Page 33

Madison

The sun cuts through the forest’s rich emerald canopy with blades of golden light.

Some slice through the lace curtains, and I can see dust particles rising and fluttering all over.

It’s quiet. I get up from the couch and stretch for a good minute.

Every bone in my body crackles uncomfortably.

A bed would have been better, but Rhue took the only bed in this cabin.

After what we did last night, I was better off on the couch.

“Fucking idiot,” I reprimand myself and limp my way toward the window. My leg is still asleep, dammit. This couch will haunt my bones for the next couple of days, at least.

I sneak a peek outside and am stunned by what I see.

Lindsey and Cameron slept on the porch last night.

They’re still there, huddled and spooning on the rattan couch, swaddled in blankets and jackets.

The empty beer cans litter the porch, and there’s a raccoon currently treating himself to whatever’s left of the cheese cracker bag on the makeshift barrel coffee table.

I guess this means they passed the hazing ritual, but I do wonder if the Acolytes came to check up on us during the night.

I certainly would have, had I been in their commando boots.

I remember what Cameron and Lindsey were doing last night.

No wonder they’re tired. I then remember what Rhue and I were doing last night, and a familiar heat creeps up to my cheeks.

My body betrayed me. My body experienced some changes last night, too.

Sensations I never thought I would ever experience again.

Julian took so much from me.

Yet Rhue came back, and in his own way, tried to make it better.

He almost did, too, but I am too damaged.

Too guilty and miserable. I have yet to forgive myself, and until I do that, I cannot even dare to consider the possibility of ever trusting him.

He hurt me, too. He mocked me. Deceived me. Played with my heart.

Sure, in his mind, I deserve it and worse. Maybe I do. I should have stayed home that day.

“How are Romeo and Juliet doing?” Rhue’s voice is so close, it makes me jump.

I bump into him and curse under my breath as I whirl around and nearly bump into him again. “Oh, for f—”

It makes him laugh, but I am still angry, so I push him away.

For a moment, the world stops spinning. Rhue gives me a long and dark look.

It spells nothing but trouble, and I have slept poorly on that couch.

I’m not equipped in any way to handle any more of him at this point.

Too much has happened. Rhue Echeveria is nothing but danger, and I am terrified of letting myself get close to him again.