Bug

by Hunter, Ellie R.

  The door is unlocked, and I frown at her disregard for safety in the middle of the night. What if something had happened to me on the way over here and some prick came lurking around? Huxley wasn’t the only monster in this town.

  I jog up the stairs and open Trenton’s bedroom door. It’s in complete darkness, and his bathroom door is open.

  My jaw tenses when it dawns on me that they’ll be in her room, the room she used to share with him all those years ago.

  The door is pushed ajar, and Tobias is sitting up in bed with his knees up to his chest. He offers a stoic smile but keeps quiet.

  Ally is on her ass, leaning her back against her bathroom door. At least I get a smile from her.

  “He still hasn’t come out?”

  She shakes her head and moves over, making room for me to join her.

  “He was screaming in his sleep, and when he woke up, I went to soothe him and he darted out of bed and ran in there. He won’t even answer me.”

  I squeeze her hand and look at the door, rapping my knuckles a few times against it.

  “Trenton, it’s Ryder. Can you open the door for me?”

  He doesn’t say anything, but he bumps against the door from the other side and the lock clicks open.

  Ally scoots out of the way and pulls herself up and goes to sit on the end of the bed.

  I open the door slowly, and he immediately takes my hand and pulls me in, shutting the door once I’m fully inside.

  His eyes are red and watery. Tears are threatening to spill over at any moment, his little body trembling.

  He clings to me, and I slip to my knees so I’m face-to-face with him.

  “Talk to me, Trent. I’m here to listen.”

  “I had a bad dream,” he tells me.

  “What happened in this dream?”

  “Grampa was trying to shoot me at Daddy’s wedding.”

  His tiny voice shakes as he speaks, and his small arms cling to himself, almost trying to protect himself from the bad dream.

  “It wasn’t real, Trenton.”

  “I know that,” he snaps, taking me by surprise.

  “Why are you hiding out in here then?”

  His eyes, so much like his father’s, yet so innocent and pure, find mine, and he sweeps his pyjama sleeve across his eyes to hide the tears from me. There was a time when I thought he was Craig’s kid, but the older Trenton became, the more obvious it was he was Huxley’s.

  “She doesn’t like me,” he whispers, moving in closer to me. “She hates me.”

  “Who? Ally?”

  He nods and swipes at his eyes again.

  “She only talks to Tobias, and when she looks at me, she cries.”

  I tug on his arm until he’s sitting beside me on the tiled bathroom floor.

  “Shall I tell you why she cries when she looks at you?” I say to him, and again, he nods.

  “Because your mommy was her best friend when they were at school, and because you look so much like her. You remind Ally of your mom. Plus, she’s sad about your daddy. She doesn’t hate you, Trent. How could anyone hate you?”

  “I don’t know her,” he says quietly.

  “You know me, don’t you?” He nods. “I’ll be here every day, and whenever else you need me to be here too.”

  “Do you promise?”

  “I promise, little dude.”

  He holds his hand out and I shake it, making him feel like a man, and pull him onto my lap.

  “Do me a favour? Don’t hide from Ally again. She’s only trying to help you. We’re all sad at the moment, and we need to stick together, got it?” I hold my fist out and he grins, pushing his fist to mine.

  “I got it.”

  “Are you ready to go back to bed?”

  “Can I sleep with Tobes?”

  “I’m sure that will be fine. Come on, let’s get up. The floor is cold.”

  We stand, and he doesn’t let go of my hand as I open the door. Ally is still sitting on the end of the bed, and Tobias is now sitting next to her. Swinging Trenton up into my arms, I walk over to them.

  “This little guy is worried you hate him,” I tell her, and her face falls.

  The real Allison is coming through, and she jumps up to her feet, coming around the bed to stand in front of us.

  “Oh, Trenton, how could I hate you? You’re an amazing young man, and you’re Tobias’s brother. Come on, jump down out of Ryder’s arms and climb into bed.”

  He does as he’s told and Tobias joins him, the pair snuggling up in the middle of the huge bed.

