Page 144 of Insatiable

I shake my head, eyes following him as he picks up his expensive watch from the bedside table. He clips it around his wrist, checking the time, then inspecting the small crack on his phone screen.

“Where exactly are we going? There’s a place across the street that sells phone chargers.”

“I’m not charging my phone,” he says, tossing the dead iPhone onto the bedside unit again. “I’ll do it later. I’m going to rent a car; I can use it to drop you off at the airport.”

“Why?”

Why are you even here? You hate me. Every harsh word you’ve sent my way proves that. I’m dead to you, remember?

He only shrugs. “I won’t try to fuck you again, if that’s your issue.”

I roll my eyes. “My issue is that a couple of weeks ago I was nothing but dirt to you. Are you still drunk?” I walk to stand in front of him as he sits on the edge of the bed, putting on his shoes. “Is that why you’re tolerating me?”

I want to throw the lamp off his head as he laughs and replies, “Probably.”

“You know what? I’m not doing this.” I gesture between us, holding eye contact as annoyance seeps into my bones. “Me and you are over. You made sure of that when you left me. So what the hell are you doing now, Kade?”

He stands, towering over me. “Why areyouhere? Why did you leave the airport to come get me?”

“You needed help,” I reply, crossing my arms in front of me. “Don’t answer my question with a question.”

Kade steps forward, and I step back. “I want you to answer it. I treat you like shit, so why did you come for me?”

Another step forward from him, and one back from me. I breathe deeply until my back hits the door. He doesn’t stop until he’s right there, toe to toe, an inch away.

I flinch as he lifts his hand to touch my cheek, but he stops when he sees my eyes screwed shut. It’s an instinct I’ve picked up from Chris attacking me every chance he gets. He’s had me in this position several times.

Kade notices my reflex, instead resting his hand on the door next to my head. “Answer me, Stacey.”

His eyes are so beautiful, light like his father’s. But they’re also troubled and tired. My voice is quiet as I say, “I’m allowed to still care for you.”

Knocked into silence, Kade’s brows knit together.

My phone dings, and I slip away from him. “I’m not the snake you think I am. Despite what you think, I care. Probably more than I should.”

I open the door and walk out, and Kade follows.

36

STACEY

We grab a burger, chips and a drink from a fast-food place. We haven’t spoken in the two hours since we left the hotel. He grabs my hand while we walk through the mall to one of the stores but quickly drops it when he realises his mistake.

I scowl at him when he asks if I want anything while walking past clothes that would take me years to afford.

When Kyle calls me to tell me Nora is going in for her annual scan on her liver, Kade keeps his eyes on me, smoking a cigarette.

I want to go back to the room, alone, and lie in bed. I want to get away from this imbecile who just did about four one-eighties in his mood.

Him and Lu really are twins. Moody bastards.

“Do we need to go anywhere else?”

Kade nods once.

“Where?”

“You’ll see,” is his response.

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