“Your parents are arseholes,” Willow tells her, not ashamed to call them out. It’s why I love her so much. She’s always had my back. Seeing the fight in her eyes reminds me of the old Willow, before she was attacked, and it brings tears to my eyes. She was always feisty and carefree. She said what she thought and didn’t care who heard. Now, she’s wary of who she speaks to and is constantly looking over her shoulder, even if she doesn’t realise she’s doing it.
Rosie lets out a watery laugh. “They are. They blamed what happened to me on me being gay. I don’t know why I thought telling them would make them feel any different towards me. I guess I was hoping they’d hear how badly I was hurt and would come running.”
Understanding dawns on me. “You thought they would break their beliefs after knowing you were hurt and become the loving parents you wished them to be?”
She eyes me gratefully. “You understand?”
I nod solemnly. “I do. My mother isn’t a nice person. When I was younger, I would do everything I could to gain her love and respect. But it never happened. When… well, you know who, tried to do what he did, she didn’t even care. She just saw a payday. I wanted to get back at her for putting me in the position she did, and told her I was going to tell Low,” I whisper, remembering her fingers digging into my bicep. They bruised my skin, marking me for weeks. “She manipulated me. She told me Dad would hate me if he lost all his money and his job. She said we’d lose our house and everything.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” Willow whispers.
I glance at her, shrugging. “It doesn’t excuse lying to you. I knew it was wrong.”
She leans over, giving me a one-armed hug.
“We have screwed-up parents,” Rosie comments, making me laugh.
“We do.”
“We really do.” Willow groans, falling back on the sofa.
Becca and Rosie turn to her with a sceptical eye. “What do you mean? Your mum is wonderful. She loves seeing you.”
Low opens one eye, staring at them. “I saw more of my mum tonight than I ever wanted to. Trust me.”
Becca grins, turning to look at me. I hold my hands up. “She’s right, only I saw my father’s backside, and trust me, I’ll be having nightmares for weeks.”
Willow groans, covering her face with her hands before turning to glare at me, as if to say, Really?
Rosie blushes. “Wait… your parents…”
“Hooked up? Yes.” Willow nods solemnly, looking a little pale. I don’t blame her; my stomach is still a little queasy.
Becca laughs before sobering. “Wait, is that what they wanted you both to go home to talk about?” She looks excited, and I want to snap at her that this isn’t funny, but knowing Becca, she would take it to heart. It would be like kicking a puppy. I couldn’t do it.
“Yes,” I tell her, wanting to moan.
“You’ll be step-sisters,” Rosie says, her tears now gone.
“I’m glad my dad bumping uglies with my best friend’s mum, cheers you up.” I pause, what she said registering, and my eyes snap to Willow’s, a grin forming. “Holy moly, we will be like real sisters.”
She rolls her eyes. “We didn’t need our parents doing that for us to know we’re sisters. We’ve always been sisters.”
“Sister from another mister,” I laugh.
She laughs too, shaking her head at me before turning to the girls. “We haven’t eaten. We felt too sick to stop and eat after what we witnessed. Do you fancy sharing pizza?”
Rosie’s belly rumbles and we all laugh. “I’ll go order.”
There’s a knock on the door before I make it to my bag to grab my phone, so I stop to answer it, forgetting to use the peephole.
I don’t even have chance to open the door all the way before I’m lifted into the air and swung around by strong, muscled arms.
“Put me down, you oversized ape,” I squeal, smacking CJ’s back. And although I sound pissed, I’m far from it. I’ve missed him so much since we’ve been away. Talking to him over the phone hasn’t been the same.
Since Willow’s attack, he’s stayed with me. He’s slept on the sofa, on the floor, and once, even outside my room—unbeknownst to me at the time. It was the night Willow found out about me knowing about Logan. It wasn’t all night; my dad woke him to go back to his flat.
Before I left, he started to sleep in my bed, doing nothing but hold me all night, and I’ve missed his touch. I’ve missed being in his arms.