  “Can you lay with us until we fall asleep?” Trenton asks, and I’m about to refuse when Ally slips around the bedpost and climbs in under the sheets. Trenton pushes the sheets back on my side and I lay down, keeping a little distance.

  “Nothing can hurt you now, little brother,” we hear Tobias say in the darkness.

  “Sleep now, boys, and in the morning, we’ll have pancakes before we say goodbye to your daddy.”

  There’s no hint of me falling asleep after being woken in the middle of the night, my body on high alert. This is the first time I’m in bed with her, yet it’s nothing like my fantasies. Never have there been two children in the mix. The pair fall asleep easily, and Ally signals for us to slip out. I move carefully and slowly, and by the time I make it to the door, she’s waiting to close it behind me. We remain quiet as we walk downstairs, keeping my mouth shut as I follow her into the kitchen.

  She reaches for a large glass and fills it to the rim with red wine. She offers me a glass, but I shake my head. I fucking hate wine.

  “By law, that boy is mine now, and I don’t know the first thing about him. But I can’t have him thinking I hate him. How horrible is that for a child? Poor boy.”

  I don’t like that he had a nightmare and felt abandoned, but maybe this was needed to open Ally’s eyes to him. Walking around the kitchen island, I lean against the countertop and cross my arms over my chest.

  “Thank you for coming over. I didn’t know what else to do to get him out.”

  “It’s no problem. I’m glad I could help.”

  She lets out a small laugh and drains half her wine before sitting on one of the stools.

  “I tried to remember Conner today. It feels so long ago that I was with him.”

  My muscles coil tightly at the mention of her late husband.

  “One minute I was at his graveside, then I’m back here and my feet haven’t touched the ground. He’s still gone, I’m still here, and my life is spiralling. I’m unable to grasp at anything, and in a matter of hours, I’m expected to act the grieving widow who never got to consummate the marriage she didn’t want.”

  “Well, you’re not married to him,” I mutter.

  “But I am a widow, Ryder, and I loved my husband.”

  “Whether you loved him or not, he was another life. It sounds harsh, but it’s true. With Huxley gone, this town doesn’t have to be a noose around your neck. It can be home again, for you and the boys.”

  Rolling her eyes, she finishes her wine and goes to pour another. I reach for it before she does and pour it down the sink.

  “Excuse me, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” she gasps, rushing over to me.

  “You were guzzling wine like it was going to run out when you first got back here, and since the wedding, you’ve been drinking even more. You’re going to need to be clear-headed tomorrow, not hungover from the wine.”

  Expensive wine at that. I dump the bottle on the counter and place my hands on her shoulders.

  “Why do you need to drink when you have everything you’ve ever wanted?”

  “I didn’t want any of this,” she says, dropping her eyes to my chest.

  I don’t care if she isn’t looking into my eyes, as long as she’s looking at me somewhere.

  Tipping her chin up with my finger, I leave it there when I say, “Ally, you’re free. Don’t live in his shadow.”

  I could melt when she leans into my palm an
d closes her eyes.

  “It should have always been us. Who knows where we would have been now,” she sighs, and I have to bite down hard on my tongue to stop myself from saying a word.

  Huxley had been a huge part of her life, and then she met Conner. I don’t want to be another guy in her life that she doesn’t choose, but fuck me, I hope she does one day. I’ve waited a long time for her. I don’t try to kiss her. I don’t say anything or make phony promises. Instead, I hold her and pray she chooses me one day soon.

  “Go and get some sleep, Ally, I’ll see you at the church. Try not to be seen smiling when they put his coffin in the ground.”

  This gets a smile from her, and for the first time in a long time, she looks like the carefree girl I first spoke to in the school lunch hall all those years ago.

  She leans up on her tiptoes and presses her lips to my cheek before I can step away. My balls ache for her, and I’m pretty sure she knows it.

  “Don’t leave my side tomorrow.”

  “I won’t,” I promise.

