Page 26 of The Blood we Crave: Part Two

“No, not like that,” she corrects. “I mean, listen, I’m not exactly a member of the Thatcher Pierson fan club.”

“Oh, really? I never would have guessed. You two seem so friendly,” Sage says, giggling as she takes a drink out of the bottle before handing it to me.

Briar flips her off with a smug grin. “I just feel for him, is all. He’s lost a lot recently, including his home. Nothing is familiar anymore. I’d probably lock myself in my room too.”

“Trust me, he’s not here ’cause he wants to be. This is just his only option besides jail.”

I should tell them a little about Thatcher’s and my relationship. But I don’t think I’m ready to talk about it out loud, not when everything is so messy.

I mean, what would I say?

He’d been teaching me how to kill people so I didn’t go on a murder rampage, we fooled around a handful of times—oh, and we had sex in the house my mother was murdered in just before everything went to shit?

There aren’t words to describe what we have. It’s futile to try, at least right now. I’d like to think one day, when we’ve navigated what this is, I’ll be able to share it.

“Come on!” Sage pouts a bit. “You’re locked in this cabin with a guy you’ve liked since middle school, and you haven’t eventhoughtabout fucking him?”

“Oh my God,” I groan, feeling the burning liquid running down my throat. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “I am not talking about this. He’s right upstairs, and you’re loud!”

I throw a pillow at Sage, but she catches it. “Lyra, I know you’re shy, but you’re hot as fuck. If you made a move, he’s an idiot to turn it down.”

My face burns with a mixture of alcohol and embarrassment. I hide it with my hands, not exactly used to having this much attention on my love life. I quite like being the friend in the background. I want to go back to that.

“I don’t think finding you attractive is the problem for Thatcher,” Briar adds.

“Huh?” I ask with a huff, passing the bottle in her direction.

“He looks at you like he wants to be beneath your skin.”

Too late for that. Far too late.

He’s already there, even if he doesn’t want to be, buried deep within the cords of my veins and constantly moving through me. He’s always there.

“So what’s your plan of seduction? Are you going for an innocent school—”

“Alright, you’re done.” I stand up abruptly. “I’m going to sleep. Are you guys okay down here?”

“Wait, wait!” Sage jumps up far too quickly for someone who’s been drinking all night. “One last cheers before bed.”

Briar nods in agreement, joining us in the middle of the room, holding the neck of the vodka bottle. We stand in a circle, the fire glowing on our smiling faces.

The joy from tonight hangs in the air, wrapping me in a warm hug.

“To the Loner Society.” Briar lifts the bottle before pressing it to her lips and taking a drink, her throat working to swallow the liquid before she passes it over to Sage.

It had started as a joke, the Loner Society, but slowly, over time, it became real. A group of people shunned by those who control the social food chain. Three unlikely girls in an unlikely situation.

“Cheers! To sleepovers with friends who aren’t backstabbing bitches!” She gives a little wink before taking her drink and giving it over to me.

I look at both of them waiting for me, and I can’t think of many other places I’d want to be than right here, surrounded by two people I’d never planned to meet but can’t live without.

The kind of friends you dream of as a lonely kid.

I lift the bottle up. “To all of us surviving.”

HUSH

EIGHT