Table of Contents
Title Page
Dedications & Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
THANK YOU
Other Books by LaShawn Vasser
The Right Side of My Pillow
By
LaShawn Vasser
THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY PILLOW © 2016 LaShawn Vasser
All Rights Reserved
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead are entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
*EXPLICIT ADULT CONTENT*
WARNING
This novel is considered romantic fiction with erotic elements or erotica. This is for mature audiences only. This book contains adult profane language, mild violence, and strong sexual content.
Dedications & Acknowledgments
There are so many individuals who have helped me along the way, and I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your patience, encouragement, and advice. My beta readers (Lisa, Tiffany, Shebria, and Gene) and editor (Melissa) – how awesome are you? Words cannot express. You guys keep me laughing and inspired on this journey – Thank you. Lastly, I’d like to send a special thanks to my Mr. for loving me so deeply and giving me such great inspiration. You’ve always told me I could fly, and I believed you. You hold me down always, and I can never thank you enough.
Chapter 1
The madness that accompanied Cricket since the day she was born showed no signs of letting up. As she lay in the darkness with her hands clasped behind her head she looked up at the ceiling. Her thoughts wouldn’t leave her alone. Tonight, they were speaking louder than they had in a long time. More than likely it was because too much was happening too fast. Restless, she sighed. Sleep wasn’t going to find her. With everything that had happened tonight, she was wound up pretty tight. While no stranger to tragedy, Cricket couldn’t seem to shake off her dark feelings or catch her breath. Her heart was racing a mile a minute. That’s it. She decided she had to get out of the house, even if it was just for a few mere moments to clear her mind. Thank God she had never undressed. Moving around in the darkness to find her clothes would have roused her roommate. How she could sleep after all the commotion earlier tonight was a mystery.
It was against the rules to leave the house after eight o’clock unless accompanied by an adult, but Cricket didn’t care. It was close to midnight when she decided to sneak out. She threw her legs over the side of the bed, then quickly looked over at the sleeping body across the room from her. Cricket held her breath for a moment to make sure she hadn’t woken her up. Jenny couldn’t keep a secret to save her life. If the light growl of her snores were any indication, Cricket hadn’t disturbed her. That’s what happened when you lived here. You became desensitized.
As quietly as she could, Cricket slowly rose from the bed, reached under her pillow for her wallet, and tip-toed over to the door where she kept her running shoes. In one smooth motion, Cricket bent low to pick them up and reached for the door knob, while looking back over her shoulder to make sure Jenny was still sleeping. Carefully, she unlocked the door until she heard it click. Nervously, she whipped her head around again. Good. Jenny hadn’t moved at all. Cricket was taking a risk, and all she needed was for Ms. Lockwood to catch her sneaking out again. That woman was pure evil and no telling what she might do this time.
Cricket had been told over and over again not to leave the house by herself because it wasn’t safe. The fact was this place had never been very safe either. There was no time to think about consequences in her quest to leave undetected. Cricket stepped through the door and silently closed it behind her. While tip-toeing softly down the hall in the darkness, she felt the walls closing in so tightly that she thought she might suffocate. Finally, Cricket made it to the window she had snuck in and out of for years, unlocked the latch and lifted it up. She threw her shoes out of the window then climbed out herself. Before taking off in a sprint, she turned to close the window leaving it open just a crack. Once she was free and clear of getting caught Cricket didn’t stop running, even to put on her shoes, until she reached the street corner that was out of view of the house—the Marymount House.
The park wasn’t far. It was the heartbeat of the town, and where her snooty neighbors usually allowed their children to run around and play, except they couldn’t play with kids like her. It didn’t matter; this park had always been a place of peace for Cricket. Even at night, there was no mistaking the perfectly manicured lawns and playground equipment that was always in pristine condition. The flowerbeds looked like full-scale gardens and could have easily been on the cover of Home & Gardens magazine. While this park was beautiful, calming and peaceful, so was the Marymount group home - on the outside. It was the picture of perfection. But, the inside was the complete opposite. It was hell.
The park was deserted. There weren’t any nannies, late night joggers, or dog walkers around. Just a couple of other teens sneaking out for a late night rendezvous. She wondered what it felt like to have parents who might actually care about her whereabouts as she walked over to the swing set. That thought hadn’t struck her in years because she knew there wasn’t another soul on the planet who cared about her well-being. That wasn’t exactly right, there was at least one.
