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With that, she pushes herself gracefully to her feet, drops her sunglasses to the blanket, and glides across the sand to the ocean. I watch her wade into the water, my wide eyes burning with the need to blink. I don’t satisfy the urge until she dips under the surface, vanishing from sight. Tears squeeze out from between my tightly closed eyelids, and I inhale deeply through my nose before opening my mouth to release the breath.
“Erik. Leif,” I say in low tones, knowing the vampires will hear me despite the fact that they’ve kept enough distance to stay out of sight. “I’m going to the bathroom. Keep an eye on her, please.”
I watch her bob between the waves for a couple of seconds before standing. Looking around, I spot Leif in the shade of an umbrella near the road. He’s watching the water, and I know he’s keeping an eye on Steph like I asked. I glance around for Erik as I make my way to the public restrooms, but he’s nowhere to be seen.
As I approach the brick building that houses the bathrooms, several women exit the ladies’ side, their expressions confused and maybe a little wary. As I step inside, I see why.
“Did you force everyone to leave?” I ask, walking toward the sink as I watch Erik in the mirror’s reflection.
“I asked nicely,” he says, his gruff voice tinged with concern. “Are you well? I heard what your friend said to you.”
“Of course, you did,” I mumble under my breath with a frown, then sigh. “I’m fine. Her words stung, but I’m more confused than hurt. Steph has never acted this way before.”
“Your friend spoke out of jealousy and anger, and her words could not be further from the truth. You have no reason to be insecure. Jesse is devoted to you in every way, and as his mate, you are his equal partner.”
I nod my thanks to his reflection as I rinse my hands in the cool water. Pressing them to my face, I attempt to wash away any remaining evidence that Steph’s hurtful behavior affected me.
“Thank you,” I say as I turn to face him fully. “I know Jesse loves me. I’m not worried about that. But I am worried that something is off with Steph. She’s like a completely different…person.”
I gasp, my eyes flying wide. My head shakes of its own volition as my mind tries to negate the thought that just occurred to me. No. It can’t be. That’s…crazy. Fucking insane.
“What is it, Miss Eden?” Erik asks, taking a concerned step toward me.
I lift my chin to meet his gaze, my eyes wide and watery as I swallow against the lump that’s formed in my throat. I see his look of concern, but it doesn’t really register as my recent interactions with Steph roll through my mind like I’m watching them on a movie screen.
Her sudden appearance in L.A., and her superficial reasons for showing up alone and without warning while claiming Bernadette––who hates vampires––sent her.
Her insistence on staying at the manor, even after we told her how dangerous it is.
Picking that yellow shirt when she’s always hated yellow.
Sneaking out and befriending Jasmine.
Flirting with Jesse and telling me to wear something she knows doesn’t exist, anymore.
None of it adds up. And in this very moment, I know my gut has been right all along.
I spin around without another word to Erik and rush from the restroom. I sprint across the sand to our blanket and snatch up my bag. Digging through it, I close my fingers around my phone and pull it free of the towels and extra clothes inside. Unlocking the screen, I pull up Steph’s name and stab the icon to call her.
I hear a ringing sound coming from the bag and furiously dig through the contents to find her phone. Pulling it free, I frown at the screen. My name flashes across the surface to announce it’s me calling when it should read “Bestie.”
Because that’s how Steph programmed my number into her phone when we met. She said she knew immediately we’d be besties, and there was no point in delaying the inevitable.
Dropping her phone back into the bag, I tap the icon to end the call on my phone. That’s when I see it, and my vision darkens around the edges. I’m breathing hard, and I can hear Erik’s voice behind me, asking if I’m okay. His words are warbled and distant, like he’s speaking to me through a long tunnel even though I can feel his heavy hand on my shoulder.
I don’t respond to his question as I stab my finger against the screen to pull up Steph’s full contact information. My breath shudders out as I realize I was right.
Her phone number is off by one digit. Most people would never notice. Hell, most people don’t have anyone’s number memorized with today’s technology, but I know Steph’s, and it ends in six-eight. Not nine-eight.
My eyes fly toward the sea, and I see her wading toward the beach. I’m breathing so fast, I feel like I’m hyperventilating, but I manage to tap out Steph’s full number before initiating a video call. It rings twice before her beautiful, angry face appears in the window, a familiar espresso machine behind her.
“What the fuck, Eden? You blocked my number and all my social media accounts. What in the hell is going on?”
“Steph,” I gasp, my eyes flying back and forth between the screen and the woman approaching me with a concerned look on her face.
“Eden, are you okay?”
I look from the screen to see Obviously-Not-Steph has stopped in front of me with those words. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry as it dawns on me I’m not crazy. My gut was right all along.
