“TAKE A LEFT AT THE NEXT ROAD,” Ridge instructs me, and I scowl at his directions.
“I know where he lives, dumbass.”
“I know. But you were different the last time we were here. Wasn’t sure if you forgot.”
My head shakes in annoyance. “My personality might have been different, but my memory isn’t lost.”
You know the reaction you get when you mix gasoline with fire? An explosion, right? Well, that’s pretty much what driving in a car with Ridge for two hours is like. At least, that’s how my fucking head feels right now.
Two hours of nonstop talking, and the most ridiculous shit at that.
An hour ago, he shifted the subject to vampires and how he wishes he was one so he could turn Riley and live eternally with her. The guy is in love, but he’s also grossly obsessed.
“You’re sure she’s okay?” I ask, referring to Riley now that my mind has shifted back to her. It happens so often. Lately, I find myself thinking about her all the time. I know she’s angry with me. I know I have a lot of explaining to do. And I will. In time.
“Maddox said Scar gave him her coordinates and he’s on his way to her. They should meet us at his house by sunrise.
It’s two o’clock in the morning and we’re driving back to our hometown because Ridge is convinced that’s where we need to be. The lockdown still hasn’t been lifted, and there’s no saying when classes will resume now that there was another murder on campus. The search for Riley is still ongoing, and it’s safe to say the moment it’s suspected we’re with her, we’ll be added to the wanted list.
Ridge and I have no idea where Riley and Maddox have been, or what they’ve been doing. He said he’ll fill us in when they get here. I just wish I could see her once she arrives. Ridge and I both agreed it’s best if I stay at the apartment downtown while they all crash at Maddox’s house. His parents are out of town right now—his dad in Boulder Cove with all the other asshole Elders, and his mom in Aruba. It really doesn’t matter to me where I stay. Every place is the same in this town. It’s depressing as shit and I hate being here. It’s probably best if I’m alone because I’ll drag everyone down with my ‘sourpuss attitude,’ as Ridge likes to call it.
The second we pull into Maddox’s driveway, I slam the car into park and swing the door open. Curled over, I gasp for air. Ridge just ripped a big one and stunk up the whole fucking car. The stench follows me, burning my nostrils. I wave my hand in front of my face. “You’re disgusting, man.”
He closes the door and rests his arms on the top of the car. “You’re lucky I waited until we pulled into the driveway. I’ve been holding that shit for ten minutes.”
“And you couldn’t hold it for thirty more seconds until I got out?” I flick the latch of the trunk and circle the car to get Ridge’s bag out.
“Don’t you know it’s not good to hold that shit in?” He’s at my side now, so I shove his bag to his chest and he lets out a forceful grunt, catching it before it falls.
“You’re a damn idiot.” I heave a sigh as I close the trunk and walk up the cobblestone path to Maddox’s house.
We drag our feet because we’re both tired as shit. I catch the camera on the side of the house and nod my head toward it. “Maddox said he shut those off?”
His jaw stretches wide as he lets out a long yawn. “Yep.”
Ridge punches in the code on the front door and it beeps before unlocking. He turns the handle and pushes the door open and I follow him inside. It’s been a bit since I’ve been here, but it looks and smells exactly the same. Like apple cinnamon and a hint of sweet tobacco and spice from Maddox’s dad’s study to the left of the front door. For as long as I can remember, he’s puffed on those thick cigars as he works. Come to think of it, I don’t even know what the guy does for work, but whatever it is, he makes damn good money.
This house is what I’d consider a modern-day mansion. Everything is neat and orderly and it’s not credited to a housekeeper or maid. Maddox’s mom does everything herself. She’s a regular old Suzy Homemaker, and a good one at that.
My mom was the same way. She never hired nannies or cleaners and always took care of her kids and her house on her own. I always admired that about her. Though, I wouldn’t fault her for hiring help. God knows we needed it. Our lives were beautifully crazy.
Now my life is just crazy. No beauty to be seen. Well, until Riley walked into my life, that is. She reminds me of my mom in a weird sort of way. Soft and tender, yet outspoken and stubborn. Not to mention their undeniable beauty.
As I’m lost in my thoughts, Ridge disappears. I assume he’s going to the room he occupied during his years of living here. It’s nice that he has that. A family life. Somewhere to go. People who love him. Sure would be nice to have some of the same comforts in life. Standing here now, in this big house full of love and life, I can’t help but feel small and insignificant—out of place, even.
With my hands cupped around my mouth, I holler, “I’m out.” My voice booms off the high arches of the ceiling.
When he doesn’t respond, I see myself out. He’ll figure it out when he can’t find me.
It’s a short drive to the apartment the guys and I lease. We got the place after graduating from Boulder Cove Academy, with the intention of only staying there for the summer until we started our freshman year at the university. Then we decided to keep it so it was ours every summer. We’ve only got one more summer until we graduate from BCU, then we’ll likely give up our lease and go our separate ways. Whatever way that is.
My feet drag as I walk to my car. Coming to this town is never easy for me. It’s like a dark cloud rests over Glendale and it’s not until I hit the interstate that the sky parts and I’m able to see the sun. If only I were leaving now. Instead, I’m stuck in this hellhole for a bit longer.
It’s the dead of night and there’s not a sound to be heard, or a person to be seen, and I’m okay with that.
I pull open the car door and drop my ass inside before shutting it.
The next thing I know, I’m parked in front of my childhood home with my car turned off. A new family lives here now. Two teenage boys who are in high school and their mom and dad. This past summer, I drove by and saw the boys in the front yard playing catch with their dad. The smiles on their faces really resonated with my childhood. It’s good to know the house is filled with joy and laughter again.
I rest my head back on the seat and close my eyes, listening to the sound of my sisters’ giggling as they’d run away from my bedroom door after knocking on it. Their bare feet would pad down the hardwood floor of the hall and I’d jerk my door open to find no one there. They loved messing with me, and even on the days when I pretended to be angry, I loved it too.
I miss them. I miss us.
Swiping away the dew in my eyes aggressively, I turn the key in the ignition and burnout, leaving a trail of smoke behind me.
I’m not sure why I do that to myself, but every damn time I come to Glendale, I do. It’s like I have to see this piece of my past to remind myself why we started this fight to begin with. The only reason the three of us pledged our loyalty to The Society was to take it down. Now, with my uncle dead, I can only hope we are one step closer.