It was precisely because there were so few people at the park this time of night that Cricket thought it was the perfect time, and place, to come and clear her mind. She was unsettled as she sat on a swing, holding on to each side of the chain links. She barely moved back and forth, while gazing up at the inky, night sky. Inwardly, she thought wow. There was no denying how beautiful it was even in the midst of the chaos. The sky was filled with millions of twinkling stars. All of them vying for who could shine the brightest. It was mesmerizing. And, while her heart felt heavy, Cricket couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away from its beauty and magic. She no longer believed that if you wished upon a star, her dreams would come true, but something about its beauty brought a calm and peace that she rarely felt from anything else.
Briefly, Cricket closed her eyes as she shuddered, not because it was cold. The evening was still warm from the sun-kissed day. No, Cricket’s chills came from something more basic. Unlike most of the people she knew in this town, she wasn’t worried about her sweet sixteen birthday party or what she was going to wear to the end of the school year dance. Cricket thought about her future. She thought about new beginnings, and it terrified her. Even though she
’d had more new beginnings than she cared to count, they were still hard. None of them were like this one. In just a couple of days, other than her own, the most significant birthday of her life would be here. Dread and fear filled every pore of her body.
Deep within her own thoughts, Cricket almost jumped out of her skin when a large hand touched her shoulder. She turned quickly as her heart slammed into her chest. She was one second away from pulling her pepper spray out of her pocket, her eyes locked with familiar ones. “Cole!” She punched him hard in the arm. “You scared the shit out me! Sneaking up on people this late at night is dangerous.”
He was pissed. “Yeah, I know.” He threw her attitude right back at her. “If you know it’s dangerous then why are you out here by yourself? Because it’s not just unsafe; it’s stupid.” Cole took a seat on the swing next to hers.
“It’s probably safer than being back at the house. How’d you know I was here anyway? I thought you were staying over at Rob’s when you got back from State tonight? Did you guys win the track meet?”
“Our relay took second. Too bad it was your turn to volunteer at the Boys and Girls club and couldn’t make it. I decided to come home once I heard what happened. Rob was dropping me off when I saw you sneaking out of the house. Word traveled fast about the incident at Marymount tonight. By the time the team got back to the school, everybody on the bus was talking about it. All I could think about was coming home to make sure you were alright.”
Cricket always felt secure and calm when Cole was around. She lowered her voice. “We’ve had three assaults this month and now Caleb.”
Cole gazed out into the distance. “I know. Four if you include what happened to Angela in the kitchen.” He turned and watched Cricket intently. “You still have that pepper spray I gave you, right?”
She nodded. “I almost used it on your stupid self tonight when you snuck up on me.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Says the girl sitting alone, in a park at midnight, like a tasty evening snack.” He shook his head at the dumbness of it all. “Just make sure you keep it with you at all times. Even when you go to bed.”
Sarcastically, she saluted him then turned serious again. “Cole, it’s getting worse in that house. I’m really scared. Last week Misty was assaulted and this week…” Her voice faltered as her eyes teared up. “I saw them bring Caleb out in a body bag.”
He reached a hand out to touch her arm and squeezed. “Damn. I’m sorry I wasn’t there. That house is no place for kids.” He blew out a breath. “Caleb was a good dude. I wonder if the police are really going to investigate this one.”
It was all Cricket could do to keep from laughing hysterically. “They were called, but you know good and well they don’t care anything about us over there. They surely don’t want to sully the name of Marymount, so I doubt they will actually investigate what happened. But, yes they came. They had no choice but to come after they sent for the coroner. By tomorrow, you know what the story will be. It’ll be just like the rest of them. Nevertheless, you and I know, Caleb would have never killed himself and neither did the others.”
“The State has to be concerned about the number of incidences happening in that house.”
“The fights, assaults, and suicides.” Cricket used air-quotes on the last word. “Why would they? Most of it never gets reported. Only the suicides. It’s frightening that they’ve always been happening, but they are occurring with more frequency now. In all of my years here, it’s never been this bad.”
Cole spoke quietly. He was nervous about it too but didn’t want to freak Cricket out even more. “I know. But maybe something will change.”
“I hope so, but I’m not holding my breath. Anyone who lives in that house and believes all those deaths were really suicides; I’ve got a unicorn in Atlantis to sell you. On the outside, Marymount fits in with the rest of the community, but that house is evil and is barely a step up from a juvenile detention center.” Cricket leaned her head against the chain on the swing. They were both silent a moment before she spoke again. “What am I going to do when you leave?”
That was a topic Cole didn’t want to deal with. He’d watched over Cricket since she was nine when Kevin Lockwood tried to tease her because of her skin color and coily hair. Kids were older than their years would suggest at Marymount and much harder. They had to be, but the broken look on Cricket’s face made him beat the shit out of Kevin. On that day, even though they weren’t related by blood, they were family. Cole sighed while now staring out into the darkness too. His birthday was in two days, and graduation or D-day was the week after. He will have aged out of the system and have to leave the Marymount Group Home. “You’re going to be alert, not do stupid stuff like sneak out of the house late at night, and wait for me to come back to get you.”
