Sunshine Bleeds A Black Edge (The Wild Things (standalone) Book 3) by A. Wilding Wells & Tracy Porter & John Porter

Author:A. Wilding Wells & Tracy Porter & John Porter [Wells, A. Wilding]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HYP NOTIC PRESS
Published: 2017-05-18T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Ruby

“Ruby?” Hazel clutches my arm as I track toward the back door to escape the bar. “What the hell was that?” she asks, her eyes wild and filled with wonder.

“I’ve got to get out of here. Want to join me for a drink?” I steady myself on a nearby table, the throttle on my nerves wrecked.

“I was meeting some of the hospital staff. Let me text one of the girls and we’ll go somewhere. You look like hell.”

After Hazel shoots off a text, she dabs my eyes with her sleeve and motions me down the alley. We walk two doors down and arrive at a little hole-in-the-wall bar.

“I think I walked in on the tail end of something,” Hazel says.

What have I done? It’s like I fell through a hole and guilt went on autopilot, steering my tongue while blocking my brain. This is how people ruin relationships. They say things with no thought or consequence. Spitting out half-truths, a trail of mystery with scattered clues.

“Let’s hope it’s not the end,” I say, my hands shaking so vigorously that I tuck them under my armpits to still them.

“You hated the Kline boys,” she says.

“Still do.”

We order beer then settle in a dark corner.

“Why did you sleep with them? You guys could barely have a civil conversation.”

I draw a long swallow from my bottle. “It wasn’t intentional.”

She pats my hand, her forehead creasing with worry. “Sex doesn’t happen any other way, honey.”

“Aww, Hazel. No one knows what I’m going to tell you. And no one has ever been a better secret keeper than you.” I start crying. A few small tears at first. Then I really let it go. “How do I tell you what they did?” The lump in my throat thickens.

“Oh, Jesus.” Hazel’s eyes fill with tears. “No.”

I cover my face, humiliation creeping up my skin like a poisonous rash. “It was me or Opal.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

“It was such a shitstorm. My family could have lost everything if I outed the boys. Mr. Kline had just given my folks a new mortgage even though they were dead broke and Dad wasn’t working. Opal had killed herself. I was a wreck…almost took my own life. Everything felt like my fault. I needed to run away. From…life.”

Hazel threads her fingers with mine and squeezes. “How… I mean, when did it happen?”

“Graduation night. Rebel was supposed to come and join us behind the bleachers where Opal and I ran the stairs… He never showed.”

“But they did?” she whispers. “Oh, honey.”

Hazel hugs me, and the realization of what I’ve shared hits me with a tidal wave force. She’s the first and only person. It’s freeing and terrifying. What if she slips up and tells Rebel?

“Haz…Rebel cannot know. For lots of reasons, please not a whisper to anyone.”

“Of course. I am so sorry and in shock and…I can’t believe I’m asking this…” Hazel’s eyes widen, and she shakes her head.

“What?” I ask.

“Never mind. I’m an idiot.” Her face reddens.

“Did I have anything to do with their deaths? No.

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