I’ve missed him.
I try to hide my smile as he puts me down, but it’s useless when I see his boyishly charming grin spread across his face.
“Cupcake!” he yells, making sure everyone knows he’s arrived. I inwardly groan at the nickname he’s christened me with. “I’ve missed you.”
Before I can answer, he pulls me against him and kisses me. His hot lips pressed against mine taste sweet—my favourite flavour—and I can’t help but moan in delight.
“Woah, keep it PG. There’s eyes in the room,” Willow calls out, before dissolving into a fit of giggles.
I pull away, my gaze never leaving CJ’s as I stare into his mesmerising mocha-coloured eyes. “Hi,” I greet breathlessly.
He grins, kissing the tip of my nose. “Cupcake, I’ve missed you. Aren’t you going to tell me you’ve missed me, too?”
Instead of greeting me like a normal, sane boyfriend would, he has to outmatch everyone. Hell, I haven’t even heard Cole utter a word to Willow, but then again, his eyes communicate everything he wants to say. He’s dark and broody most of the time, but there’s no denying he loves her with his whole heart.
“I don’t know yet. I’m still kind of pissed at you,” I lie, having gotten over my tantrum before I’d even left to go back home.
He rolls his eyes as he leans down to kiss my nose once again, something he does often. “I told you I was sorry. You can’t be still mad at me over that?”
I want to kick his shin because although I’m no longer mad, it still riles me up. Everyone knows to leave my stash alone.
“It was my last Sherbet Fountain, CJ. I have to special order them from Amazon.”
His face drops. “You knew about the Sherbet Fountain?”
My eyes narrow dangerously as I tap my foot on the carpeted floor, giving him a pointed look. “Why else would I yell at you for stealing my sweets, CJ?”
He rubs the back of his neck, looking to the ceiling for a second before giving me a sheepish smile. “I thought it was over the Frosties.”
His admission has my fists clenching. “CJ!” I scream. “They are even harder to get. It took me a month to find another website that had them in stock.”
“Shit!”
Cole and Willow laugh, and when I turn to throw them my glare, they shut up. I take my sweets seriously. Everyone, and I mean everyone, down to the teachers at university, know not to touch my sweets. But CJ? He just can’t get the message through that head of his. He sees it, wants it, then takes it. It’s how he got me to agree to be his girlfriend. I didn’t even know what I was agreeing to until it was too late.
Not that I’d change it for a second.
I’d never had a boyfriend before. Crushed, yes, but I was never brave enough to take a chance. It didn’t help I wasn’t myself. I didn’t trust boys, either.
“You do know it’s a break up offence?”
He looks taken aback, and fear fills his eyes. “No. It’s not. Go to your room; I have a surprise for you.” I blush, knowing Cole and Willow are still here, and go to tell him what for, when he gives me that bloody heart-melting grin of his. “Allie, Allie, Allie. Are you thinking naughty things?”
He waggles his eyebrows and I slap his chest. “Shut up. I wasn’t.”
He laughs. “You so were. It’s okay, my little cupcake. I won’t tell anyone how naughty you are.”
Or how I’m going to wring your bloody neck.
“CJ, I swear to―”
He puts a hand over my mouth, stopping my threat
of castration, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “As much as I love where your dirty mind is going, I only told you to go into your room because I left a surprise on your bed.” He winks and I scrunch my face up in revulsion, hoping he’s not implying what I think he is. His laugh echoes in the tiny flat. “My, my, what a little time away can do to my good little cupcake. But get your mind out of the gutter and go look on your bed. Mum helped me.”
Hearing his mum helped him, I take a step back, letting his hand drop to his side as I bounce excitedly. I know he’s told her about us, and she’s looking forward to meeting me, but if I’m honest, I’m nervous as hell; I’ve never met the rents before. But I’m more nervous over the fact that if it goes terribly wrong, CJ will dump me. He loves his mum and wouldn’t do anything to upset her. I’m just glad he hasn’t mentioned seeing her again since. “Can you order pizza for us while I go look? We were going to veg out on the sofas with the girls.”
