Page 29 of Hide From Me

"Right," I mutter under my breath.

Footsteps echo down the corridor, and Cordelia stiffens.

"Thanks, Moe," she says quickly, already stepping back.

"Come on, little siren!" Caspian’s voice booms, lighthearted and full of energy.

As I slip back into my room, I gently shut the door just in time for him to pass without noticing me. Twelve drops—that’s how many fall onto my wrist from three knuckles.

Twelve reasons I should be locked up. Twelve reasons I should talk to someone. Twelve fucking reasons I’ll never tell anyone how close I came to breaking completely.

I growl in frustration. Just like Cordelia, I know I need a distraction. Everything is still too fresh in my mind, but luckily, I have promised my little ray of sunshine a date.

Eight

Moe

11-21-2025

Raylen's Spooky Ass House

I’m grinning like an idiot, and I don’t even care. It’s deranged, really—Just three hours ago, I was punching a mirror into glass dust. Now I’m rolling my shoulders, adjusting my grip on the stems of the little yellow flowers I picked from my mothers garden, and practicing my fucking breathing like I’m about to walk into an interview, not a date.

That’s me—a walking contradiction.

The contrast should embarrass me, but it doesn’t. Maybe that’s why I joke so much—because if I don’t laugh, I’ll unravel. Perhaps that’s why I smile so wide—because underneath, I’m nothing but broken parts held together by the fantasy of a girl who doesn’t even know she’s my entire lifeline.

“You poor whipped son of a bitch.” I laugh briefly, then quickly clear my throat and compose my expression to knock on the red door.

My brows furrow as I hear not one, not two, but three distinct sets of footsteps coming from inside the house. For reasons I can't explain, my shoulders square, and I step closer to the door, gripping the flowers tightly as it abruptly swings open.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I'm frozen in place, my heart dropping to my stomach as I see not my little ray of sunshine, but Laura Vaughn—a medic for Seaborn, someone I see regularly on base… A person who can ruin everything, just like she has once before.

Finally managing to lift my jaw off the floor, I send a glare in her direction.

“I could ask you the same question!” I whisper-yell in response, waving my flowers to emphasize my point. It’s none of her business. None of my actions should concern her, yet she always acts like they do. I say "always," but I mean ever since I showed a sliver of interest in her, only for her to stab me in the back for a better position on base.

Nothing ever happened between us, but she was the last woman in uniform I allowed myself to pursue. Plus, she didn't benefit from it so at least I can say I hope she’s enjoying guard duty whilealsotending to the wounded.

“This is my brother's best friend—” A moment of realization crosses her face, followed by a long pause. “You better not be the mystery man, Moe.”

My irritation briefly fades, and I grin. Look at me climbing the ranks in my little sunshine life. I’m not a “friend” or “fuck buddy”; I’m amysteriousman.

“Is that what you all call me?”

“You need to leave before your brother finds out,” she growls, trying to shut the door.

I slide my boot between it and the frame. “He’s not going to and you’re not going to fucking tell him.”

“You think this is about you?” she hisses. “I did it to protect—”

“You did it for yourself.” I cut her off, dropping my voice. “Don’t ruin this for me.”

I refuse for someone to take this from me. I need my little ray of sunshine like I need air to breathe.

She keeps me feeling sane.

“Watch it.” she snaps. My boot creaks under the pressure she puts on the door.