Page 126 of Ruined Beta

I feel a little sorry for Marcus, but only because Beth is okay.

The kid has blown up his whole life and he has no damn idea.

Chapter Sixty-Four

Leanne

When it’s finally time to head back to the city, it’s close to time for dinner, and the thought of the slow crawl through the city has me resistant to the thought of getting back behind the driver’s seat.

We say our goodbyes to Mr. & Mrs. Hamilton, and I keep Beth close to me as we start down the path toward the car.

“I think we should go grab something to eat before we start back to the city,” I admit, glancing at E.A. I know he has issues with food. I’m not sure how severe those issues are.

He nods at me. “It’s a good idea. There’s a place a couple miles down the road.”

“Please let it be a place where I can get a huge burger and a shake,” Beth says.

E.A. gives her an amused glance. “It’s not that kind of place, but there is a burger bar next to it.”

“Oh, thank God,” she says, rubbing her stomach. “I never usually finish a burger, but I haven’t eaten in like a day and a half now. I feel like I could inhale like six burgers and two shakes.”

“Well, we’ll start with one of each and see how it goes,” I tell her.

We get to the car and E.A. scans the area as he moves to the passenger side door.

I don’t see any trace of Marcus. He hasn’t shown his face since he ran off before.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less if he’s ever seen again.

The cops can deal with that creep now.

“Where do you think Marcus went?” Beth asks, as I unlock the car.

She sounds vaguely worried, as if this is the first chance she’s had to think about it, and she’s decided it’s something to be concerned about.

“He’s probably close by,” E.A. tells her, from over the roof of the car. “Waiting for us to leave to slip back into the house and talk his parents into whatever sob story he’s making up to explain what he did.”

“Give me the creeps, why don’t you?” she asks, shivering.

I open the back door for her, and she moves, ready to get in.

Her worried eyes cast a furtive look around first.

“He’s scared of us,” I assure her. “He ran away.”

“I know,” she says, managing a wan smile before she gets into the backseat of the car.

I close the door once she’s settled in the middle of the backseat.

E.A. and I get inside, and I start the engine.

“His mom was looking at me as if I did something wrong,” Beth blurts.

“You know you did nothing wrong.”

I glance back at her in the rear view.

She sighs. “I know. Everything just feels bad.”

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