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“No, the event is this Saturday, Lucy. And you need a dress, unless you plan to reuse something you already have,” she says, knowing full well I can’t do that.
It’s not that I wouldn’t wear the same outfit twice, because I would. The problem is, if I do, the paparazzi will drag me through the mud. And before I know it, they’ll make all sorts of accusations about my family having money issues. Or they’ll claim I’ve been cut off and can no longer afford to keep up appearances. It’s just not worth the headache of dealing with the rumours. So, as much as I want to sayscrew itand stay in bed, I remain the good little heiress and do as I’m told.
“I’m up. I’ll be there in twenty,” I tell Mum, before shoving the blankets off and hanging up the phone. I didn’t exactly sleep well last night—scratch that. I haven’t slept well all week. Every time I try, I see a pair of black lifeless eyes looking through me. I’ve searched campus for another glimpse of Dominic McKinley, but I haven’t seen him anywhere.
I was tempted to ask Hope about him—now that I know he’s her cousin. Maybe she could explain if he really is a vampire or something. But then I realised how insane that question would sound if I actually verbalised it.
I send Shar a text message, asking her to meet me for lunch today before I jump in the shower. By the time I’m drying myself off, I feel alive-ish. I throw on a pair of denim cutoffs and a white tee, pairing the outfit with my white Jimmy Choo flats. I let my hair hang in messy waves—I don’t have time to tame it—apply a nude lip gloss, and call it a day before heading down to the garage.
Checking my phone, I don’t see a reply from Shar. It’s unlike her to ghost me, so I hit call on her number and start the engine of my car. The phone rings through the speakers as I pull out on to the street.
“Lucy, why are you up so early?” Shar asks the moment she answers.
“I have to meet my mum for a dress fitting. What are you doing?”
“Trying to decide what to wear to my interview today.”
I forgot about that. “Shit, I should have come to help you get ready,” I say.
“It’s okay. You’d just make me more nervous.”
“You’ve got this. You’re the smartest person I know, Shar. If they don’t give you this job, then they’re idiots,” I tell her, because it’s true.
“Thanks, but I do have to go. I have thirty minutes before I have to be on the train.”
“Okay, call me when you’re done.” I hang up and head to the Chanel store to meet my mother.
THIRTEEN
Four days. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve let myself get close to her. After that day at the café, where my hands were left bleeding from the indent of my own fingernails as I fought to keep them from reaching out and grabbing her, I haven’t allowed myself to get too close.
The way she looked at me—with curiosity, unease, and a hint of something else I couldn’t decipher—sent me into a frenzy. I want that look again. I want to stare into those green eyes of hers. I want to get lost in all that is Lucy Christianson. To do that, I have to keep her, and keeping her wouldn’t end well for either of us. We all know what happens when the queen bee is forced to use her stinger.
She dies.
So instead of going to class for the last four days, I’ve been holed up in my house. I’ve spent hours upon hours in my gym, attempting to burn off this built-up energy so my body will be too fucking spent to even try to get to her. The hours I wasn’t working out, I was feeding my fixation by watching her on camera or hacking into her phone and listening in on her conversations. There is nothing that girl does that I find boring. She could be sitting in the library studying for hours and I find myself enthralled by her.
It’s a sick obsession. I’m aware of that much.
My various cousins have been dropping in every day; my parents are also still here. In my house. They don’t usually stay with me when they come to town. We have multiple properties in Melbourne. I think they know I’m on the fucking edge of cracking—not that anyone could stop me if it comes down to it.
Have I already bought a house on the outskirts of town and decked it out with provisions for both me and Lucy? Yes. Is that house also a fortress designed to keep the occupants in… and everyone else out? Also fucking yes.
I’m not a complete idiot. If it came down to it and I did end up taking her, I know she’s feisty enough to fight back. She won’t give in easily, and I’m not about to give her a chance to get away once I have her.
IfI take her.
I’m not going to take her…
But a guy has to be prepared for all occasions these days. You never really know what’s going to happen tomorrow.
“Dominic, you need to stop. You’re going to either pass out from exhaustion or end up looking like the Hulk, neither of which I want to see.” My mum stands right in front of me.
I hit the stop button on the treadmill and pick up the towel before wiping the sweat from my forehead. “I’m not going to pass out, Mum,” I tell her.
“Good, because I need you to come to an event with me tomorrow. Dad’s busy and I don’t want to go alone.”
“What kind of event?” I ask, already knowing I’ll accompany her anywhere she wants me to go.