  I don’t plan on leaving her side ever again, but I keep that to myself.

  She’s so close, I could move a fraction and kiss her. I so badly want to feel her lips on mine, to the point it literally drives me to do stupid things.

  “Go to bed, Ally,” I say instead.

  She slips out of the kitchen and I get out of there before I change my mind and do or say something she isn’t ready for.

  It’s getting harder and harder to be around her, that’s for sure. I head for home, and I fall back into bed.

  Tomorrow is going to be a shit show, that’s for sure, and all I care about is her and the boys making it through it.

  Ryder – The Past

  Everyone believes Huxley is this devoted, loving boyfriend to little Allison from the poorer side of town. Little do they know, this big birthday party he’s throwing for her tonight has nothing to do with him, just his family’s money. He threw cash at a party planner and told her to make shit happen. So as everyone walks through the door, oohing and ahhing, wishing for their own Huxley Bailey-Vaughan. I could punch everything and everyone between me and the bottle of vodka with my name on it.

  I can’t stand to hear one more person melt over how romantic Huxley is. The black balloons match his dead soul, not the sunshine yellow Allison prefers because it brightens the shit weather around here. He doesn’t care about the little details that would all add up and make this night perfect for her. Why would he? He doesn’t have to do a thing.

  The beat of the music thumps throughout the mansion, and the dimmed lights cast shadows around every corner. I’ll give him one thing, he’s gone overboard, which will take Ally’s breath away.

  Dash and Craig are by the drinks table, and Kayleigh is, of course, nestled under Craig’s arm.

  Allison is still unaware that her friend is with Craig because Huxley willed it so, as he wanted Allison’s full attention, but with them as close as they are tonight, she’s going to work it out.

  “Where’s the birthday girl?” I ask.

  I haven’t seen her or Huxley since I arrived.

  “They’ll be down soon. Allison is just changing last minute,” Kayleigh tells me.

  A huge part of me can’t wait to see her in her dress, but the other part that can’t be the one who rips it off, wants to be blind to it.

  I pour myself a drink and know exactly when she walks in the room. No one quietens at her entrance, no one says she’s walked in, but I know. My soul knows. The small hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and my pulse runs away with itself.

  I turn and there she is, with her hair perfectly pinned back, her make-up a little heavier than usual, and a dress that I would kill to be able to glide off of her. And I also know it was Huxley who would have made her change last minute. Anyone who listens knows that dark blue on her is his favourite. What really gets my blood boiling is the subtle redness around her eyes, which she’s tried to cover with make-up. She’ll get away with it with most of the guests here tonight, but not with me. I take her in too much not to notice.

  The closer they get to us, after stopping to receive birthday wishes, the more you can see that they’ve been fighting. Huxley’s hand is at the bottom of her back, but it isn’t because he wants to be touching her. It’s so he can get her to our table even quicker, and not have to talk to guys from school. Fuck. This is her day, and he’s still a prick to her.

  “Happy birthday, Ally.” I smile, covering my anger.

  “Thanks, Ry,” she beams, changing her entire mood as she steps away from Hux.

  There are no hugs or kisses on the cheek while he’s around. I step aside and Kayleigh takes my place. They don’t look back as Kay leads her into the next room. Knowing my so-called best friend, he’ll remain in here for the rest of the night.

  I was wrong.

  Halfway through the party we move outside, and that’s because Allison and Kayleigh are dancing to the DJ’s music on the lawn. Her heels were kicked off by the pool at some point, and Kayleigh’s heels sit next to them. Craig hasn’t taken his eyes off of Kayleigh all night, and I don’t think he’s occupying her for shits and giggles anymore.

  “I’m going to keep her,” Huxley broadcasts. Huxley isn’t the type to want a relationship, let alone be in one. He’s too selfish.

  I look to Dash first, cocking an eyebrow. We knew she was different to him, but none of us thought he would make her permanent. Him throwing her this lavish party means nothing. He’d do it for anyone who was in his good graces at the time.

