Page 144 of Consume Me

“These are the times when I would really like a drink to calm my nerves.”

“So have a drink. Placebo effect, right? I only had a problem with you overindulging, thinking that you were an alcoholic. I thought you wanted to kill yourself with it. You think he altered you, but nothing can change that core of yours.”

“I was trying to see how far I could go.”

“Well, that was too far.”

“I know, and I am so sorry that I worried you. In hindsight, I realize I was on a path of self-destruction, but it wasn’t only because of what he made me into, but what––”

I could scream when his phone rings, interrupting his confession. He shows me Kaden is calling him.

Nerves eat at me. “Answer it.”

“What happened?” Blake asks, and I strain my ears, nerves making me jittery. It’s not normal for us to worry like this when our friends call.

“Fuck, I can’t hear you.” He pulls his phone away, his brows pinching together. “I have no connection.”

He tries again when he hangs up, but not before saying, “We’re going back.”

But I am resolute about getting to the bottom of his confession. Tonight the truth will be revealed and I’m so ready to stand by him regardless. This is Blake, though, so I have to tread carefully.

“Go check, and I’ll wait for you.”

“I won’t leave you here alone.”

“They must have found a lead, which is great. Meanwhile, I am going to bake some muffins for tomorrow morning. Something tells me it’s going to be a long night.”

Indecision flickers in his eyes.

“No one knows about this lodge. I’m safe here.” I palm his chest and say, “Go and come back quickly.”

“It better be a life or death situation. Fuck.”

He slams his mouth on mine, and when he finally tears himself off me, I catch my breath. His kisses undo me.

He opens his mouth, surely to say something more, when I cut him off. “I won’t open the door to anyone.”

“Don’t even joke about that.”

“I’ve readLittle Red Riding Hood,” I say teasingly to lighten the mood.

He tsks, drawing his lower lip through his teeth. “And you still fell for a wolf, Silver.”

“Exactly, and the forest knows who’s in charge, so nothing will happen to me.”

He locks the door and checks twice that it’s secured. He loves me, and I am mad about him.

I move to the audio system perched on the living room wall and put on some music. Then, I head to the kitchen, removing all the ingredients from the cupboards. But as I place them on the island, I catch a fleeting shadow in my peripheral vision. I instinctively whip my head toward the window, but nothing is there. Shaking my head, I blame Blake for making me so paranoid. I am not afraid of the dark, and definitely not in the house I see as ours.

Yet, I move to the window in the living room to be sure when I see a woman limping toward the house. Blood is oozing from her temple.

“Please help. I got lost.”

She’s even dressed in jogging attire—leggings and a long-sleeve shirt, looking like a fellow student.

My gut instinct keeps me in place, though. In all the times I came here with Blake, no one has ever come down this path. I remember him telling me it’s private property, with signs posted to keep people out. He even said he’s considering installing cameras when we move in.

But then she sobs, her palm leaving a trail on the window. Smudges of blood and earth confirm her story. She tells me her name, mentions that she’s graduating this year in social sciences, and explains that she got lost, fell, and has no reception. She even shows me her phone, and a wave of shame washes over me. She’s in pain and obviously needs help. Abi was right. Those two bastards, Felix and Caleb, conditioned us well.

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