Page 35

And last night, they were at an all-time high…

Forgoing the carbs, I opt for the bowl of cut fruit rather than the leftovers I’d originally planned on eating. I’m not sure I could stomach much right now anyway.

Tossing the fresh mix of berries on the counter, I open the drawer, then slam it shut again. Where the hell are my forks?

Close my eyes, count to three, take some breaths. These are things I should do. What I do instead is storm my way through the back door, across the yard, and straight to the guest house.

She answers to my banging right away. The sun beams down on her lightly freckled cheeks. Her hair is pulled back into a high ponytail, blowing around her in the passing breeze. She looks rested, like she’s enjoying her day. “Yes?” she asks, a soft smile pressing her lush, pink lips.

“Did you take my forks?” I deadpan, not in the mood for her enthusiasm.

Her smile falls. “Why would I take your forks?”

“Yes or no?”

“Sorry, vampy, I have my own forks. If you lost yours, you’re welcome to borrow⁠—”

“I didn’t lose them,” I grumble, pushing past her into the house.

“Sure, come in,” Sumner mumbles, making her way to the couch. She flops down on the center of it, propping her feet on the small table and shoving her nose into the book she had apparently been reading before my arrival. I ignore her, pulling the silverware drawer open and taking a handful of the pointed utensils, leaving behind only one for her.

“Feet off the furniture,” I tell her, kicking the table’s leg as I walk by. There’s a loud thud when her socked feet hit the wooden floor.

She sits up, setting the book face down in her lap. “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. You’re usually such a joy in the mornings.”

I pause to look back at her. Her elbows are held up on her knees, leaning forward to rest her chin over her palms. Sumner taunting me isn’t abnormal. What is abnormal is the seemingly good mood she’s in this morning. Probably because she was up all night plotting her heist. Those gleaming eyes of hers scream fork thief.

I glance to my right, stepping toward the standing lamp. Flipping the switch off, I unplug it from the wall.

“What are you doing?”

Rather than answer, I carry the whole thing through the door, forcing it shut behind me. The lamp isn’t something I want or need, I just didn’t like the way she was looking at me. Besides, I’m like sixty percent sure she took my shit, so, I’m taking this.

I spend the next few hours lying on the couch. My link keeps going off, everyone from the group chat going over plans for the bonfire later. I stay inactive in the discussion, only checking in every few minutes with what everyone else is saying. It’s not until the next chime comes that I even care about the conversation.

Rai: Sooo, I just ran into Sumner working at the diner. Invited her to come tonight.

Ashen: Finally. Rhenn never brings her around.

Moxin: Please, you only want her there so you have something new to stare at.

Ashen: Nothing wrong with appreciating some good eye candy!

The messages continue even after I stop reading. It wasn’t in the plans to have Sumner there tonight. It wasn’t in the plans to see her at all for the remainder of the day. This was supposed to be my break from her, since I can’t seem to escape her anywhere else.

Standing, I stretch my back, then make my way to the stray’s house for the second time today. I know she isn’t here, since Rai just stumbled into her, so I tape a note to her door for whenever she comes back.

If Sumner thinks she can weasel her way further into my personal life than she already has, she’s wrong.

Turning, I’m met with striking blue eyes and a bright smile. Siena wraps herself around me, burrowing the side of her face into my chest. “I missed you,” she coos.

I’m not surprised to see her. I am, however, surprised to see her and her not be pissed. I’d woken up with my bed empty this morning, which never happens on the rare occasions I let her stay over. Last night is a fucking blur, but I have a vague memory of Sumner coming up in our conversation, which I’ve learned is the quickest way to make Siena’s blood turn cold. I couldn’t tell you exactly what was said, only that it made her mad enough to not stay the night.

She nuzzles farther into me, greeting the side of my neck with a warm wisp of her breath, and begins to toy with the waistline of my sweats.

It would seem whatever frustration she was holding from last night is gone.

Siena takes my hand, pulling us away from the guest house. I glance down at our laced fingers, and for a moment, I wonder how different Sumner’s would feel.