12

I grit my teeth together. I take it back. I know exactly why he cheated.
Right, he says, and she finally leaves, walking out of the room and leaving me and him alone.
Immediately, I turn to him and grab the scruff of his shirt in anger. You have a lot to explain, you dick.
He takes hold of my wrists and pulls them off his shirt. I know I do, and I will. But just so you know… He leans into my ear and my entire body shivers. You’re so damn sexy when you’re angry.
Gasping, I push him away from me. And you’re an asshole for putting me in this position. You want to cheat, fine. Just don’t use me to do it. I’m not some play thing for your enjoyment.
He frowns, maybe because it sounds like I’m about to cry, which I hate. I don’t want to cry in front of him. Why would I ?
I’m sorry, he apologizes, and he sounds sincere, which knocks me off guard. I know you’re not a play thing. Trust me and stay tonight. I can explain everything in the morning. It’s too dangerous for you to go out.
Trust him ?
I can’t think of words to say. I hear the begging in his voice and I’m left speechless. I should tell him to go to hell, but I can’t.
I hear him groan in despair as he backs away from me, his tortured eyes never leaving mine. He looks like he doesn’t want to go and a part of me doesn’t want him to either. Don’t look so worried.
Do I look worried ? I mean, there is that nagging sensation in my stomach that he’s going to her. But she’s the girl before me and I’m nothing but a lie.
There’s sickness in my stomach as he closes the door and leaves me feeling cold and alone. I sigh, my heart painfully pounding against my chest at the thought of her even laying a finger on him, even when I have no right.
I shake my head. I need to stop. Colton’s wrong for bringing me here when he already has a girlfriend. He’s wrong for kissing me. He’s not mine. He’s never going to be. I look over at the bed and roll my eyes with agitation. I can’t do this. Although I shamefully like him, I can’t stay here knowing that he’s with her now.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I sneak over to the door and open it. The hallway is deserted, their bedroom door closed. Chewing on my bottom lip, I quietly make my way out of the bedroom and head toward the stairs, stopping when I hear shouting coming from behind their bedroom door. They’re arguing, and it sounds heated, but I’m too busy escaping to listen.
A floorboard creaks beneath my foot by the stairs and I freeze on the spot, hoping they don’t hear. He doesn’t hear. Licking the sweat from my top lip, I swallow hard and continue hearing her yell at him.
Making my way downstairs, I breathe a sigh of a relief when I reach the bottom. Now that I’m downstairs, I have no idea what I’m going to do. I don’t know where I am, and walking in the dark outside seems like a big fat no.
I look around, begging for a sign.
It’s in that moment I catch something silver glinting from a table. On closer inspection I see they’re keys to Colton’s mustang.
I sigh with relief and run over, picking them up. But now I’m faced with a new challenge. Stay or steal the car ?
I’m going to hell anyway for being involved with a cheating man and secretly enjoying every second of. Plus, I really need to get out of here and this is the only option I have.
I quietly start searching for the garage, carefully pulling open doors that reveal large rooms, studies, a kitchen, and even a huge gaming room with a built-in bar. Finally, I open a door and jump with joy when I find the garage.
I walk inside and stop dead, my eyes widening at all the cars in here. Fumbling with the keys, I hold them up, clicking the lock for the mustang. I jump out of my skin when it beeps loudly and flashes by the mouth of the garage.
Shit.
What if he heard ?
I make a runner for the car and yank the door open. But at the same time, I hear a door slam shut behind me. Whirling around, my heart stops when I see Colton standing right there. Panicked, I get in his car, slam the door and lock it.
Hey ! I hear him shout in the distance as I mess with the keys. I cry out when they fall out of my hands and land by my feet. Bending over, I grab them and try again, reminding myself he isn’t a murderer.
At least, I don’t think he is.
By the time I’ve got the key into the slot, Colton taps on the window. Where do you think you’re going ? he asks as I let the window down a crack. He leans down so I can see him and my stomach flips by the anger in his eyes.
Home, I mutter. For real this time.
He glares at me. Get out of the car.
No, I say adamantly.
Layla, he growls causing my body to jump. Get out of the car so I can explain. Jenny isn’t what you think. I’m sorry I involved you, but what happened between us changes everything.
I shake my head, even though there’s that whack part of me that wants to believe him. My advice ? End your relationship before kissing girls in your club. It might work out better for you next time.
You think that’s what I do ? he asks with outrage, his eyes now blazing. You think that I just pick up random girls in clubs ?
I don’t know you.
I don’t do that, he says through gritted teeth. Come out of the car and let me explain.
I turn the key and the mustang roars to life. I’ll send your car back, I promise. But this, whatever this is, ends now. I mean, getting me to sleep in your guest bedroom while you sleep with your girlfriend ? I laugh even though I’m not amused. That’s funny.
Layl-
Here’s an immature thing for me to say to you, Colton. You want me out of this car ? You’re going to have to chase me.
Slamming my foot against the peddle, the car jerks forward. As I race down the driveway, excitement pumping through my veins, I look in the rear-view mirror, expecting to see him watching me leave. But instead, I see something that makes my eyebrows draw together.
Colton’s no longer standing where I left him. Instead, a pair haunting gold eyes belonging to what I think is an enormous black dog watches me leave. And as I drive away, it arches its head back and howls into the night.
Speeding down the road in Colton’s car, my body feels completely numb. It takes me a few moments to think straight, and when I do, I start laughing. I laugh even though nothing about this situation is funny. But then, I don’t know what else to do. I don’t know how I feel, only that I know it’s horrible, and laughing is better than admitting I messed up tonight.
After a few moments, I calm the hysteria down and attempt to get it together. But I can’t ignore the ache in my chest and my stomach clenching uneasily because I left.
Of course, I had to leave. I stole Colton’s car to get away, which is stupid and crazy, but I had to go. I did the right thing. It’s not the brightest idea, and I know there might be consequences for my actions, but for now, I’m happy to be on my way home after figuring it out by the road signs where I was. The outskirts of Lanten. Not that far from the main road.
Now that I’m on the right road, my traitor mind wonders how pissed Colton is that I stole his car.
Is he going to hunt me down ?
I frown. I hope not. I don’t know how I’d cope seeing him again so soon after what happened between us. Not to mention seeing him change into an animal.
Unless he has a guard dog with the same eye colour his went before biting me, whatever that thing was, I’m glad I sped away when I did.