His Reverie (Reverie #1)(52)

“Don’t insult her,” I mutter. “You know nothing about her.”

“I know enough to figure out exactly who she is.” The triumphant smirk is back. “Reverie Hale. The Reverend Hale’s daughter, who just so happens to be your boss.” She slowly shakes her head, making a tsking noise. “You’re one crazy motherf*cker, you know that? Screwing around with a girl who’s practically a saint? What happened last night when you felt her up? Did her angel wings pop out of her back when you took her shirt off?”

Shit, shit, shit. This changes everything. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to freaking do. “How…” My voice trails off and I clamp my lips shut, afraid I might say too much and Krista will use it against me.

“Google is my best friend, though I had my suspicions when I saw her. I knew I recognized her from something, I just couldn’t place it at first.” Her smile returns and she clasps her hands in front of her in mock delight. “Did you know that when I was little, my mom watched Reverend Hale’s show all the time? I was fascinated with the daughter. I thought she was so pretty, with her perfect little dresses and her long blond hair. She wore a different dress and matching ribbons in her hair every Sunday. I was so jealous.”

Just my f**king luck. What are the odds that Krista’s mom was a Hale disciple? “You recognized her.”

“I sure did! Unbelievable right?” She exhales a dreamy little sigh. “I used to think her big brother was hot. Is he still hot?”

I make a face. “I don’t know. I don’t check out dudes.”

“Right. Of course you don’t.” She waves a hand. “Well, whatever. Evander Hale will just have to remain my not-so-secret dream boyfriend. And Reverie Hale—such a stupid name by the way—is your real life girlfriend. How exciting is that? What do her parents think of you? Are they happy their little girl found true love?”

I say nothing. Krista already knows the answers anyway.

“Wait a minute, are you telling me they don’t know you two are involved? Ooh, that changes everything. The daughter messing around with one of the summer employees—a guy originally implicated in a murder case—well, they’d probably flip the f**k out, right? That’s some major scandal right there, yo.”

“Krista,” I warn but she’s on a roll. She completely ignores my protest.

“So you have a secret. One you need kept.” Her eyes go round and so does her mouth. She reminds me of an owl. “Actually you have a couple of secrets don’t you Nicky? You’d think Google was her best friend like it’s mine. She could enter your name and bam, find out everything in a matter of seconds. It’s a wondrous thing, that Google. Though she doesn’t need Google at all if she has me calling her and telling her everything. Or maybe I could tell the Hales how you two are together…so many possibilities!”

Reverie didn’t have her phone until a few days ago. I’ve never seen her with a laptop, at a computer, nothing. What if she does Google me?

I’m f**ked, that’s what.

“I’ve filled your head with so much information, I’m sure you have a lot to think about tonight.” She approaches me, patting me on the chest before she curls her fingers, her nails digging into my skin. I jump back from her with a curse and she smiles benignly. “I suggest you sleep on it and approach me with a solution tomorrow. What do you think? We meet same time, same place?”

What am I going to do? How can I fix this?

You can tell Reverie the truth.

Hell. No. Not yet. I’m not ready. She’s mad at me. I let her know I’ve been in jail and she’ll really hate me. I can’t risk it.

“Fine.” I blow out a frustrated breath. “We’ll meet tomorrow.”

“Perfect,” she practically purrs. She takes a step toward me, grips my shirt in her fist and pulls, planting a quick kiss on my lips. “See you tomorrow.”

She practically runs out, slamming the door behind her. I can still hear the jangle of her jewelry, her overpowering scent lingering in the living room. I wipe the back of my hand across my mouth, like I can rid the evidence of her kiss.

I can’t erase it though. Can’t erase what she said to me either. It’s like her words are on repeat in my head, reminding me how much of a mess I’m in. How hard it’s going to be to climb out of it.

When I was released from jail, I felt like a man reborn. I was given a second chance and I planned on doing things right. No more mistakes. No more making stupid choices. I made that promise to myself.

Here I am a few months later and I’m no better than I was before I was arrested and falsely accused of a crime I didn’t commit. I think I’m actually in worst shape, minus my time in jail, which was the most f**ked up period of my life.

I’ll never learn. Krista was right. I can’t escape where I came from. I can’t escape her. I need to remember where I belong. Here. In this stupid apartment, in this stupid town, with that stupid girl who’ll do whatever it takes to sink her claws in me and never let me go.

I need to remember this.

No matter how badly I want to forget.

30

Dear Diary,

(July 31st, 6:58 p.m.) Mama and Daddy came home and I was so glad to see them. I always feel anxious when they go out of town because it doesn’t happen very often. I’m not used to it. The sense of relief I feel when I hear their voices as they walk through the door is overpowering every single time.