Secrets and Lies 6 (The Ferro Family) by H.M. Ward Read Free Book Online Page B

I’m not comparing him to Matt anymore, or thinking about anything except how he makes me feel. Our bodies move together in silence until we’re both spent and completely satisfied.
    I smooth my skirt, run my hands over my hair, then bend over to pick up the paintbrushes that splattered on the floor. I have the happy, heaviness of being so thoroughly satisfied. The lazy grin lines my lips as I lean back against the counter.
    Nate zips up and then glances at his phone. After he shoves it into his back pocket, he glances at me. His voice is flat when he says, “See you Monday.”
    I don’t know what I expected, but when he turns to leave my heart drops. He doesn’t offer to stay or even glance twice at me. I suppose this is what he felt like when he woke up alone last time.
    I could linger back in the classroom and mope. I could act like it doesn’t hurt, and fake it next time I see him. I could plan to fuck him again and make sure I leave first next time—that plan sounds awesome—but I don’t want to wait. I rush after him, grabbing my bag, and following him down the hall.
    “Hey,” I’m suddenly next to him matching his long stride. “You’re running off kind of quick.”
    He glances at me as we head down the stairs. He stops on the landing and turns to me. “Me? You were practically packing up your paintbrushes before I zipped up. I can take a hint, Kerry.”
    “What are you talking about? That wasn’t a hint.”
    “Fine, call it whatever you want, but I get it. You just wanted a fuck and you don’t want to get caught. We did that. It’s over.” He’s cold and I don’t understand why.
    “Nate,” I reach for his arm, but he shakes his head and rushes down the stairs.
    He calls up to me without a glance in my direction. His feet hit the stairs in a quick rhythmic pattern, echoing in the darkness. “It’s fine. We both did exactly what we said we’d do.”
    I lean over the banister and yell down at him. “Then why are you running away?”
    He doesn’t stop. Nate pushes through the doors and is gone.
    I feel sick and lean my back to the wall, and slump down to the floor. I gather my knees into my chest and sit there for a while, replaying this evening’s events. I don’t understand why he bolted, and thinking about it isn’t clarifying anything. What did I do wrong? Was this payback for bolting on him last week? Is he that petty? Or did I really hurt him by skipping out? I didn’t mean to, but that doesn’t seem to matter. The look in his eyes in the stairwell tonight wasn’t something I want to remember. It was cold and calculating, like Ferro’s soulless gaze.
    There’s nothing left to do but go home. I can’t fix anything sitting here, and I don’t want to cry anymore. When I stand, I don’t realize that my foot is on the skirt, and the stitching pops as the hem tears.

CHAPTER 9
    S leep is evasive that night . Beth is mad at me, Carter turned evil, and Nate ran off like I doused his scorching body with ice water. I feel alone and it pains me, because I don’t see how I could have prevented any of it. My actions weren’t perfect, but I don’t think they should have gotten me here. I frown and roll out of bed.
    Chelsey is preening in front the mirror on her side of the room. She’s been uncharacteristically silent since Matt and Mom were here. She fusses with her curling iron, trying to make her pin straight blonde locks fall in spirals. She hisses when the curl doesn’t lay right and then glares at me. “What are you looking at, Bacon?”
    I don’t bother replying. She found the source of the stink under her bed and promised repayment tenfold for that little stunt. There’s yet to be any move on her part. It makes me leery to sleep in the same room as her. If she ever got together with Carter, I’d be screwed.
    I pad past her, go down the hall and shower. I take my time, hoping Chelsey will be gone when I get back to the room. When I pass a rumpled Beth in the hallway, she