Page 27 of Consume Me

Fear blinks in his eyes, but it’s immediately gone.

In the car, he pushes the start button. “Good. You should have done that from the beginning.”

I say nothing because there is nothing more to say.

Once we’re at the house, I get out and don’t look back, even though I hear him taking off in a heap of screeching tires. Whatever. He’s not mine to love or worry about. Never was and never will be.

I walk inside and find the group gathered around the coffee table in the living room.

“Where is he?” Kaden asks.

I shrug. He stands up, but Bailey says, “I know where he is at any moment. Right now, he needs time to himself.”

“Good that he has you in his corner,” my twin grumbles.

The animosity between them is getting worse.

“You should all do whatever it takes to find out if your parents know something,” I suggest.

“My parents don’t want to see me, but that doesn’t mean we can’t break in,” Abigail says.

“Strangely, my parents wanna meet with me. I can’t keep avoiding them. I’ll find out if they’re hiding something,” Bailey says.

“I’m here for you if you need me,” I say and then leave.

Alone in my room, I get into bed and hug my pillow.

Not even a few minutes later, Celine walks in, followed by Abigail and Bailey, who hop in bed with me.

“How was it?” Celine asks.

“It was strange. Caleb kept saying ‘made,’ like Blake is his creation or something.”

“He’s always been a psychopath. That doesn’t surprise me,” says Abi.

“I didn’t ask you about that,” Celine says suggestively.

“There’s nothing to talk about. I am no one to him.”

Bailey takes my hand in hers. “Don’t make yourself believe that. There are a lot of things that trouble Blake.”

“It’s okay. I needed today to finally get over my unrealistic expectations. You know what? I’m going to start dating.”

“If that is what you want to do,” says Celine.

Abigail and Bailey exchange a worried glance, but I ignore it and roll over. The girls take the hint and leave me alone.

Thankfully, there are nights when I don’t dream about him. I hope tonight is one of them.

Operation “Get Over Blake” has officially begun. I need a distraction from everything happening around me.

***

On campus the following day, the girls are at my side as we scope out potential suitors. I have already asked out three guys, but each one mumbled excuses before walking away.

The bitter sting of rejection coats my taste buds, but I won’t be deterred. Not every guy has to like me. Two had girlfriends, and I appreciate them being faithful. But the third one scurried away quickly when I said my name, leaving me rooted in place, not knowing what was so bad about me to have him react like that.

Whatever, I don’t give up that easily.

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