Hyde, an Urban Fantasy (Hyde Book I) by Stewart Lauren

Author:Stewart, Lauren [Stewart, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Off the Hook Publishing
Published: 2013-11-21T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XXIV

Eden ran over the front lawn, but what she saw waiting just outside of Mitch’s property made her slam on the brakes and skid to a stop. Carter was sitting in his car, tapping his hand on the steering wheel, glaring at her.

She walked sheepishly to the passenger side and slid in. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah.”

“Have you been here a while?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You said that already.”

“And I meant it. Both times. I should’ve at least called, I was just…”

His hand hit the steering wheel. “You were just what, Eden? Too busy? Too exhausted? Too naked? What?”

She’d pushed herself closer to the door with every accusation. The first two were true, but the last? It hurt just to think he’d believe that of her. Though she knew full-well that only a few days ago, she and Mitch hadn’t been all that far from what Carter was insinuating. If he hadn’t stopped. If her eyes hadn’t— “I’m sorry.”

“Stop saying that!”

“We didn’t do anything, Carter. I swear.”

“So what the hell did you do all night? Play cards? Do each other’s toenails? ‘Cause, let me tell you, babe, I have a really hard time believing that dear, ole Mitch likes making s’mores.”

She wished she’d taken a moment before darting off to think about which parts of the night she could tell him. Not that she’d imagined him staking out the house, of course. But Mitch hadn’t told Jolie about Chastity, and she was thankful. So was it fair for her to tell Carter about Hyde? Was that her ‘tale to tell’?

“I talked to Jolie for a while. She was there all night, too.” She swallowed, hoping he wouldn’t ask her a question she’d have to lie to him about, knowing he would.

He stared at the steering wheel. “Did she give you some answers?”

“Yes, some.” She knew he wanted more from her, but dreaded going too far.

“Some. But not enough.” He shook his head and traced the Jeep emblem with a shaking finger. “Did you talk to Mitch too?”

“This morning, yes. But he wasn’t there last night. He left a few hours after you did and came back early this morning.” Technically, that was true—Mitch had stepped out of his mind for the evening and left his body for Hyde to inhabit. But technicalities weren’t what Carter deserved. “Can we go home now? I’m tired.”

He didn’t turn on the car. “Why am I forced to drag this out of you? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing.” The word stuck in her throat. The first outright lie she’d ever told him. “We talked about Chastity. What she’s like, when she appears. There’s a rough pattern, you know? Every four days.”

He studied her face, his eyes darting to her eyes, then her lips, then her body. “That’s all that happened? All night?”

“That’s it.” The lie felt like a dry-swallowed pill, a rock she struggled to swallow, slowly moving down her throat. And even though she could keep it down, she couldn’t stomach it. “Really.” She wished he’d stop looking at her like that, as if he could see the lies pouring out of her mouth.

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