Page 30 of Make You Mine

It wouldn’t fit anyway, no matter how much lube I get.

I’ve never put anything…there. I’m not about to start to fulfill some psycho’s perv fantasy.

I grab the box and do what any normal person would—dump it in the trash bin. All except for the note.

“Ready to go shopping?” Kayden’s voice startles me.

I crumple the note in my palm and turn around. “I was about to come get you.”

We’ve only got one class left before everyone leaves, starting in ten minutes, and as promised, we’re allowed to leave. I discreetly pop the note into the pocket of my cardigan.

I can’t show it to Kayden. Knowing him, he might even entertain the sicko, join him in bullying me.

“Let’s do this. Let’s buy some crap and get it over with.” I don’t want to spend more time with Kayden than I already have to. “You’re driving. We’re taking my car.”

“Keep stating the obvious, sis.”

I stomp on his foot and walk ahead of him to the parking lot.

I always walk to work as it’s only fifteen minutes away from our apartment, but Kayden’s too lazy and he takes the car.

“Get in,” Kayden orders me as we reach the lot.

“So,” I say, buckling up. “Where do we find a store with spooky Halloween decor all year round? Do you really know, or were you bullshitting our principal, knowing he’d let us leave before everyone?”

Kayden rolls down the window and moves the car in reverse, flashing me a smirk.

“You’ve got no idea, do you?”

“There used to be a place my father and I used to frequent when I was a kid, back in our old town. No clue whether it’s still standing, but I’m willing to risk it.”

“We’re basically searching for a needle in a haystack.” I sigh. Of course. Typical of Kayden. “Great. Thanks, genius.”

“I mean…” He trails off. “I got us away from work early, and we get to enjoy a full afternoon driving around the country together. Best brother ever or what?”

I groan, already dreading the moment I didn’t step in to refuse my participation in such a task. “Shut up.”

“God, I missed you telling me to shut up. It’s been a while.” Kayden grins, showing off his white teeth, then focuses back on the road. “Come on. We can check out that store and go down memory lane for a bit. You can learn more about your brother. We can stop by a diner or something, I’ll get us some food, and we’ll be back before midnight.”

“Yay.” I fake-enthusiasm, sarcasm pouring out of my tone.

Spending the whole evening with Kayden isn’t my definition of fun.

“Don’t act like you’re not interested. We didn’t always spit into each other’s drinks, Mads. We used to hang out sometimes.”

“Emphasis on the used to,” I say, looking through the window and avoiding his gaze. “A period of obvious weakness on my part.”

Back when I thought there was some humanity in Kayden. That maybe he was just a little broken and misunderstood, as I was. Before he stabbed me in the back over and over with his actions.

In our case, his actions spoke a lot more than his words did.

“Ouch.”

“Stop playing the victim, and I’ll play along. Only for today.”

“I’ll take it.”

The rest of the ride is quiet as I fold my arms and drown in my own thoughts.