Page 110 of Pretty Poisoned

I burrow further into Luca's side as we walk toward the hotel.

I realize I've become somewhat codependent on him. When he isn't around, I ache for precisely this. He makes me feel safe, although not in the traditional, physical sense—I don't need that—but more like I could show him any dark part of me or any fucked up thing that I've done, and he'd just shrug it off or laugh and pull me in tighter.

I've never had that. I've never belonged anywhere.

I've never had a family.

"Have you ever been to Denver before, Teagan?" Luca asks.

I shake my head. "No."

"You'll love it. It's supposed to be nice out. We can rent a car tomorrow—something with a top that comes off. I'll take you tothe Garden of the Gods, and we can get really high, find a quiet place, and fuck in the dirt. Stay there all day, show up late to the venue, and piss Declan off. You want to?"

"Yeah, I want to," I tell him. "I'd go anywhere with you."

I smile. I know there's a term for this: it's love-bombing. But I don't care. It works on me just like his normal human costume, enough that I can ignore that he gets into my phone when I'm sleeping and all the other invisible lines he's crossed. Maybe they were never mine.

And his chaos laced with sweet words that couldn't possibly be true, longing stares from on stage or across the room, and half smiles seem to be exactly what I've needed.

But when I do want peace or quiet without being lonely, I go to Declan. Because quiet doesn't bother him, either. And he likes to sleep in and cuddle—who would have thought?

I like the way I fit in that space under his chin, too.

"What'd you just say about me?" Declan asks.

"Nothing," Luca says. "We're not talking about you at all."

"Teagan? Don't lie to me, kitten."

Since I can't lie to him, I only shrug.

"Whatever. We're all going to the top floor," Declan says. "There are two interconnected suites with two bedrooms and bathrooms. We're having a party tonight."

"A party?" I ask. "What kind of party?"

"Not that kind of party," Rhett answers.

"Our record label has a satellite office here," Declan says. "We'll have to entertain them, so…behave accordingly."

"What does that mean?" I ask.

"Pass for normal," Hazel answers. "Normal friends, normal family."

"Yeah, cover up your stab wounds, Teagan," Brady says, squeezing into the elevator with us.

The 'L' on my chest is scabbed over and healing now, already leaving behind scar tissue in some places. It's on full display now in my low-cut cropped tank.

"I like my stab wounds," I tell him.

"Me too," Luca says.

"You should cover it this time, Teagan," Declan says as we exit the elevator.

He unlocks the door, and I follow Luca into a bedroom. After putting my suitcase in the closet, I lie on the bed and pull out my cell phone.

"Do you want to go somewhere today? Or—let me guess—you're going to find the gym."

"I'm going to find the gym, and I want to go somewhere with you today," he says. "Are you okay? What's wrong? Why are you making that face?"

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