Filed To Story: Pretty Poisoned Novel by Elle Mitchell
Luca’s brow furrows. “Jessica?”
“From high school,” Declan clarifies.
“Oh like what?”
“Do you want me to tell you in front of Teagan?” he asks.
Luca shrugs. “She’s heard the worst of it now anyway, hasn’t she? She’ll hear whatever this is, too.”
“That you were a sadistic stalker, and she spent years terrified of you. Her words, not mine.”
“Awesome,” Luca says.
“And now Layla’s family is starting up againabout how we brainwashed her and are holding her hostage.”
“Yeah, well they’ve been doing that for years,” he says.
“Except now, she’s not here to go on online and tell everyone she’s fine, and they’re just assholes. They haven’t seen her with us in months because she hasn’t been here. And before that, she was not herself.”
“So? Post an old pic,” Luca says. “I’m going to get another drink. You want another drink, Teagan?”
“Um, yeah. I’ll take one.”
“All right, I’ll be right back. I’m so fucking glad this leg of the tour is almost overit could not come at a better fucking time. Then, it’s you and me, baby.” He takes a few steps away from us before turning back and adding, “Don’t slice her up while I’m gone.”
“If you think I’m letting him take you abroad alone, you’re fucking crazy,” Declan says once he’s out of earshot.
“What? Why not?”
“Because,” he says, “he can barely take care of his fucking selfhe can’t take care of you.”
“He does take care of me,” I tell him. “And I can take care of myself. I can take care of him, too.”
“What are you going to do if he loses his shit?”
“I can handle him. I’m not scared of him.”
“No,” he says.
I don’t bother arguing. I put on my sunglasses, fold my arms across my chest, and look the other way.
“Teagan, you’re not going to cry again, are you?” Declan taunts.
“No ”
But the truth is I want tothat was the only thing I was looking forward to. I feel that tightening in my chest, and I’m not so sure I won’t.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks. “Huh? Tell me what’s going on in there.”
“I don’t think I should.”
“Why’s that?”
“River says I shouldn’t piss you off anymore.”
He laughs. “So, you think you can’t talk to me without pissing me off?”
I shrug. “It’s the safest bet.”
“Well, that pisses me off,” he says.
Shit. “Um”
“I’m kidding, Teagan,” he says. He laces his fingers through my own and, with his other hand, traces the ‘D’ on my chest. “I know you miss me. I miss you, too. I miss the way you smell; I miss the way you taste. I miss seeing you look up at me with those big blue eyes and your pretty lips parted. I miss your voice and the way you fit in this space under my chin ” He pauses, pointing to his collarbone. “Right here.”
“Declan, please don’t.”
“Why not?” he asks. He removes his sunglasses and then pushes mine onto my head. As much as I want to look away, I know I can’t. His intense gaze holds me in place, and I know my eyes are what he wants. “Really tell me why you won’t let me be good to you. I know you, Teagan.”
And in case I forgot exactly what he means, he runs his finger along the tulip tattooed on my forearm.
“And I know you love me, even if you won’t say it. I won’t leave you alone.”
I swallow hard. “How many girls are buried in the woods?”
“More than one,” he says. “Less than five. But it won’t happen to you, Teagan.”
“Here you go, angel,” Luca says.
Grateful for the interruption, I quickly turn toward him and take the drink from his hand.
“Thank you,” I say.
I down half of the mostly rum concoction before I set the glass on the table. It doesn’t ease the tension or make the weight of what Declan just said any less heavy.
“So, what time do we have to leave?” Luca asks Declan.
“We’re signing beforehand, so around four, probably,” Declan replies.
He isn’t wrong, though. I knew as soon as he said itand if I’m more honest with myself, I’ve known for a while. If he wants to know why I don’t like it when he’s sweet to me, that’s why. It’s because I love him, and I don’t want to.
But it’s too late for that now, isn’t it?
And since that’s the case, I pull my knees into my body and then turn and rest my head on Declan’s collarbone, settling into that space right under his chin where I fit so well. Strong arms wrap around me and hold me against him.
“Are you okay, Teag?” Luca asks.
“Yeah,” Declan answers. “She’s okay.”
He kisses the top of my head, and I close my eyes. I breathe deeply and try to steady my heart rate so that it matches his own.
Strong, calm. Unbothered.
But I can’t. I’ll never be like him.
I stay like that for quite a whilean hour maybeuntil his phone rings, and he walks away to take the call. He doesn’t ever come back; he leaves without saying a word.
It hurts my fucking feelings.
“We should go soon, too,” Luca says. “I’m hungry. Let’s go to lunch.”
I look around the pool deck, which has filled up in the past hour. A bigger crowd with new bodies, and they’re all, at least intermittently, looking at us.
“Okay. But let’s just order something. I’m tired of other people.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.