Page 31 of Kortlek

Blair turns her attention to the window on her side, acting like she’s not listening in. My eyes narrow slightly, and I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, right between the two front seats. The silence lasts a moment before I get too impatient.

“Spill, Blair,’’ I say, reaching to turn off the music entirely. “You know something. What is it?”

She shifts in her seat, adjusting the seat belt before turning to look at me. Her expression is serious enough for mine to mirror it immediately. She’s silent for a couple of moments, seemingly looking for something in my eyes before speaking.

“Cove and Arlo got into a fight.’’

I snort. “I figured. It ended badly?”

Blair falters. “Not… exactly. Well, yes, but also no.’’

“You’re losing me, sweetheart.’’

She sighs. “Hudson and Arlo were on their way to… well… deal with Cove for what happened between the two of you in the forest. I did try to stop Arlo, but you know him; when he’s angry, he isn’t listening to anyone.’’

My heart aches. “Did they… beat him up?”

“More like… Cove let them get a few punches in.’’

I blink. “I’m sorry?”

She nods. “Yeah, it was weird. Arlo punched him right at the door, and Hudson just… popped a beer open and sat on the couch, watching it unfold. Cove didn’t fight back. He just stood there, allowing Arlo to use him as a punching bag.’’

Rose stops at a red light, then turns to look at the two of us, brows raised to her hairline. “Cove does not look like the type to just let himself get beaten.’’

“He isn’t,’’ I confirm.

“Once Arlo’s anger subsided… they talked it out? I mean, they were whispering so Hudson and I wouldn’t hear it, and it didn’t last long. Cove just wiped the blood off his nose and mouth and packed a bag.’’

The disappointment I felt for Cove simply leaving now turns into confusion. “He just packed up and left? Just like that?”

The green light pops on the traffic light, and Rose takes a right turn. I click my tongue against the rooftop of my mouth, contemplating everything Blair just told me. Too many things are running through my head, and none of this makes any sense.

“Arlo wouldn’t tell me what they talked about exactly. All I know is that Cove said he’d be back in a few days, which should be today or tomorrow.’’

Soon enough, Rose parks the car in the parking lot of the club, turning the engine off. We exit the car, but my mind’s too preoccupied with the thoughts of Cove to realize we’ve entered the club. He’s going to come back, and I’m going to get my answers out of him, one way or the other.

The more I think of him, the more my heart seems to be sinking to my feet. It’s a feeling I’m not used to. It’s worrying, but there’s something else, something much scarier. Is it possible to get this attached to a man after so little time spent together?

Granted, I’ve had feelings for him for a while, but it wasn’t like this.

All I can see when my eyes close are his hazel eyes and the intense look he gave me in the forest. It follows me into the dreamland and seemingly scares off the monsters in my head. Thoughts of Cove are the only thing keeping me sane, and I don’t know if I like it.

Because when I’m sane, it hurts.

And when it hurts, I’m thrown back to the time when Wyatt isolated me and mentally destroyed me for his own benefit. It makes me feel like a useless, mindless doll for someone else to play with.

But with Cove? He makes me feel like a doll, but the kind that he wants to treasure and keep safe.

It’s official.

Cove permanently crawled up my chest, hugged my heart, and it doesn’t look like he’ll be leaving anytime soon.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The club is crowded.

Blair grips my wrist tightly, following Rose’s lead as they navigate through the crowd. Loud music blasts through the speakers; the harsh, blinding lights hit my eyes a couple of times. The air inside is stuffy, and it reeks of alcohol and sweat, and I could swear someone’s having sex in one of the corners.

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