Page 71 of I Never Stopped Loving You

“I told you I went for a drive along the water and went up toward Lexington.”

“Okay, but how does driving in your car make you dirty? What aren’t you telling me?”

She grabs my wrist and spins me toward her. She knows I can’t lie when it comes to her.

“I went to see a house that used to belong to someone in my family. It’s abandoned now, but I went inside to see if I could find anything of theirs.”

“Family? I thought your family was in Texas.”

“Some of them are, but there were some that lived up here, too. Sorry. I just didn’t want you worrying about me.”

She stares at me for a few seconds as if she’s trying to find the truth hidden between my words. But unlike what Noah said, I don’t have a shitty poker face as long as I’m telling some variation of the truth.

“Fine. Get showered and dressed. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since lunch because I thought we would’ve already gone by now.”

“Sorry. I’ll be quick. I told Noah eight thirty.”

That gives me almost an hour to get ready and get our asses there.

I hate lying to Jenna, but it isn’t safe for anyone to know about my past. Not when the monster is still lurking out there somewhere. I’ve searched for him. Every obituary, every prison. Nothing. He isn’t dead or detained as far as I know, and that’s what terrifies me the most. But it’s also the reason I moved back to Michigan.

I knew he wouldn’t be in this state because who the fuck is stupid enough to come back to the state that still has people looking for you?

CHAPTER 33

NOAH

“So, tell me more about this little firecracker,” Jeremy jokes as he checks his hair one more time in the visor mirror.

“Just ask her for yourself. I don’t know much about her because I just met her last night.”

“Yeah, but you said she’d give me a run for my money.”

“That’s because she basically threatened my life last night.”

“Wait, really?” he stops fussing with his hair and slams the visor shut. “Why?”

“She just said that she had Willow’s location and that she knew what I looked like. She’s very protective of Willow.”

“Hmm…So does she have the eyes?” he asks, and I’m instantly confused.

“The eyes?”

“You know, the crazy eyes. Fuck, dude. Have you ever fucked a chick that had those kind of eyes?” he closes his eyes and groans as if he’s savoring his favorite flavor.

“No. I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“The psycho, obsessive eyes.”

“Oh…I couldn’t tell you. My eyes were on Willow.”

“Lame. You’re a horrible wingman.”

“No, I’m just obsessed…with her.”

He follows my finger pointing down the parking lot to two women getting out of an Uber in front of the bar. Both are wearing black dresses and black boots. One looks like she’s made of pure darkness. The other is made of pure light.

“Oh, oh, oh. Can I guess which one Willow is? Please? Pick me, pick me,” Jeremy starts shouting.