Page 14 of Haunted Prey

I opened my eyes and still felt the anger but tried to stifle it. “He wasn’t,” I said softly.

“Eve…”

I turned to face the window. “You don’t know what happened. You don’t know.”

“You’re right, we're sorry,” Jamie said.

“He hurt you though, Eve,” Lena whispered.

“He was hurt too,” I said softly.

They didn’t answer and I didn’t need them to.

“Hey, I know you're going to be here for a bit but just know we are a call away,” Lena said. “We have your things, your phone, shoes, bag.”

“Your car is at your uncle’s. I had it driven down,” Jamie added. “But if you want it, I can bring it back up.”

“I don’t know where I’d go.”

“You could stay with either of us any time,” Jamie said. “But your apartment was cleaned up if you wanted to go back. When you're ready.”

I didn’t think I would ever be ready.

“You do whatever works for you, you got it?” Lena said. She gestured behind her. “Get her stuff, Jamie.”

Jamie got up and took a bag hanging behind her chair. He gave it to me and I opened it, seeing some of the things I had left behind.

“What about the stuff at the house,” I asked absently.

“What stuff?” Jamie asked.

“My laptop, my duffle bag.”

“Ah…Liam mentioned they were confiscated by the police. We’ll find out where they took them and get them back. Speaking of the cops, they want to talk to you. I convinced them to let us see you first and give you a day of rest. But they want to get a statement.”

I gripped my bag until my knuckles turned white. Like hell I was going to recount everything and let myself get fucked up over it again. Not for a bunch of apathetic cops.

“They can wait,” Lena said. “What Eve really needs is a night out.”

“Lena, she does not want a party,” Jamie admonished her.

“No, no, of course not. Just out, you know, clear her head. But if she wants to party, you bet your ass I’ll find one. I mean, this place is nice and all but it’s a total snooze fest. And honestly, kinda creeps me out.”

“Eve doesn’t need to go out drinking either,” Jamie said.

“Actually, I might like that. To go out, I mean,” I said.

Jamie glanced at me, concerned. “You might want some time to yourself. Just for a bit until things die down.”

“What things?”

He glanced at Lena, then back to me. “Things are…a little crazy right now.”

I snorted. “You’re telling me.”

“No, he means like you’re a big deal,” Lena said.

I looked between them. Then I remembered how people would stare at me at Lena’s party. How they would whisper. And now…

---