Page 82 of Better Hide

The more I move, the harder he holds me, so slowly I force myself to relax, and as I do, Jayden’s grip on me eases. I watch him in the dark. His face twitches, and the corner of his mouth turns down. He looks upset. There’s so much more expression on his face when he’s unguarded. So much…fear.

I swallow.

Jayden whimpers again, clutching me closer.

I glare at his shirt, trying to ignore the abs and soft skin underneath. Jayden doesn’t deserve my comfort. He’s the worst person I’ve ever known.

The dome light clicks on, and I blink, turning to shield my eyes and look at Cole.

“Oh, you’re up. Sorry.” He clicks it back off, and I blink again, trying to adjust. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t.” Jayden still won’t let me sit up. “What time is it?”

“Late. Time for you to be sleeping.”

“What about you?”

“I’m good, lemon drop. Go back to sleep.”

“I told you I can drive,” I mutter.

Cole gasps. “And hit every curb out here?” He chuckles. “I’ve seen your driving record, Jo. You kinda suck.”

“Excuse me? I do not!”

“Three accidents in one year? Okay, my bad.” Cole laughs as I yank out of Jayden’s arms. “No! Don’t wake him. He needs you.”

I glare at Cole, and he throws me a wink. “I’m sorry, I promise. My record wasn’t any better.” He mutters under his breath, “When I first learned to drive.”

Oh, this fucker. I smack Cole upside the head, and he ducks. “Jo!” He shushes. “Please. He needs to sleep.”

I slump back in my seat, crossing my arms. “I don’t care if he needs to sleep. He can suck my dick.”

Cole’s eyes flash in the dark, lust apparent in his gaze. “Oh yeah? Can I watch?”

I roll my eyes. Impossible. Both of them.

We drive for a bit, and Jayden continues to sleep.

“Who’s Toby?” I ask.

“Toby? I don’t know.” Cole continues driving, and after a minute’s silence, he says, “Oh shit. I guess there was a Toby inhigh school. He used to bully me. He was one of the first kids Jayden got sent to detention for fighting.”

I scoff. Jayden fighting in high school makes so much sense.

“As if you didn’t go to detention for fighting a chick, too.” Cole glances at me in the mirror.

I did. She always looked down on me. So after I bloodied her nose, I told her to look down on me from the ground.

I was particularly bored that day. How the hell did he know that, though?

“Do you know everything?” I mutter.

“Thought we went over this. Yes. But Carissa also ran her trap a lot on social media.”

I shake my head. Of course she did.

“She posted a picture of you guys after, at some pond. Had a nasty shiner. Girl got you good.” Cole laughs.

---