Page 38 of Running from Drac

“I love you,” she murmurs, tears falling down her cheeks in streams.

I do my best to wipe her tears away, but I can’t keep up with them. “I love you too, Amber. I’ve never stopped.”

She rests her head against mine before pulling away. “You want to come in?”

Glancing up at the house, I see a silhouette of someone standing in the window. Arms crossed, a ready to fight stance evident in the way she’s glaring through the winter-kissed glass.

Pippa.

“I think I should probably head home, but I’ll call you when I do, okay?”

She nods. “Okay.”

Jumping from the truck, I open the door for her, the hinge giving the familiar squeal as I wrench it open.

She giggles. “I’ve missed the old girl.”

Before her feet have even touched the ground, she’s in my arms, my lips pressed firmly against hers, and I’m holding her so tightly I’m afraid I might break her back.

But the thought of letting her go hurts even more than the idea of watching her walk inside where the enemy lurks. I’m praying Pippa doesn’t say anything to her. Not when Amber and I may finally be heading in the right direction.

That’s all I can hope for in this moment, because I feel it deep in my bones, if I erase her smile for a fourth time, it will surely kill me.

Chapter Eleven

Amber

The second I’m through the door, I’m verbally attacked.

“What the fuck was that?” Pippa rages. “Was that Eddie?”

I nod, placing my bag carefully on the desk in the landing. “It was… but why does it matter?” I cautiously ask, noticing how my friend’s face is pinched in frustration, eyes flashing with anger and hostility.

“Because!” she screams, opening her mouth to say whatever is on her mind, but then it’s like you can see a switch go off in her head. It’s almost as if she has to bite her tongue from saying anything else, blowing out a frustrated breath in the process. “Because you two broke up. I thought we decided you were done with him?”

“I’ve missed him, Pippa. He’s my person. So, we decided to get back together. We’re still going to go through with the wedding in February.”

“That’s bullshit!” she yells, her face turning an angry red. “You guys are so fucking toxic that it makes no sense for you tokeep trying. You’re not right for him. He’s not right for you. It should be over!”

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Pippa? You’re acting deranged and screaming like a lunatic.”

Poppy appears in the living room, grabbing her sister by the hand. “Pippa, calm down. We both know that Amber and Eddie have some magical chemistry no one can deny. They’re toxic and reckless, but they love each other. That should be all that matters.”

Pippa rips her arm from her sister’s grasp and turns and angry finger on her. “You’re going to take her side? You’re going to support this after everything you know about them? You’re supposed to be siding with me. So much for twin fucking loyalty. You’re just as bad as her.”

“What’s going on?” I question, the hair on my arms raising a few inches. Something feels off, even more so than usual.

Poppy gives me a pathetic look. “She’s just looking out for you, Amber. She doesn’t want to see you get hurt again.”

Pippa smirks. “Yeah, I’m just looking out foryou.” She rolls her eyes. “If you think I’m going to support you getting back with that cheating asshole, you’re fucking delusional. You can throw whatever invite you have for me and Poppy in the trash. There’s no way in hell I’m going to your wedding.”

I’m not sure why her saying that hurts me so much. The thought of the twins not being at my wedding makes me even more vulnerable and broken. “Pippa, I need your support in this. I know that Eddie and I have a tumultuous history, but I love him. He’s everything to me. Just like you and Poppy are. I need you two to be by my side. It’s always been us since we were young, and the thought of you breaking up our friendship over me getting back with Eddie is a bit crazy. He’s one of your best friends too. You’re acting like a jealous girlfriend right now.”

There’s no emotion on her face, just pure hatred. “I wouldn’t touch that motherfucker with a ten-foot pole. And if you can’t see how fucking wrong he is for you, then I hope you get everything that’s coming your way. He’s a dog, Amber. A horny, stray dog that’s going to fuck every pussy he meets on the street. He’s going to keep cheating and cheating until there are no more girls to cheat with. And you’re no better. You cheated too. You’re both stupid for even attempting to try again. How can you trust each other after everything that’s happened?”

“I don’t know. We just do. We’re just meant to be.”

She shakes her head in disagreement. “No. You’re destined to fail, and the fact that you can’t see that makes you not only blind, but dumb as fuck.”