Page 18 of Pucking Snowed In With My Ex

Alex stepped forward, and I had no idea how long he’d been in the corner, but the fact that he’d made it up the stairs and across the room before I heard him had me freaking out inside. What had he been planning?

His eyes reflected the flames from the fireplace, making him look as evil as the Devil himself.

“What the hell do you want?”

“I want you to stop saying shit to Callum,” he said, and I furrowed my brow together. “Or do I need to remind you what’s at stake?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t said anything,” I whispered.

“Bullshit. Cal’s been giving me strange looks all day. He’s suspicious because you keep dropping little hints and acting strange.”

“Oh well, excuse me for not being as good an actress as you would like. Ever thought that maybe he’s suspicious because you keep stalking me around the house or because you decided to hit me with a slapshot to the face?”

His lip curled up as he stepped up to the back of the couch. I forced myself not to shake as his hands gripped the leather, making it squeak.

“That was an accident,” he said.

“Just like what you did at the party, right,” I said, and his eyes darkened.

“If that makes you sleep better at night,” he said, and the anger boiled over.

“Stay the fuck away from me Alex and we won’t have a problem.”

“You know, it would be a real shame for Sammie’s life to blow up around her. Didn’t she just get over all that nasty bullying? She tried to take her life, like twice or something, didn’t she? Geez, it’s scary. I bet you were terrified for her. I can’t even imagine what you would do to keep her safe. Or, maybe I do.” He bit his lip, and I wondered if I could stomach the blood it if I hit him across the face with the poker.

My nostrils flared. “I’ll ask you again. What do you want?”

He looked me up and down, and I wanted to burn my clothes.

“I think you know what I want,” he said. “I’m sure we can find away to keep your mouth full, and quiet.”

“I have a better idea. Why don’t I scream, and we’ll see whose side Cal takes now,” I said, and his eyes flared with rage. “Go back to the rock you crawled out from Alex, and I will do what I’ve done the last three years and keep my mouth shut, but if you push me….” I lifted the poker and laid it over my shoulder. “I’m not the same girl as three years ago.”

“You can’t fool me. You enjoyed yourself last time.”

My stomach churned as images of that night flashed behind my eyes like a slow action movie I couldn’t escape. “Believe whatever you want, it doesn’t make it the truth,” I said. His hands tightened on the couch, and my muscles tensed, ready for him to leap at me.

“Hey guys, what’s going on,” Tyler asked, yawning as he stepped up from the basement.

“Hey man,” Alex said as he yawned and stretched, copying Ty. “Nothing much, just grabbing a glass of water. Skye is getting jumpy in her old age.”

I glared at him and shook my head wanting to stab him with the poker, but my luck he’d still live and I’d end up in jail.

“We have no power. The generator is off for the night, remember,” Ty said.

Alex pretended to be shocked. It was amazing how easily he could slip from threatening me one minute to acting innocent and a little goofy the next.

“Oh, yeah, I’m still half asleep. I’ll grab a bottle of water from outside. Thanks, man. Night, Sugar, sweet dreams,” he said and smiled. I wanted to throw the poker at the back of his head for using that nickname. It was reserved for friends, and he was no friend of mine. I saw the darkness in his eyes but nodded and watched him retreat like a monster returning to its cave.

I slumped against the wall, breathing so fast it felt like I’d run a marathon. Ty grabbed my shoulder.

“Skye, what’s going on,” he asked quietly, his soft silvery eyes searching mine.

I shook my head but dropped the poker against the wall and wrapped my arms around him. He hugged me back hard. I wanted to tell him, to tell anyone, and not feel so alone with all of this anymore, but I couldn’t, which only added to the heaviness pressing on me.

“Did Alex do something to you?” He whispered next to my ear.

Yes. I screamed in my head. “I just want to go to bed,” I said out loud, avoiding his concern. He pulled back, looked at me, and sighed. “Please.”