Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
“Right, pull it out and I’ll put this on it,” Ralen said.
Cash gently held her hand while Ralen carefully dried it, then put on some cream and a bandage.
She just stared at them in amazement. Once, she’d slipped over on the tile floor in the bathroom of her childhood house and knocked herself out. Her mother had told her to just get over it.
So this really did seem like complete overkill to her.
“There we go. That should help,” Ralen said as he finished bandaging her up. “Do you want any painkillers, Bat girly?”
She glared at him. Addie didn’t think much of that nickname.
Ralen just grinned.
“No more hot chocolate in a mug for you,” Cash said. “If you want some, I’ll give it to you.”
He picked her up.
Addie had to admit that she was confused by their actions. They’d found a strange woman stowed away in the back of their pickup and instead of kicking her out or calling the cops, they’d brought her into their home.
Gotten her a blanket.
Made her hot chocolate.
Helped her during a panic attack.
And doctored her after a slight burn to her hand that was barely even noticeable.
It was crazy. They shouldn’t be doing this. Why would they even care about her?
Cash carried her back into the living room and sat her on the sofa. She moved into the corner once more, wrapping the blanket tight around her.
Wait! Snaggles! Where was Snaggles?
She glanced around in a panic until Cash held up the stuffed toy. Reaching out from under the blanket, she grabbed him, holding him tight against her chest.
Addie knew that she should pretend to be indifferent. That she shouldn’t let them see her vulnerable spot. But this was Snaggles. She couldn’t do any of this without him.
“So, did you get separated from your friends tonight?” Cash asked. “During the brawl?”
Addie nodded.
“Maybe this would be easier with a pen and some paper,” Ralen suggested, getting up and walking out.
“Hmm. I’ll go get you a glass of water,” Cash said. “You’re probably thirsty.”
Suddenly, she found herself all alone in a strange room, with just Snaggles for company. She glanced around, wondering what the heck she was going to do.
Getting up, she moved around the room. Where had Cash gone? She really had to go to the bathroom. Sometimes it felt like she had the world’s smallest bladder. Like her voice, her bladder didn’t do well with anxiety and worry.
Addie walked into the galley-style kitchen. It was empty.
Shoot.
Just go and find the bathroom yourself.
Was it rude to just wander around, though?
She stepped out of the other end of the galley kitchen and moved along the hallway, peeking into the first doorway.
Yes! A toilet.
Rushing in, she locked the door behind her and drew up her skirt, pulling down her tights.
Sitting, she peed with a sigh. She hadn’t even had to coax herself into going.
Yay, her!
After cleaning up, she stepped out into the hallway. The sound of voices came from down the hall, from the opposite direction of the living room.
Just go back to the living room, Addie.
It’s none of your business.
But her feet didn’t want to listen to her brain, and she ended up walking toward the voices. Sure, she knew it was wrong, but that didn’t stop her, as she paused outside an open door.
“She’s really cute,” Ralen said. “I saw you looking at her.”
“Of course I was looking at her. She was hiding in the back of my pickup.”
“Right . . . and that meant you had to sit with her on your lap? And rush around in a panic when she got a small burn?”
“You bandaged her up!”
“Because you were making such a fuss. But it was a tiny mark. You overreacted and you know it.”
“I didn’t overreact,” Cash said sharply. “Maybe you should get to the point of what you’re trying to say.”
“What I’m trying to say is that she might be good for you. Get you out of the slump you’re in.”
“I’m not in a fucking slump.”
“When was the last time you had a date?” Ralen asked.
“I don’t know,” Cash grumbled. “Am I supposed to keep track of those things?”
“I know. It was nineteen-ninety-one.”
“Fuck you,” Cash said. “I wasn’t even alive in nineteen-ninety-one.”
Ralen snorted. “Well, it might as well have been nineteen-ninety-one, considering how long ago it was.”
“You’re an asshole. You know that, right?”
“But what do you think about her?” Ralen asked.
“I think she’s cute. I think she’s, well, shy and quiet, and there’s something not quite right about her.”
Not quite right.
Wow, those words hit her really hard.
Not quite right.
How often had she heard that or something similar? About how she wasn’t quite right in the head. How she wasn’t normal. She was different.
And different was never good.
“Yeah,” Ralen said. “Something isn’t quite right, is it?”
“She seems to be scared of her own shadow.”
“That’s worrying.”
Knowing she might not be able to stay quiet anymore, and not wanting them to know that she was there, Addie turned around and tiptoed back to the lounge.