Page 52 of Better Run
Jayden jumps and looks back at us. “What are you doing here?”
“You’re at the cabin. They aren’t here. They’re dead. You had a bad dream.”
Jayden trembles. He runs a hand through his hair and blinks. He lowers the gun to his side.
“Give it to me,” Cole demands.
Jayden stiffens. Cole walks slowly up to him, still keeping his body between us. “You’re safe. I’ll keep you safe.”
He shudders and hands the gun over. Cole puts it in the closet again and sits next to Jayden on the bed.
I’m still standing there. The two talk in low tones. I tiptoe downstairs and curl up on the couch. I wasn’t supposed to see that. I wasn’t supposed to see any of that.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Cole
The freezing wind whips around my face. I take the first draw on my cigarette. Jayden went for a run, with no coat on, in the dead of night. My fingers shake, needing that hit. It’s been a long time since I’ve craved a cigarette this badly.
Jo is asleep on the couch, but I stay on the front doorstep just in case she decides to try and leave. The weather instantly makes my fingers burn. I embrace it.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Jayden like this. He was always stoic. I’m hit with a memory of us as seven-year-olds, playing by the river. He brought his game boy with the red case, which I was insanely jealous of, and I watched him play for hours. Even when he’d win, he’d always keep a calm demeanor while I’d hoot and holler.
I take another draw, and the cherry lights up, warm and alive. I didn’t know at the time that the game boy was a sick sort of gift from Pat. Not until I got my own. Not until he told me to start making him feel good.
I let out a heavy breath. I’m not even the one who had a nightmare, and I feel jittery. Jayden is usually the one looking after me, not the other way around.
I grimace, thinking about right before Christmas. I almost lost him. It’s been about the three-month anniversary of his mom’s death, and revenge was the only thing that saved his life.
I reach the end of my cigarette. I stand in the blistering cold for a long time, lost in memories. So long that I startle when Jayden jogs up.
“What are you doing?” he snaps.
“Smoking.” I realize just how cold it is when it’s hard to move my face.
“You’re going to get frostbite; get inside.” He moves past me to open the door. He has no shirt on, and his skin is pink and steaming.
“You too,” I grumble.
The heat is almost oppressive when we get inside. Jayden looks over at the couch and quietly moves around the kitchen, grabbing a protein bar. He glances at me and then clasps the back of my neck. “You good?” He searches my eyes. He’s always been able to read me by just looking at me.
I look away. “Yeah, I’m fine. Are you okay?”
He doesn’t let go. I keep avoiding his gaze until he gives me a warm squeeze.
I look up. There’s affection and concern in his eyes. “You okay?” he asks again.
“Yeah, man.” I give a small smile.
He keeps searching, then his gaze shutters. He turns away and throws the protein bar onto the counter. “I thought I was over it. I’ve been doing a lot better. It won’t happen again.”
“Hey,” I say loudly, then look over to make sure I didn’t wake Jo. I say quieter, “I’m good. Don’t worry about me.”
He also looks over at the couch. There’s a haunted look in his eyes. “There’s something I have to do today. Keep her distracted.”
I just nod. I see when his walls settle fully down again and when anger takes over. “I’m gonna shower.”
I shrug out of my coat and go to the couch. I sit on the unoccupied one and watch Jo’s chest rise and fall. She has a tank on, and I can see her breasts gently swelling underneath. Her pink lips are slightly pouty, and her lashes are dark against her skin. She looks so peaceful. So innocent. How did she get tangled up with fucked-up assholes like us?
