Christian was still fuming by the time we got back to his house. His dad was gone for the week, which was good for us, because we needed some time alone to talk about things.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ70Wf0QAM
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"I cannot believe her, your own mother," he snapped as he put me down on the couch. "How could she say all those nasty things to you, and then go and hit you like it was nothing? I mean, fuck, Kendall! Aren't you even mad at her?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmX3DWus3Y
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5lM9K43Dn
"Of course I'm mad at her," I said, glancing at him. "I'm just choosing to not express it as volatile as you are."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6KqdsKvGs
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDhSkx32n9
"It's frustrating to see you go through all of this and not react," he said as he sat next to me. Then he hugged me close, his lips pressed into my hair. "I think your session with Dr. Alder tomorrow is going to take longer than usual."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeyNFBjcih
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaVHYo8QxH
"I don't think I'm going," I murmured. "I don't want to have to see her, take up her time, with every little bad thing that happens. She can't help with my mom, or the dreams, or even what happened with Jude."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJm6sNp8Y4
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Christian blinked, untangled himself from me, and said, "What happened with Jude?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiUVAJwW8T
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I bit my lip, mentally cursing myself, and took a breath. "He's been watching me." No use telling him about the kiss. "He said he was paid a lot of money to get information on me. I didn't meet him on accident."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yA2slGXie
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnOSZ3JeEy
For a few minutes, Christian didn't speak. His silence was sometimes worse than his words, and this time I didn't blame him for being quiet. I wouldn't have known what to say if I were him. I closed my eyes and waited. Waited for him to start cursing and screaming. Waited for his horrible temper. Waited for him to break something.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfhC40DOKQ
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgTPFf87Lv
"What a fucking prick," he mumbled. "Did you punch him in the face?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPTG9Xgl3g
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJe9BGCQ1D
"I really wanted to." I shrugged, glancing at him. I reached out and gripped his hand, squeezing his fingers. I was grateful when he returned the gesture. "But I was too stunned to do anything, especially after I found the pictures."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyokm580tzh
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZyae4RDSI
This time he looked at me, his eyes narrowing, darkening. His grip on my hand tightened before he growled, "What pictures, Kendall? What the fuck is going on?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTI0nWKpNW
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ut1abXfbq
"They're just of me. Nothing too creepy. But whoever wanted information on me probably wanted to know what I looked like, too. Ugh." I placed my head in my hands and shook it. "This is all so weird. First the letters, then this. What's next?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtThB8wHvQJ
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcsgltHX0b
"Letters?" Christian muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Jesus, Scott, you're holding out on me."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX63AEmWob
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbouPKUIGqg
I looked away from his face, unable to tell him the biggest secret. The wounds I'd suffered through all of this had been too much, and I just needed to calm down before I told him anything else. I laid my head against his chest and closed my eyes, said I needed a minute, and tried my best to relax.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FN6lNY4N7
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD3Bp0wJGJ
The next time I opened my eyes, it was dark out. I lifted my head and looked around the quiet room. When I didn't feel him beside me or hear him breathing, I started to get up. Since it was pitch black, I didn't see the ottoman in front of me, so I tripped over it, landing on the floor. I let out a shriek and watched one of the lights in another part of the house turn on.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P0HpeN1na
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"Are you okay?" Christian's shadow loomed in front of the light from the kitchen, and as he bent down, his body swallowed the glow. He touched my head, my hair, my cheeks and lips. Then he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQvk5E3l4H
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"I'm okay," I said. "I just tripped."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfISUUPDX6
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG8903f3fR
Even in the darkness, I could feel him smiling when he said, "That's typical of you. Are you ready to tell me your other secret now?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXgCEiLmtG
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4Sxxn24rs
Before I replied, I heard a soft vibration. My phone. I could see it trembling, the light from the screen illuminating the other side of the couch. I reached for it, flipped it open, and read the message.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQY6SuwytD
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwwqxchFar
One New Message From: Unknown Number442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnLhJ2hK64
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Turn on the news.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OgOPmosI7
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When I found the remote and hit the power button, the TV flooded with white light at first, then a voice spoke. It sent chills down my spine.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzfHZ1b1hH
442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EpavrgON9
"The body of a local teen was found in this clearing behind me. Authorities believe the body to be that of missing boy, Jared Davis. No further details can be provided at this time."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2KSKoGIa5
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I dared a glance beside me, where he sat.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡius0V8RWZu
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Christian was gone.