Page 33 of Hot As Ice

Obey his every command*.

Let him know your whereabouts at all times.

Don’t tell anyone about this agreement.

*Disobedience will be met with severe punishment.

Hunter has already digitally signed the contract. I stare at the line where my signature should go. My heart races. I slam my laptop shut, freaking out. The shame I feel is right at the surface, easy to identify, but it’s the underlying feeling of excitement that has sent me into a tailspin. I shouldn’t be excited. This is wrong.

I get up and pace around my room, wringing the sleeves of my sweatshirt in my hands. My phone pings with a text message notification.

Hunter

Sign the contract, princess.

I drop my phone as if it’s hot.

Can Hunter see me? No, it’s got to be a coincidence. I don’t even have my blinds open. Feeling paranoid, I peer through the blinds, but there’s nobody outside. I need to calm down. As if the universe is mocking me, my phone rings and I nearly jump out of my skin. But when I pick it up off the ground, it’s not Hunter’s name flashing on my screen, it’s my mom calling me.

Feeling utterly relieved, I pick up. “Hi, Mom.”

“Hello, sweetie. How are you?”

“Good. How are you? Sorry I haven’t called in a few days.”

“It’s okay,” she says. “I know how busy school and work can get. I just wanted to check in and make sure everything is alright.”

Oh, if she only knew. The thought of her ever finding out what her baby girl is up to these days is enough to make me sweat. I put her on speaker and take off my sweatshirt, fanning my face with my hand.

“Yeah, everything is just fine, Mom,” I lie through my teeth. “Nothing to worry about.”

“That’s good to hear, honey. I hope you’re not overwhelmed. I know work and school together can be a lot on a person.” She sounds so sweet and concerned, I want the floor to open up and swallow me into hell.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle.” My entire body is tense from all the lies coming out of my mouth. My skin feels like it’s going to crack.

“I know, honey, but if you ever need anything, you know you can ask me, right?”

Ha! As if. My mom is not rich. I couldn’t ask her for more than a couple hundred dollars a month, at most. Of course, if she knew my rent was on the line, she would figure out how to send me more. But that wouldn’t be sustainable. Rent is due every month; not just a few times a year.

“Mom, I’m fine, really. You don’t have to worry about me. I have everything under control.” I open my laptop, decision made, and quickly sign the contract, sending it back to Hunter before I can change my mind. I close my laptop and sit on the edge of my bed.

“Okay, honey, just making sure. I love you.”

“Love you too.” I hang up and notice another text message has just come in.

Hunter

Good girl

eleven

hunter

I CAN’T CONCENTRATE at practice this morning.

And it’s all because of her. Stevie.

She actually signed the contract. I couldn’t believe it when the email came back with her signature on the line. I thought she would call my bluff. Of course, I was hoping she’d sign it, but I didn’t think she’d really do it.