Page 25 of Whispers of Obsession

“Firstly, don’t get snappy with me. You won’t like the outcome,” he mutters darkly, sending shivers down my spine again. “Secondly, you didn’t even have the good manners to thank me for the ride, let alone saving you from that vile piece of shi?—”

“Thank you!” I blurt out quickly, but he shoots me a withering glare that makes me clamp my jaw shut.

“And thirdly, your house is in darkness.”

“So?”

“So, you’re not going in there alone!” he snaps right back at me.

“My mom’s in bed. She has work early in the morning.”

“Don’t lie to me, Cora. I won’t tolerate it.”

“What?”

“That’s a lie. Your mom isn’t in bed; she’s at work right now. You were supposed to stay at Lizzy’s tonight, and now you’re here. Alone. And I don’t think it’s safe.”

I blink. Open my mouth. Close it. Blink again.

Shit. He’s right. How the hell did I forget that?

Oh, yeah, shock at almost being raped at gunpoint.

I shake my head. I don’t want to think aboutthat.

“How do you even know all that?”

“It doesn’t matter. Just don’t lie to me.”

“Oh, but it’s okay for you to lie to me, or speak in riddles and half-truths?!” I cry, taking my fears and frustrations of the night out on him.

“I won’t fight you on this, Cora. I’m not leaving you here alone. Do you want me to take you to Lizzy’s? I’m sure she’s still at the party with Andrew, but her mother will be home.”

“No. I don’t want her asking questions, and I won’t cut Lizzy’s night short. She’ll probably go home with Andrew anyway.”

“There’s only one…well, two other options then.”

“Oh?”

“I come in with you.”

“Absolutely not!”

He continues like I never even spoke. “Or you come to my house.”

“No. No…there’s no chance,” I stutter, completely gobsmacked by his suggestions.

He ignores me again, reaching for his own handle and exiting the vehicle. He strides toward my house like he owns it, and I’m left scrambling to follow him.

“I don’t have my key,” I protest, but Slater tilts the chipped plant pot on the doorstep and removes the spare key from under it. I gasp. “How did you know that was there?”

He doesn’t say anything as he unlocks the door and gestures for me to enter ahead of him. I hesitate but do as he indicates, flicking on the hallway light so as not to be alone in the dark with yet another stranger tonight.

Because that is what Slater is. A familiar stranger. A boy turned man that I used to know.

“I don’t think this is such a good idea,” I tell him as he closes the door and locks it. He moves past me into the lounge and draws the curtains.

Continuing to ignore me, he moves through our small downstairs, checking that the windows and doors are locked, and ensuring all the drapes and blinds are shut.

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