He nods, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “Good idea, I’m starving.”
“You just had a bucket of chicken from KFC,” Cole states dryly.
CJ’s shoulders lift as he taps his belly. “I’m a growing boy.”
We roll our eyes at him because his stomach is an endless pit.
I turn, heading for my room, which is the first door on the left. I’m sharing the flat now with Becca and Rosie since they don’t feel safe enough to go back to their rooms at the university. They’re sharing Willow’s room for the time being, until something in a private, secure building comes along. It’s just until Becca’s parents can find somewhere else for them to live.
Stepping into my room, my shoulders sag and my heart melts at the sight on my bed. A wooden wicca basket is filled with various sweets, with a bow wrapped around it.
All of my favourites.
I also notice some boxes peeking out from under my bed. The first to catch my eyes are Cola Frosties. I giggle, walking over to the hamper he put together so thoughtfully. This is better than any present I could receive.
It’s hard to stay mad at CJ on a good day; he’s always so bubbly and outgoing. But when he does something like this, it’s impossible. It just makes me open my heart up to him more and more.
“Do you like it?” he whispers, coming up behind me and startling me.
I turn, leaning up on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck. “I love it. Thank you.”
His eyes fill with warmth. I love it when he looks at me like that, it makes me go weak at the knees. “You’re more than welcome. I even put some extra boxes at the bottom of your wardrobe and under your bed, so we can share.”
Hold up!
I don’t think so.
I raise my hand, narrowing my eyes. “No. They’re mine.”
He chuckles deeply. “Cupcake, I bought those for me, too, so I can stop taking yours.”
I shake my head. “Nope. You should have hidden them in your room, because they’re mine now.” I grin at his crestfallen expression and kiss his lips before skipping out of the room.
One should know, never, and I mean ever, think you can share sweets with Allie Davis. It just isn’t going to happen.
CHAPTER TWO
When it comes to uni, I’m the biggest nerd there is. Early mornings, on the other hand, suck and make me rethink the whole liking going to uni thing.
“Come on, Cupcake, you have to wake up. You have to be at the library in a few hours.”
I smack CJ’s hand away from my hair and face plant into my pillow. “Go away.”
“You’ve got to get up.”
“No!”
He chuckles, his fingers running down my back, causing me to shiver. “Cupcake, do you really want to miss your first day back at work?”
“Wake me up five minutes before I have to leave.”
When he doesn’t go away, I scream in frustration. I need sleep. A lot of it. Sleep, sweets, sleep, sweets, and books is my life. They’re my life goals. I could survive on the three of them.
“You’ll be late. I’ll buy you a white chocolate mocha.”
That gets my attention, so I turn my head to glare up at the man determined to get me out of bed. “I’m listening.”
His smile blinds me. “And whatever you wish for breakfast. Now get your arse up. I want to spend some time with you before you have to work.”
I pout, wondering if there is any way I can get out of it. “Can’t I just call in sick?”
“You said not to let you when you warned me you would ask last night, remember? Plus, Alex texted to see if you can work through lunch because Martina called in sick or something. I don’t know; he was stuttering a lot.”
Alex was the first friend I made here at Whithall University and the only one I’ve got, besides Willow, that I’m close to.
We hit it off on my first day working at the library and have been close ever since. He makes some of the long days bearable.
I grunt, sitting up and wiping the hair out of my face. “I bet she’s having a good sleep. And don’t be mean about Alex.”
He laughs before lifting the blanket off me. “Sorry.”
When I notice he’s fully clothed and freshly showered, I narrow my eyes. “Why are you already showered and dressed?”
He taps my nose. “Because, Cupcake, I had practice this morning. Some of us don’t sleep until noon.”
I frown, narrowing my eyes. “It’s eight in the morning. Why would they possibly want you practicing at that time? And you owe me two white chocolate mochas for being so chirpy.”
