AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I heard a noise and came to investigate,” I reply. “It was just Eric.”
Dad glances at Eric and frowns. “Where are you going at this hour, son?”
“I couldn’t sleep, so I thought a bike ride would help.”
My father’s eyes bug out. “Have you looked outside? It’s snowing like crazy. Come back in. I’ll make my famous hot cocoa. That’ll do the trick.”
Eric’s gaze locks with mine, panicked. Hanging out with my father is probably the last thing he wants to do after he was between my legs. But I don’t want him to go out in the middle of the night anyway, so I say, “Hmm... I’d die for a hot cocoa. Come on, big brother. You’ll love it.”
He narrows his eyes. I’m not sure if he’s giving me the death glare because I’m not letting him escape or because I called him brother. Either way, I win, so I simply smile in return, hoping he retaliates.
eight
Valerie
Eric didn’t come to my room to finish what we started in the garage. I shouldn’t be annoyed this morning, considering I had an orgasm and he didn’t, but I am. Even the possibility that he might have blue balls doesn’t make me less grumpy.
He’s surlier than ever on the way to the church. I’m not happy either. Going to a mass in honor of Hansen is the last thing I want to do. The world is a better place without that asswipe. Everyone in attendance will be moping when they should be celebrating that the monster is no longer around to hurt people.
My angry feelings don’t diminish my hatred toward Killer Santa though. He’s another asshole in my book. He probably didn’t even have a reason to kill Hansen and did it for sport.
Dad insisted we arrive together as a family, which means Eric and I are stuck together in a confined space. And yet, the gap between us in the back seat feels like a chasm, impossible to breach. He doesn’t speak a word as he stares out the window. Maybe hewasgoing to meet someone last night, and I ruined his plans. The thought makes me sad, not angry. God, he’s turning me into a pathetic girl.
The ride is short, and once Dad parks, I’m the first out of the car. I take deep breaths of the cool air, letting it fill my lungs completely. Dad circles the front of the car and hooks his arm with Theresa’s. She smiles at him, and he beams. They’re so in love it’s sickening.
“Try not to look so disgusted at other people’s happiness, sis.” Eric stops next to me.
I glance at him, but he’s looking at his mom and my dad.
“I’m not disgusted.” I start to walk, letting our folks take the lead. Eric falls in step with me but keeps a safe distance between us.
“If you cry during mass, I might puke,” he says.
“Don’t worry, there’s no chance of that happening.... then again, I might do it just to make you nauseous.”
He looks at me, and I see a hint of a smirk. “As long as you only do it because of me, then I’m okay with it.”
My heart does a somersault followed by a backflip. One look from Eric is all it takes to make me go all mushy. I think if he touched me, I might combust on the spot. I don’t know why I thought I could box up my feelings for him and forget about them. Eric is the type of guy who gets under your skin and leaves a permanent mark.
I’m still staring at him and not paying attention to where I’m going. I step on a patch of ice and slip, almost falling on my ass. Eric catches me, wrapping his hands around my arm.
“Careful, Val. You don’t want to break a leg and end your track career.”
“There’s always archery.”
His eyes widen. “Since when do you play with bows and arrows?”
I pull my arm free of his grasp. “Since I took a class and loved it. Turns out, I’m a natural.”
We resume walking, and Eric asks, “How are you enjoying Hawthorne?”
My brows arch. “Are you seriously asking me about college?”
He shrugs. “Why not?”
“I like Hawthorne fine. They have a really good hockey team.” I don’t know why I added that last bit.
“I know. They wanted to recruit me last year.”
