Page 9 of Cruel Betrayal

“Hey, J, what’s up? I just got out of class if you want to drink tonight.” Haven’s husky voice comes down the line, sounding like she smoked a pack a day before spending her nights singing at a jazz club.

“I wasn’t thinking much about drinking, but I was wondering if you wanted to come spend the night.”

“Obviously. School is kicking my ass, and I could use a bit of a break. And I don’t have any lectures in the morning.” She pauses for a moment, people chattering away in the background. “You swear, you’d think the library would actually be a quiet place.”

“If you have studying to do tonight, you don’t have to worry about coming over, I just thought it might be good.”

She laughs. “Your voice is all tight and squeaky like it gets when you’re talking about your stalker. You know that, right?”

I sigh and strip the sheets off the bed, dragging them to the washing machine. “I know. I think he was sleeping in my bed and he broke in the other day and I just really don’t want to be alone tonight and there’s an envelope that I think might be from him and I’m freaking the fuck out.”

“Okay, I’m going to go and get ice cream. You’re going to put on some music and we’re going to dance around until we forgeteverything else going on in our lives and then everything is going to be fine.”

“You’re the best. I don’t know if I’ve told you that enough, but you’re the best.”

Haven laughs. “I’ll see you soon. And if anything happens before I get there, call Aiden.”

I snort and stuff the sheets into the washer, putting the call on speakerphone as I dump in some of the detergent. “I know.”

“Don’t dismiss me. We both know that you won’t call him, and you’ll pretend that everything is fine.”

“Haven…” The warning is clear in my tone.

She sighs. “Fine. But I’m changing my mind, then. If you don’t want to tell your brother what’s happening, then you’re going to stay at mine for the night. Throw the stalking weirdo off your schedule a little bit.”

“I try to do that anyway.” I grab the phone and head back into my bedroom, grabbing a bag and stuffing it full of some clothing and a gun. “I’ll meet you there then if that’s the plan.”

“Promise me you’re going to be careful and not get on the subway.”

“I promise.” I sling the bag over my shoulder and grab another gun, stuffing it in my waistband and hiding it with my shirt. After a second thought, I grab the envelope and stuff that into the bag too.

“I’m heading out now. See you soon.”

“See you soon.”

Haven beltsout the lyrics into the spoon, bouncing around with ice cream melting out of the pint. When her hand tips a little too far to the side the ice cream spills out of the pint and onto the fluffy white carpet.

“Fuck.” Haven puts the pint down on the counter. She licks the ice cream off the side of her hand before shaking her head. “Mom and Dad are going to kill me if I keep fucking up the pool house.”

I glance out the paned doors at the darkness surrounding us, but for once I don’t feel like anyone is watching me. There aren’t any shadows moving on the other side of the glistening pool.

I can’t remember the last time I felt even close to safe.

But tonight, I do.

Haven groans and starts scrubbing the floor.

I grab another rag and help her clean up the stain, trying to bite back my smile.

She sits back on her heels. “Well, I don’t think they’re going to be able to really see that, and if they do, I’ll blame it on you. You know they love you and think you can’t do any wrong.”

“Which is fundamentally wrong.” I laugh and toss the rag at her.

She takes the rags and disappears down the hall for a moment, coming back without them. “Did you open that envelope?”

I stand and head to my bag, pulling it out and holding it to her. “I don’t think I can. Will you open it and tell me what he put in there?”

“You’ve decided that the stalker is a he?”