“You’ll be out of state at college, Cole” Her voice dropped. “Two years is a long time.”
There was a steely determination within him. As if he were willing Cricket not to give up hope like a lot of the kids at Marymount. “I know, but it’ll fly past and the day you turn eighteen I’ll be here. I’ll come back for you.”
Her eyes were hopeful. She believed in Cole. He was her everything. “You won’t forget about me?”
A huge grin appeared on his face. “You’ve weaseled your irritating self so deeply into my life. How can I forget you?”
“Promise?”
He crossed his heart like a boy-scout. “Promise.”
That seemed to have been the reassurance Cricket needed because her face visibly relaxed. “If I’ve never said it before, I’m proud of you for getting all of those scholarships. You showed everybody that we’re worth something. That we’re smart too.”
Cole didn’t take compliments well. Especially when the truth was, he didn’t think he was that smart. Fear was a great motivator. He worked hard in school because he wanted a better life than what he and Cricket had been handed. He’d come to Marymount when he was nine too. Cricket showed up two years later. They both could remember what it was like to live on the streets or feel intense hunger pains that kept them awake at night. Even worse, being thrown in and out of foster care until they were placed here. No, he wanted better for them.
“I’d be lost without you.” Cricket was tough. She had to be, but the softness of her voice brought him back to the present. Cole stood and moved in front of Cricket before gently swiping her nose with his finger. “You’ll be fine.” The truth was he would be lost without her too, but had to put on a strong front for her sake. “Two years will be here before either of us know it.”
Two days and a week later, Cole Thornton graduated high school and left Marymount House.
Chapter 2
Jade Lockwood used the back of her hand to wipe away a bead of sweat above her eyebrow, before it had a chance to slide down the side of her heart-shaped face. She rolled her neck and shoulders. The movement had zero effect loosening up the soreness that had built up over the last several hours from standing on her feet and running from table to table. Despite her aches and pains, Jade loaded her tray with a customer’s order in an attempt to get it to them quickly.
It was Friday night, and Mario’s Steak and Seafood was packed. It always was. The entire wait-staff had been moving quickly to and fro trying to handle the crowd at the high-end restaurant. It had been so busy that they’d been bumping into each other, not only on the main floor, but also in the kitchen. Mario Pratt, the owner and head chef, managed to keep things organized while churning out mouth-watering dishes at an incredible pace. The dinner time rush was usually busy but even more so tonight. They were down a wait-staff member and couldn’t find a replacement. Susan had caught some sort of flu-like bug that had been going around. Since they were short-handed, it could really be a disaster if everybody didn’t pull together.
As Jade finished loading her tray and turned to go back to the main floor, the room began to spin. She swayed a little while her body heated up like an inferno from the inside out
. Jade blinked several times and reached a hand out against a wall to steady herself. Very slowly, she inhaled and exhaled in an attempt to get her bearings. A dull pain had developed in her chest with every breath she took, and the pain seemed to be getting worse over the past couple of days.
Brenda, another waitress at Mario’s, was walking towards the kitchen and Jade. As she passed through the doors and got closer, Brenda noticed how ashen Jade’s skin looked against her all black uniform. She stopped. “Hey, are you alright?” Brenda put her empty tray on her hip as her eyebrows knitted together. “You look as if you’re going to pass out.”
Bleakly, Jade attempted a smile, but at best it came out as a smirk. “I’m good enough to get through these next couple of hours.” The heat she felt a moment ago was replaced suddenly by a cold chill. The fluctuations continued. One minute, Jade was hot and the next she was freezing. On top of it all, her head was pounding making it difficult to keep her soft hazel eyes open. Every noise, crash, and bang was like an icepick through her skull, even the subtle sound of plates being scraped from the kitchen. Jade desperately hoped she wasn’t getting the flu too.
“Maybe you should go home?” The look of concern on Brenda’s face shifted mischievously as she joked. “I hate to tell you this but you’ve got dark circles under your eyes. You’re not going to catch a rich husband looking like death warmed over.”
Jade sighed. “No luck in that happening anyway. Who would want to bring home a waitress and cleaning lady?”
“If I were still your age and had those dimples—and your figure, I would certainly use it to my advantage. I still can’t understand how you never seem to notice any of those rich men flirting with you. Some of them are even young and handsome.” Brenda rolled her eyes. “I would be planning my wedding as we speak.”
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