“Early bird catches the worm and all that. Now, get ready. I’ll meet you in the living room when you’re ready.”
“Oh, all right, bossy.”
“Just call me master,” he tells me, winking over his shoulder.
I roll my eyes, giggling, and drop back down on the pillow. A few more minutes to wake myself up won’t hurt anyone.
*** *** ***
Work sucks. Over the half term, someone had come in and trashed the back of the library where we keep some of the older books. Instead of having someone come in at the time of the break in, they decided to wait until we were back to give us the grunt work.
Go figure.
Alex walks up to me, his lanky frame struggling to hold the pile of books in his fragile arms. “You could help carry these, you know.”
I give him my sweetest smile. “But then who would sort them out into piles?”
He rolls his eyes as he puts down another pile on the table. I don’t think any more are going to fit on this one, and I’ve already started piles on the floor.
“You could at least pretend to want to help, you know.”
I shrug, shoving a lollipop in my mouth. I go back to the task at hand, when the door to the library opens. Alex and I look to each other warily before I get up off the floor to see who has come in. It’s been closed for the day, until we can get some of the books in order.
When Jordan comes into view, I break out in a wide smile and rush over to greet her. “Jordan, hey. How are you? Did you have a good break?”
She smiles back, waving. Jordan is beautiful, even with all her piercings and tattoos. They add to her feminine, badass sex appeal. She has it all going on.
Her hair has grown since I last saw her and is now in a short bob, the left side shaved in some sort of pattern. The ends of her black hair are florescent pink. I like it; it suits her.
“Hey, Allie. It’s been good—I’m good.” She glances over my shoulder, smiling. “Hey, Alex, how’s it going?”
“I’m doing all the shit work,” he gripes.
I turn around and roll my eyes at him. “Stop complaining already.”
Jordan laughs. “She getting you to work all those muscles?”
He laughs at her teasing, not taking what she said to heart. “Something like that. It’s good to see you, but I need to get these books out here. There isn’t enough room back there for us to sort them back into order.”
She nods and waits for him to lea
ve before turning to me. When her expression turns serious, I know she’s found something.
When we took down Logan and his friend, it felt good, really good. Not only that, but when it was announced they had been arrested, I noticed a difference in Rosie, Becca and Willow. Something had flashed in their eyes, and I knew I wanted to do it again. I wanted to help people find justice.
And if I’m honest, all the planning, the secrecy, and getting justice lit something inside me. When Christie was announced murdered on the news, that same spark lit inside me and I knew I had to find out who did it. I’m also shit at waiting for the ending of a story, so I want to find it out myself.
It gave me the idea to write a book on a true murder, and what better way of writing it than finding out who the killer is and why they killed her.
Jordan was already working on the case, reporting what happened on her blog, so I asked if she could share any information she finds. I also wanted to know if this happened to Christie because of Logan. It just seemed weird it happened so soon after their arrest.
“What did you find?”
She nods towards the empty table near the front desk, and I follow. She grabs a folder and a memory stick before looking at me.
“I found out a lot and none of it is pretty. A friend of mine hacked into the police database. I didn’t ask how or why he did it, but he did. The memory card has the crime scene photos. He took out the gruesome ones of her wounds, but other than them, that’s everything they have. The only things that stand out are the way she was positioned, almost like he took care of her, and the cause of death… She didn’t die from the stab wounds; she died of strangulation. Evidence, however…” she says, opening the folder. “Her hair was cut. From what I’ve read on true murders before, a killer will do this when he or she wants a keepsake, a memento. It’s the only explanation I have on the hair thing.”
Jordan tugs on her lip ring for a second before taking a deep breath. “You could have been on to something when you said Logan was somehow involved. If his parents are as high up as you say they are, then he could have easily gotten them to hire someone. Sounds very Chicago Mob, I know.”
Game Over (Whithall University Book 2) Page 2
