“Go home. Find Gigi,” she repeats her wishes from earlier.
Hunter takes a long hard look at her, then he lets me go.
I bend my knees and fall silently into the drop, easily landing onto my feet.
More than ever, I’m tempted to rip off one of Hunter’s limbs, but Red has taken control of the situation.
Hunter turns and leaves without another word. We watch him until he disappears.
Red turns to me and says with a smile too bright, “Commitment. Runs ‘em away every time. Am I right?”
Chapter21
Secrets out of the Closet
RED
“So you and Hunter . . . he used to be your boyfriend?” Brexley asks as soon as we are walking down the street to my place.
I lick my lips and shake my head. “Not really, no.”
Brexley stops abruptly, forcing me to as well. I shoot him a questioning gaze, but a hard accusation stares back at me.
“Don’t lie to me, Red.” After that fight, his patience is thin.
The truth is the fake Hunter’s touch was not as effective. Normally everything would disappear but my need, but this time, it felt wrong. Not like Brexley’s touch. Even the old Hunter’s touch had been more rife with past pain and feeling. Still, I’d followed the false Hunter because I was curious to see what he had to say. Maybe he had info on Gigi he didn’t want to share in front of Brexley.
I cross my arms to rub either bicep, feeling cold suddenly, if not a little embarrassed. “I’m not lying. We were never . . . he and I . . . it was always done in the dark. In a closet, or an empty classroom at FFA. I was . . . ” I squeeze either arm now, embarrassed to confess but unable to stop myself. “I was in love with him. I had been since we were kids. His father works as head of security for my grandma; he’s a Level Four telekinetic. Hunter was always destined to join the ranks, even though he tests out as a Level Two. By eleven I told myself I was in love with him. Then we both attended the Academy together. Two years older than me, he assumed the role of protector as if he were practicing for his future duties. I pursued him, took advantage of his protective nature. I couldn’t help myself and he felt sorry for me, maybe?”
Brexley saunters to me, an intent expression on his face. “Why the hell would he feel sorry for you?”
“Because I . . . I pretty much threw myself at him. Like some desperate kid.” My nails dig into my arms.
“Desperate is not a word I would use to describe you,” he says with an eyebrow lift and quirk of his lips. “Determined, stubborn, and willful as hell, but never desperate.”
“Oh good, so I was just persistent in forcing him to be with me.”
It wasn’t any better.
A storm enters Brexley’s eyes as his lips turn down, and he closes the distance between us. But he holds off from touching me. “Stop abusing your arms before I make you,” he threatens.
I’d no doubt he’d break my “no touching” rule again, so I drop my hands from their bruising grip.
“And that’s not what I meant.”
“It doesn’t matter. I know how I acted, how I am. I’m a lot.”
The storm in his eyes ices over until I feel cold looking into them. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
As much as I loved Hunter, I knew how strange I’d get during my monthly episodes. Intense, needy, and even aggressive at times.
Don’t stare at me like that when we are in public.
You are my future employer’s granddaughter. We shouldn’t be doing this.
What’s wrong with you? Do you want people to know?
You could ruin my chances of taking my dad’s position.