  “I told her I loved her a few weeks ago. I think I mean it now.”

  He lied about being in love with her? I’ll bet that was to get her back after Hayley, who he did fuck in the very same bed that he has sweet Allison in these days. Fucker. Yet, he gets away with it because he is who he is.

  “Why did you tell her you loved her if you didn’t?” Dash grumbles.

  “Because I wanted her back, and it was less effort than actually apologising,” Huxley snorts, as if we’re stupid.

  Allison’s body moves to the beat, and its hypnotizing. If I keep watching, it’s going to get me caught by the prince of fucking darkness. I don’t get it, what is she to him? He gets bored so easily with every girl he comes into contact with. Hell, everyone bores him. I know why she’s so special to me, but why to him?

  “Why was she upset when you came down?” I ask.

  I don’t give a fuck about him turning on me, I want to know.

  “None of your fucking business.”

  “Making your girl cry is bad, bro, especially when you claim to love her,” Craig chuckles, not taking his attention away from Kayleigh.

  “Why does everyone assume I made her cry? Sometimes, it’s not always me. This time it was her parents. Fucking assholes.”

  Rolling my eyes, I don’t know what to believe. Then again, why should I have to believe anything or any of them? She isn’t mine, she’s with my best friend. Scanning the dancefloor, I spot Kallie dancing with her group of friends and stroll over, taking my drink with me. I slide through the crowd easily enough and come up behind her. Holding onto her hips, she tilts her head back, looking up at me. Her smile is sweet enough. It doesn’t blow me away, but she’s pretty in a different way to Allison. I catch Allison’s eye over the top of Kallie’s head, and I smirk.

  “Where’s your man to dance with you on your birthday?”

  Glaring, she twirls around and dances with her back to me. Fuck her and everyone else.

  “You up for a good night, Kalls?”

  “You know I am.” She grins, turning so she’s facing me.

  Winding her arms around my neck, she pulls me down to her level and claims my mouth. I kiss her back, not caring who’s watching or how hungry I look for these lips to belong to someone else.

  Ryder

  A huge black cloud is hovering over the town today, which couldn’t be more fitting for the occasion.

  It’s nearly as bla
ck as Huxley’s heart was when it used to beat, that is. I swing my car into a parking bay outside the church. The lawn and the steps are filling up with the townsfolk, and it’s easy to pick the out-of-town business associates.

  I should have filled a flask for the occasion, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so after I warned Ally not to drink last night.

  I’ll have to make the rounds stone-cold sober. Throwing open my door, I climb out and am first approached by one of the witches of Bailey Cove, my mother, and the others are quick to circle around me.

  “Such a sad day,” one coos.

  “I still can’t believe he’s gone,” another drones out.

  “How’s poor Allison holding up?”

  “Is it true he hurt the Dwyer girl and Craig?”

  “Don’t be silly, of course he didn’t.”

  Yeah, there’s no chance I’m hanging around to listen to this shit. I’m aware I drummed it into Ally to keep up appearances, but now I understand how hard she finds it with these people.

  Dash is lingering at the side of the church, not hiding the fact that he’s smoking. His wife hates it, his mother hates it, so usually he hides it from them. Obviously, the excuse of burying his best friend is holding them at bay.

  I walk over and join him, declining his offer for one of my own.

  “It’s a fucking circus,” he grunts, hitting the cigarette hard.

  “Did you honestly expect any less?” I smirk.

  Shrugging his shoulders, he drops the cigarette butt to the grass and grinds it out under his thousand-dollar shoe.

  “He may be dead, but he’s going to be everywhere for a very long time.”

  His words hit me hard, and I finally recognise it’s the same way Ally has been feeling for years, what she’s been saying since he died.

  The gathering crowd hushes, and it’s because of the sleek town car that pulls up. This shit show is truly about to begin. The driver is quick to climb out and open the back door. It’s not Hank, who has driven for the Bailey-Vaughan’s for years. I don’t know who this guy is.