Page 96 of Pretty Poisoned

"…Thanks."

I walk across the hall, then put on a pair of jeans, my boots, and a vintage black crewneck sweatshirt. I pull my hair into a bun on top of my head, put on my sunglasses, and then meet them in the hallway.

I follow them to the elevator, where we're joined by Rhett and Brady. We pass Eli and a girl in the lobby, but he only nods at Declan and heads for the elevator.

"What's his deal?" I ask River. "He's barely around."

"Eli? Oh, he has a wife and kids in Idaho. He prefers to keep a low profile."

"A low profile?"

I've seen him jack off in public and sucking blood from the inside of a stranger's thigh. He's with a different girl every time I see him—how's that a low profile?

"He was Declan's best friend in prep school—they were all friends," River says. "He's still one of us; he's just focused on the music."

It's warm for early March in Portland but still cold for a Southern California girl. When we step outside, the breeze hits me head-on, and I shiver, hugging my arms to my body for warmth. Declan must notice because he wraps his arm around me and pulls me into his side.

It's only four blocks but it feels like a very long four blocks. Luckily, the others are talking enough that it doesn't seem so weird that I'm not; there's no space to fill.

I take my voodoo doll doughnut, sit beside Declan at the table, and bite its head off.

"You can pretend that's me and stab it in the heart with that pretzel a few times if you want," he says quietly.

"I would, but I don't think it would bleed," I tell him.

"Teagan…" He laughs and shakes his head. "I can assure you it would. You've got something right…" he pauses and leans in. He runs his tongue over the corner of my mouth, then kisses me softly. "Here. Chocolate."

He takes one finger and pushes my sunglasses up on top of my head, then tips my chin up, forcing me to look at him in the eyes. I can barely breathe.

"Hey, Teagan."

"Hi."

"Teagan!" River says as she and Hazel join us. "Let's take a selfie."

Grateful for the interruption, I lean across the table and smile with my headless doughnut, and then lean back in my chair.

I can literally feel the frustration coming off of him, and I hate it. I hate that he's behaving so…human…when I know that isn't what he is.

"Teagan, you're so quiet," Hazel says.

"I'm just tired," I tell them. "A little hungover, too."

"I'll get you some more coffee," Declan says.

"Thanks."

"What do you think, Teagan?" Brady asks. "Want to go?"

"Go where?"

"We're going to rent bikes," Rhett says.

"No," Declan answers, setting another coffee in front of me. "Teagan is coming back with me."

"I guess not," I say, shrugging.

Brady pulls up a map, and they start planning their afternoon while they eat.

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