Page 21 of Malicious Intentions

CHAPTER 13

Alexis

Irip my dress over my head and dig through my suitcase until I find my favorite pair of ratty sweatpants and a T-shirt. After getting dressed, I open my door and peek into the hallway. I don’t see or hear Evan, so I race into the bathroom.

Grabbing a wipe to remove the carefully applied makeup from my face, I grit my teeth, staring at my reflection.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when I hear the front door close. I toss the wipe into the trash can, listening to him move about the apartment.

I dart to my bedroom when I hear Evan rattling around in the kitchen. My heart races as I quietly close and lock the door behind me. I rest my head against the door.

Any minute now, that asshole will start bugging me. I’m sure he’ll use moving my dresser as an excuse to see me.

I don’t know why I gave in to him inside the restaurant's bathroom. It’s humiliating how good his fingers felt.

Sadly, I’m not sure I’d be able to resist him again, even though the fucker left me hanging. The way he expertly played my body makes me want more.

Nervousness thrums inside me when I hear Evan’s footsteps coming down the hallway. I hold my breath as they stop outsidemy door. My heart furiously pounds as I stare at the doorknob, waiting for it to turn. I’m sure the fucker would break the locked door down so he can barge inside.

A horrified thought circles inside my head like water in a drain.What if he has a key?

When his footsteps continue to his room, I release a shaky breath, relief filling me.

I look around my room at the suitcases and boxes that still need unpacked.Might as well be productive. Unpacking will be a great way to distract myself.

I grab my phone and select one of my favorite playlists. Heading to my suitcases, I start with the clothes that need to be hung in my closet. My hips swivel to the music as I sing along, my mood visibly improving.

Once I’m finished, I unload my shoes, stacking them neatly in the closet.

My gaze moves to the duffle bag where I’ve hidden my favorite pair of well-worn Converse shoes. My mom insisted I throw them away, but there was no way I could leave them behind. It’s the last thing my Gram bought for me before she died.

Reaching over, I slide the bag toward me, unzipping it and carefully pulling the shoes out. I smile as I hold them against my chest, my gaze distant as I lose myself in the memories.

I’m no longer in this apartment with my torturous stepbrother. Instead, I’m back at the two-story house in the middle-class neighborhood where I grew up. It was my sanctuary, where I felt loved and accepted, at least by Gram.

Tears skate down my cheeks.I miss her so much.

I carefully set the sneakers in my closet and sit back on my haunches. Wiping the tears from my cheeks, misery settles inside my chest. My hand slides to the necklace my Gram gave me, twisting it between my fingers.

My life was lonely after Gram died because my mom wasn’t around much, but I was eighteen and could take care of myself.

But now… everything has changed, and I hate it.

Getting up from the floor, I grab the small, lined notebook from the outside compartment of my suitcase. My fingers run over the cover, a smile on my face as I stare at the most nonjudgmental thing in my shitty life—my diary.

Moving to the bed, I settle against the pillows, the diary resting on my bent knees. I uncap the glittery gel pen hooked to the notebook's spiral wires and open it to a blank page. Then I pour my heart out.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m feeling slightly better after purging myself onto the lined pages of the notebook. I close it and open the nightstand beside my bed, tossing it inside.

Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I stand, looking out the window at the darkness blanketing the land.

I release a long sigh. If I were to describe the color of my mood, I’d say it’s black. Bleak, heavy, and fearful.

Gram’s voice echoes inside my ears.Don’t let the bastards win.

I stand there, letting those words wash over me before I spin around and head for my phone. Picking it up, I search until I find the playlist I want.

It’s time to use Gram’s cure for everything— dance.

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