen.
My mom grabs a tissue and wipes her nose before she gives us a plasticky smile. “Okay, I need to pack.”
“Where to this time?” I inquire, steering the conversation away from the choppy waters of despair.
Her face lights. “Sumba.”
“Why Indonesia?” Colt questions.
“Girls trip. Time for some relaxation.”
A genuine grin lines my face. “Well deserved, Mom. Have fun.”
“Will do, Sweet-ah-roo.”
“Oh God. It’s time to go. She’s rhyming now, Coop.”
Laughing, she affectionately says, “‘Uhibuk 'akthar min alqalb.”
I love you beyond the heart—a phrase we use to say goodbye, especially after a difficult or hurtful conversation.
“‘Uhibuk 'akthar min alqalb,” Colter and I say.
He ends the call, sighing as we spin to face each other. “We need to move this plan along, Mom is beginning to get suspicious, and we can’t have everything we’ve planned for the last few years go to shit because our mother has a soft spot for our sister’s killer.”
He’s right. Mom would throw more than a fit if she gets even an inkling that we’re out to hurt Eva. She’d undeservingly rally around her, shielding her from all harm. The idea of that burns a hole in my gut.
Standing, I grab my hoodie and stride for the door. We can’t let that happen.I can’t let that happen. This is a blood debt, and Eva will pay in blood. She doesn’t get to wriggle her nose, as cute as it may be, out of this.
“Where are you going?” Colter growls. “We have important shit to do.”
Without looking back, I retort, “To turn things up ten notches.”
37
eva
“Where the helldid you disappear to Friday night?” Jade asks as we leave practice.
Fixing my bun, I reply, “I got so messy, I needed to go home and shower.”
She hums, but her side-eye lets me know she’s not buying my bullshit. Well, too bad for her because I’m not telling them I was fucked in the best way before being robbed of the best orgasm. I will take this to my grave.
“At least she texted before she ghosted this time,” Paisley snarks. “Where does your delectable ass keep disappearing to anyway?”
“You love my ass, Pais?” I tease, rubbing it against her thigh. It’s a maneuver to redirect the conversation away from anything Jacobi-related.
I can’t share anything about my relationship with Colt and Coop.
Is it a relationship? What the fuck am I even doing?I internally groan at my confusion. I’m surrendering to the brothers of the best friend I killed.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92 (Reading here)
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135