Page 109 of Sugar Coated Secrets

The thought that we didn’t takes root. We didn’t use protection. We didn’t even discuss it. It’s not like I have to worry since I’m on birth control, but I don’t remember taking it the night my grandmother died.

“I’m aware.”

Dread takes root in how he will react when I tell him. My stomach clenches, voicing what I don’t want to admit. “I’m on birth control, but the night my grandmother…”

“What?” He looks at me, perplexed.

“I forgot to take it.” I look away, ashamed of how stupid I am for being irresponsible. “It doesn’t mean…”

“It’s okay.” He pulls me close. “We’ll deal with it. I’ll take care of you if you are.”

I look up and meet his sexy blue gaze. “Who are you, Ford Keller?”

“The boy from high school who was secretly in love with a girl he didn’t think he deserved.”

“I’ve been in love with you since I was a teenager,” I confess.

“I believe that, but I knew if I stayed all those years ago, my parents…It would have been impossible.”

“I understand.”

He’s right. There was no way we could have been together. It would have been us against the whole town, but now he is different. Older.

“When I heard you were still here, I knew the reason. I knew your grandmother was alive. Selfishly, I hoped no one swept you off your feet, and I was too late, but I never knew what happened or what they did. I would have come back.”

“Why did you leave the other night?” I ask, searching his gaze for the truth.

“Because I had to know who hurt you,” he says honestly. “Because I was angry that they think they got away with it.” He caresses my lips with the tips of his fingers. “I’m not going to stop until I do, but I need you to trust me.”

“What do you need from me?” I ask darkly. “How do you plan on finding out the truth?”

“I was kind of hoping you could help me out with that.”

I swallow. “You want me to try to remember.”

“It could be a smell. A trigger.”

“You know,” I say, pulling away and continuing to mix the batter. “I think you’re right.”

“About?” he asks, leaning on the prep table.

“The triggers. I knew it wasn’t old man Moody because I didn’t get flashbacks. Granted, I was scared. Terrified. Disgusted. But the memories didn’t come. They come in like flashes of a camera going off. Nightmares. Dreams.”

“Tell me.”

I look up, hoping he would find out. I want more than anything to catch the son of a bitch who ruined my life. “Can you take me out to the woods?” I pause and lick my lips, hoping he will say yes. “Where it happened?”

“Are you sure?” he asks, and I see the determined look in his gaze. He would.

“Now that you’re here, yes. I’m sure. I want to try. I want to know. And then, I want to leave Airy for good.”

After I finished catching up on orders and the cakes Katie attempted to bake but looked like they belonged in a bad episode of Gordon Ramsey, Ford drives me home and tells me about the rats Katie found this morning before I arrived.

“You think whoever is behind it knows I’m with you,” I ask.

“Whoever it is, lives in Airy and never left,” he says like he’s positive.

“That narrows it down.”

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