Page 6 of The Chaos She Brings

“Well, Cupcake is a bit of a menace, so honestly it would be good if she could stay at yours.

“Besides,” Carina continues with a smirk, “you can’t stay in my spare room.”

I frown. “Why not?”

She blinks at me like it’s obvious. “Because it’s Cupcake’s bedroom now.”

“Your dog has a bedroom?” Kai asks, deadpan.

“Of course,” Carina says, as if that’s a normal thing. “I’m not a monster.”

Kai pinches the bridge of his nose. “You absolutely are a monster.”

Carina ignores him. “Anyway, Cupcake is very territorial. He won’t sleep if someone’s inhisspace. And if Cupcake doesn’t sleep,Idon’t sleep. And if I don’t sleep, well…” She levels me with a serious look. “Do you really want that on your conscience?”

I have no argument for this level of insanity.

Kai sighs, already resigned. “Fine. Whatever. Let’s go.”

Carina beams. “Great choice! You’ll thank me later.”

“I need to shower before I can leave.” My words direct everyone's attention to my blood splattered clothes. I grimace.

“Give me like, ten minutes?” I flutter my eyes at Kai.

He just rolls his and turns away.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Carina asks, nibbling on her thumbnail.

Am I okay?

Is it bad that the answer is yes?

I should be freaking out right?

I just hit Control, Alt, Delete on someone’s existence. Shouldn’t that feel worse?

“I’m fine.”

After some convincing she and Nate leave while I head off to shower Jake’s essence from my body.

As the scalding water cascades over my skin, I let my eyes drift closed. Soaking in the peace as I wash away the grime.

I force my eyelids open.

Peace?

Am I a fucking psychopath?

I turn the shower off, wrapping a towel around my body and another on top of my head.

Water droplets cling to my skin as I pad into my room with bare feet.

My phone pings from somewhere in the flat.

“Where the hell is my phone,” I mutter to no one in particular.

Which is why I shriek when Kai appears in the doorway holding said phone in his hand. The look on his face? Pure horror.Ouch.