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LOLA
I paced the small space between my living room and kitchen as I stared down at my cell. A new message was open, the cursor above the keyboard flashing at me—taunting me. It was time to tell Brody. Time to come clean about the secret I’d been keeping.
But I couldn’t help wondering what he’d say and do when I told him. Maybe everything he was doing had been for nothing? Cade finally spoke to me yesterday and told me they’d moved into a new house after Moira had called me a whore. Which meant it was all real. Brody was starting a new life. The question was whether I wanted to be in that life with him or not.
I shook my head. It wasn’t a question, I was just stalling for more time.
My fingers flew over the keyboard, and I pressed send before I could chicken out.
Lola: We need to talk. Can I come over later?
I cringed at the words. I shouldn’t have assumed he’d want me to come to his place. Maybe I should have suggested we meet on neutral ground, like somewhere public. Crap. I should have done—
Brody: I’d love to talk. I can pick you up around 8?
Lola: No, I’ll meet you. Send me the address.
I shook my head. I sounded like a goddamn robot, but the nerves were hitting me full force. Once I got out what I needed to say, we could wade through all the shit and figure it all out. But the first step was being honest. He’d been honest with me when he came here two weeks ago, and now it was my turn.
My cell vibrated in my hand, and I looked down to see his address. I copied it and put it into Google Maps, working out how long it would take me to get there, and started plotting out my whole day around it.
I didn’t have work today, and there were four hours until I had to leave, so the only viable thing to do was wait around. I hated waiting, so I grabbed my keys and headed out to get something to eat and to kill some time.
I strolled through the streets and past the diner, spotting Jan at the counter through the windows, but I didn’t stop. I kept on walking, heading into the stores at the small strip mall five minutes away, and then I grabbed a sandwich from the deli shop and ate it on my way back to my apartment.
By the time I closed my door behind me, I’d killed two hours and only had two left. My stomach dipped, and I gripped on to it, trying to hold the nerves in. Nothing would be the same after today. It would either go really good, or really fucking bad, but I wouldn't know until I said the words. Two words. Two words that could change the course of everything.
I jumped out of my skin at the knock on my door, and my eyes widened. He’d turned up at my place instead. He was early, and now I was going to have to tell him, and I wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t ready. I hadn’t figured out my speech yet, and—
“Lola!” A fist banged on the door a second time. “I know you’re in there.”
I frowned at the door and Hut’s voice. Why was he here? I hadn’t seen him since he’d last turned up, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to deal with him right now.
“Open the fuckin' door, or I’m gonna kick it in!”
I rushed over to the door and flung it open. “What are you doing—”
Hut barged his way inside, and I stumbled to the side, thankful the wall was there to catch me.
“You’re coming with me.”
“Erm...no, I’m not.” I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest. “You don’t get to tell me what to—”
“It isn’t open for discussion,” Hut ground out as he took three steps toward me and gripped my arm. His eyes were wild, not able to concentrate on any one thing, and I knew he was high. “I need you to come with me.”
“I don’t care what you need,” I sneered, yanking my arm from his grip, but he readjusted and held me tighter. I wasn’t going to do this again. I’d been through it enough when I lived in the same house as him, I wouldn't allow myself to go back to that place. “Let me go, Hut.”
“You come willingly, or I’ll knock you out, but either way, you’ll be coming with me.”
“Hut!” I growled and stomped my foot. I wasn’t sure why I did it, but it felt right at the time. “Let me go!”
He pulled me out of the door, not bothering to close it behind him, and I fought. I fought like I’d never fought before. I scraped my nails down his arm, I punched his back, I threw all my weight at him, but it didn’t faze him one bit. He kept on yanking me down the hallway. If he made for the stairs, I could push him down them and get away, or maybe I could call for help—crap, my cell was on the kitchen counter.
“Hut, seriously, stop.”
“No.” He turned for the elevator, and my plan was destroyed. “I need you to come with me to see Carson.”
“Again?” I groaned, finally giving up the fight. I wouldn’t get anywhere with fighting him, not yet at least. “I already went to one with you, why—”
