Page 48 of Blood

I’m bored.

The cabin is quiet, too quiet. True to his word, Dad made it clear to everyone that I was to be left alone. He’s also confiscated my office key and ordered Pauline to ignore me.

No jobs, no stress.It’s fucking killing me.

Two days with nothing to do but think about Sam. All it’s done is frustrate me more.

Horny and lonely. Not a great combination.

I sigh again. I can’t sit around here much longer. My fingers itch to text or call Samantha but I haven’t reached out to her since she told me to stop. That’s also killing me.

Fuck it.I need to get out. Out of the house and out of my own head.

Daniel and Charlie came back today, Michael and Lara too. The whole family is back in Cromwell. And while I know theywould welcome me with open arms for the night, I don’t want to bother them with my mood.

Michael has his wife to himself for the first time in days. Daniel and Charlie are staying with my parents for the week so Charlie has more help to rest and recover. A newborn and a toddler are a handful, and our parents are more than happy to help.

But after spending three hours on a video call earlier, I could see that they all needed to rest.

So the local bar it is.

There will be someone I know there, which is one of the advantages of living in a small town. Everyone knows everyone.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Samantha

Scratching my nail on the tabletop, I glance around the room.

Why the fuck am I here?

The bar is full and loud, but that’s what I need. What I don’t need is handsy Jasper joining me at my table.

I roll my eyes at the nickname. The man can’t help himself. His clammy hand lands on mine, making me cringe. He really does have a problem.

The house is too crowded with my brothers and their families there. I love my family, I do. But five adults and two children are too much, at least when I’m in this mood.

Sliding my hand from beneath Jasper’s, I tilt my phone toward me. Nothing. No missed calls or texts.

Kaleb hasn’t reached out once since I last saw him.

Because you went psycho and scared him off.

For the millionth time since Dad told us the cabin was off-limits, I think about calling Kaleb. Dad said he’s okay, but I’d rather hear it for myself. No, I’d rather see it for myself.

“You wanna get out of here?”

I look at Jasper like he has three heads.What are people in this town smoking?

“No,” I say, shaking my head with a scrunched face.

“I think that’s enough for you, Jasper.”

Jasper and I look behind him where Kyle Cooper stands with his hand clamped on Jasper’s shoulder.

“You’re not a cop anymore, Cooper, so fuck off. She’s sitting in a bar alone; she wants to go home with someone.”

Gross.