Page 41 of Ashton

“I know where to begin. It’s with that so-called best friend she has.” Atticus pushes his way through the crowd.

“Shit, he’s gonna cause a scene, isn’t he?” Maddox looks at me.

I roll my eyes. “What do you think?”

I don’t know what he’s going to do. He’s been unpredictable lately, and I don’t like it. I understand trying to protect Jinx, but he’s going to the extreme now that the suspect of her stalker is walking around. If we’re around her, she’s safe. Playing a little game of Beer Pong isn’t going to hurt her.

“Atticus!” I yell. But he ignores me. There is only one way to stop him, which goes against the brotherly code. I walk faster, getting behind him and wrapping my arm around his neck tight.

“The fuck, man.”

“I can’t let you, and she needs this. Stop acting like an asshole.” I tighten my grip, moving his head into my armpit.

“She should be having fun with us, not him.” He squirms under my hold.

“Don’t try to control her either. Now tell her we’re heading back, you say goodbye and we’ll wait for her when she returns. Trust me, brother.” I wait for him to nod, and then I release him.

She’s safe, she isn’t alone. If anything were to happen, we would find out.

Chapter nineteen

Jinx

My head hurts, scratch that everything hurts. Last night was a blur after the guys left. They might have given me a little too much freedom. Spencer and I never had that much at a party, and it’s because Cam wasn’t there, hiding around every corner. I felt safe for once. If only that had stopped me from taking so many shots.

I pull my blanket closer to my chin and roll onto my side, the world can wait another day. It doesn’t need me today.

“Wakey wakey eggs and bakey, baby.”

“Go away, Maddox. I’m not in the mood for your happiness this morning.”

I get pulled across the bed and land next to a warm body. I inhale deeply. The scent of sandalwood calms my woozy stomach. I roll over and bury my nose into Maddox’s chest.

“You have to get up,” his long fingers worked through my hair. “The twins are fighting again, and I can’t get them to stop. I need you to yell at them.” He continued to play with my hair, and my body relaxed, becoming heavy on his chest.

“I’m sure they’ll get over whatever they are fighting over,” I told him, feeling myself zone out. I was almost asleep when a loud crash came from the living room, jolting us both up.

“I warned you. Something is going on with those two.”

Maddox helps me out of bed, even though every move makes me want to throw up. I eventually find a pair of joggers and a hoodie hanging on the back of the door. With Maddox leading the way, we enter the living room to find my coffee table broken and Ashton lying on the ground with a bloody nose.

“For the love of Lucy, what the hell, you guys.” I try to locate Edgar, but he isn’t anywhere to be seen. My heart races when I start thinking the worst, what if one of them landed on him?

“Where is Edgar?” I called out. I dash over to where Edgar usually sleeps; his box is empty. I throw his blanket around, everything else on the counter, and anything else in my way.He isn’t here. “Where the hell is he?” My lips trembled around the words.

With a growing sense of doom, the longer I look for him, the more afraid I am that his time has finally come to an end.

“Odette, hey, it’s okay,” Atticus spoke softly, tilting my chin, his eyes bore into mine. “The window was left open all night, little grim. It’s safe to say he flew away because it was his time.”

I snapped my eyes to the window. Did I leave it open? I should’ve known Edgar was ready to leave; his leg had been healed for a while, and I just didn’t want to let him go. I enjoyed his company too much. I knew better, though.

“He’ll be back. Edgar wouldn’t leave you alone, Jinx,” Ashton reassures me.

He’s right. Edgar always came for a visit every day. I just wanted to be there when he left—I feel so abandoned.

I look over at Ashton, taking in his swollen blood, crusted nose. I had forgotten entirely about what was going on. My poor living room stands destroyed. What could’ve brought a fight on?

“Explain all this now.”

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