Total pages in book: 218
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
There was no underwear and still no sign of a bra, but I pulled on the loose navy sleeping pants and the black T-shirt, that I bet had to be his. I didn’t really like not wearing a bra. My boobs were too big to go without one, but mine was still wet and balled up in the backpack sitting on the floor. Everybody had already seen me swinging around for days at this point, what was one more? This whole adventure had changed a hell of a lot about my priorities, and I didn’t think they had been that messed up in the first place.
I sat on the bed for a minute and listened.
Damn, this place was quiet. I was used to silence, but my house hadn’t been huge, and the TV was always on.
Were there ghosts?
Nah. No way.
I ate my pizza standing up, chugged one bottle of water, and then sat there a little longer. The sun must have totally set because it looked pitch-black outside through the windows. Tired but restless and antsy from being in the car and on the run for so long, I did some stretches for my back and neck that I hadn’t done since before everything. Once I was finished, I sat on the edge of the bed again and looked around the room, hoping to think of something to do instead of just sitting here, on the verge of contemplating all the ways my life had gone to shit.
If I went down that rabbit hole, I might never get out.
There was a library next door. There had been a big chair in there that looked kind of comfy. Maybe I could hang out in there? There had to be at least one book I could read. This room was nice and all, but by myself, it reminded me of that cell. And where was Grumpy Goose at? I needed to talk to him, but I could put it off until tomorrow, or whenever he had time. He probably had a million things to catch up on.
Who was I kidding? He was The Defender. Was he ever going to have time to deal with me? Chances were, he was going to forget all about me even if I lived at his house.
Rubbing at my face, I got up and headed in the direction of the library. I hadn’t been in all that many houses, but this one reminded me of one in a gothic movie. I just hoped there weren’t ghosts or wives with psychological issues.
On second thought, I went back into the bathroom, picked up my knife from the counter, and put it in my pocket.
He’d said I was safe, and part of me believed him, but… better safe than sorry.
Carrying a blanket I’d found in the closet, I made it to the door of the library and stopped right there. Someone had beat me to it. Alex was on one chair, Selene on another, and there was a small worn, leather love seat between them. A pizza was on a coffee table in the center, a few bottles of beers surrounding it.
The Defender looked up at me and raised those dark eyebrows even though I knew he had to have heard me coming.
I clutched the blanket closer. This was his house. I’d tried to make him feel welcome in mine, and he’d invited me to stay, but…
Awkward.
For a moment, I thought he was going to tell me to beat it.
But just like he’d surprised me when he’d knocked on the bathroom door, he did it again. “Over here, Cookie,” he said.
I didn’t hesitate. I made my way over, flashing the pretty blonde a little smile. I shook out the blanket before moving a small throw pillow to the side. Pretending like they weren’t watching me, I laid down on the compact couch, my knees practically to my chest, and pulled the blanket over me, making myself at home.
Why I felt instantly more at peace, I didn’t really want to think about too much.
I peeked over at Alex.
He was watching me, a bottle of beer hanging loosely in his fingers. Those eyebrows were still up, and his expression was… Why was he amused?
I blinked at him and pulled the blanket up to my chin. “I don’t want to be in this haunted mansion by myself, bu—no, don’t give me that face. I was going to call you buster, not… you know what.”
Oh, he knew what. “Sure you were.”
“I was,” I told him quietly, peeking at the blonde who had the brightest smile on her face. Thinking about it for a second, I wiggled my finger at her in greeting before focusing back on Alex. “Just in case you forgot though, you threw up on me. I can probably call you whatever I want for a while.”