Page 41 of Eternal

A swell of anger pulses between my temples. I don’t know what kind of game Declan is playing, but I’m ready for him to let it go.

“We’re alreadydating.” I throw up air quotes because I refuse to validate it by using that word seriously. “You already have me.”

“We both know that’s not true.” Declan takes a step closer. “So long as you keep dancing around this with your friends, lying about what we’re doing, and holding things back from me, you’re breaking our agreement. Do I need to remind you what happens if you don’t play along, Tealene?”

He reaches up to tuck my hair behind my ear, and I pull back.

“What are you asking me to do exactly?” I narrow my eyes. “This was supposed to befake. Why are you suddenly acting like you’re genuinely interested? Don’t tell me it was the kiss.”

“The kiss was fine.” He chuckles.

Asshole.

“Well then, what else do you want?”

“I’ve been thinking about what you said to Dr. Parish.” He diverts the subject.

“The tapes again, really?” I shake my head. “What about them?”

“We both know there are things you’re still not saying.”

“You’re talking about the things I don’t remember?” My eyebrows pinch. “Why would you care about that?”

He shrugs. “Call me curious.”

“Well, if that’s what this is about, we might as well end this now.” I tap my temple. “If you actually listened to the tapes, you’d know there are holes in my head. Shit, even my fucked-up brain knows better than to letme remember. No matter how much anyone tries to dig them out. And they’ve tried. Trust me. Therapy. Hypnosis. Nothing works. Whatever you’re after isn’t coming out. So if that’s what this whole fake ‘us’ thing is, we can end it.”

I try to slip past Declan, but he snatches my hand, pinning my back to the wall and planting a hand beside my head.

“There is noout, Teal. I already told you.” He sweeps my colorful hair off my shoulder. “You’re my girlfriend until I say otherwise. And even if I have to break you to get what I’m after, I will get it.”

“What will you do with that information?”

“That’s not something you need to worry about.”

Except I am worried.

Very worried.

The shadows in Declan’s expression rumble like thunder on the horizon. I’ve been asking why Declan would help me—why he’d want to date me—but now that I know what he’s after, I can’t help wondering just how twisted this game is.

My brain wiped certain memories for a reason. Whatever happened the night I tried to take my life three years ago was bad enough that it ended with me standing in the middle of the road staring into oncoming headlights. And by the time I finally snapped out of my fog, my brain had buried what led me there.

All I remember is the rain.

The headlights.

Alex carrying me into the hospital.

I remember the blood. So much blood.

Alex told the doctors he found me like that. A crumpled mess on the side of the road. And I was left with nothing but injuries to heal and holes my mind can’t ever seem to fill.

Secrets Declan is after, for whatever reason.

“Even if I do remember, I’m not telling you.” I jut my chin up. “That wasn’t part of our arrangement.”

“We’ll see about that.”

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