Skylar's POV

"I was outside your front door with a gun in my hand.

Two truths and a lie, sweet Skylar."

•••••

"Let's say, hypothetically speaking, that you're lying to me," I stated the very next morning, my tone laced with utter nonchalance. Totally calm.

Caden's gaze lifted from his phone and settled on me. When I didn't further add anything to it, he raised a dark brow, still not pushing his phone away. But at least I had his attention. I wondered if I should get up and join him on the small burgundy loveseat situated at the very corner of my room (probably Mom's doing).

"Yes?" He prompted rather patiently, which I found a bit endearing. A dark wisp of his hair fell over his forehead and I think I found his slightly longish hair a bit more endearing.

God, everything about him was a distraction at its finest. You were saying something, Skylar!

I rolled over on my stomach, halfway sprawled on my bed. "Well..." I trailed off, giving him a grin and trying to hide any jitters that I still had from reading the recent letter from my hooded stalker. "Why'd you be lying?"

Caden leaned back on the sofa, his beautiful green eyes still trained on me. There wasn't anything that I could read in them. No hesitation. No lie. Why would he lie? I thought.

"It may be because I don't see any reason to tell you the truth."

I sighed in defeat. That was the problem, I suppose. I couldn't even tell if we were still hypothetically speaking or was there some real truth behind his words.

"I'll give you a reason, mister." I hopped out of the bed and started pacing, thinking about the letter and those words printed on it. Skeletons in his closet. Very very vague. Nibbling on my thumbnail, I stopped and gave him a pointed look. "You love me. People don't lie to the ones they love, right?"

He threw his phone aside and ran both of his hands through his hair, letting out a tired sigh. We'd slept late last night once I convinced Caden to a sleepover. Would've probably slept the whole morning too--peacefully--if Dad hadn't called on the house phone, disrupting our slumber. My parents were to arrive back today. "Safety, Sky." He said. "Some things are better left unsaid."

I started pacing again because his words weren't comforting at all. I knew he didn't owe me every secret from his past. I knew Caden deserved some privacy too. But what if this was just about protecting me. Again. Like the time he'd lied to me about Blake and his evil biological father?

No, I thought and stopped in front of my closet. I wasn't going to mingle with something that I was better left not knowing. Not again. That might only lead to bad situations and awful trust issues. Like having a hooded stalker wasn't enough.

I saw Caden getting up from the loveseat and walking towards me. Until he gripped my elbow and gently tugged me to face him. "Why is it that you think I'm lying to you?"

You aren't, I wanted to say. I don't think you are. But those letters...

I tipped my head back against the closet door and looked up at him. I didn't realise I was anxiously gnawing on my lips until his fingers caressed my jaw, his thumb brushing against my lower lip. A quiet sigh left my lips and I stared into his eyes.

"You can leave the gangs behind, Caden," I whispered. "Why haven't you? You said...you told me you never wanted anything with them in the first place."

He didn't look away but I saw the way his gaze turned a bit guarded. Dark. It reminded me of high school. It reminded me of the Caden I hadn't known.

Perhaps he must've seen the hidden fear on my face, fear of going back to the very start, since he tugged me closer against him and wrapped his arms around me. I pressed my face into his shirt and slowly breathed him in, holding onto him. Was it weird of me to think that I might lose him? But why? Wasn't everything just fine yesterday?

"It's because of Blake." He didn't sound happy saying it.

I furrowed my brows. "You're trying to find him?"

A second passed by. And then two. "Yes."

An uneasy feeling grew in the pit of my stomach. I pulled a little away so that I could look at him. "Isn't the police already doing that? You don't have to get involved."

"I think I do have to."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Is it because you somehow feel responsible?"

"No." He said. "But I'd rather ask him some questions before he ends up dead somewhere."

"You sound so sure."

His eyes weren't hiding anymore. Glinting. "I do hope he ends up dead, Anderson."

"Wow, okay, geez." I nudged him and that prompted a small smile from him. "You hate him. We get it."

He pulled me closer once again, giving a small affirmative hum before placing a kiss on my temple. I sighed and slumped against him, feeling bits of pent up tension draining away.

"The thought of him being anywhere right now is scary," I murmured, looking out of the window. The sun was up in the sky, yet the weather was all crisp and cold. "He could be anywhere." Outside my apartment. Outside my house. Anywhere.

"You don't have to be scared." His voice was earnest and so was his gaze when I looked up at him.

"He could be outside my apartment right now." I wondered out loud. "Nobody would ever know."

"I'm pretty sure someone would."

"He's scary." I shuddered, thinking about the time I'd oh so easily let Blake into my house on multiple occasions. My parents had done the same too. It made me bristle with unease whenever I thought of Blake and how easily I had thought we could be friends. I'd trusted him. All of that for him to throw it back on my face.

"He won't lurk anywhere near you, Sky," Caden murmured, pressing a soft kiss over my cheekbone. It tingled and my face heated up.

"You sound almost certain."

A slow, beautiful smile tugged on his lips, and instead of answering me, he nudged my face before kissing me. My hands found his neck and his face and I pulled him closer. Because I wanted more. Because I'd missed this.

My insides seemed to hum in delight when his hand trailed lower down my waist, soft and slow and torturous. A small needy sound left me when he deepened the kiss, noses colliding, grazing my mouth with his tongue.

My hands were fisted in his hair by the time he pulled away, leaving soft kisses down my jawline. It took me a moment to get past the dizziness.

"So..." I tried speaking, inhaling sharply. "We didn't really talk about Kyle." Totally stupid when we could be making out right now, but I really needed to ask him as much as I could've. Before he left. Before there was no chance left to talk when he was right in front of me.

Caden made a noncommittal noise, his hand slipping into my hair to tug my head to the side.

"Do you...do you trust him?" I could barely keep my eyes open.

"No." Then he stopped momentarily. "Yes. But I don't think I trust him around you."

That made me grin. "Well, he is technically staying at my apartment."

Caden pulled away and frowned at me. I tried stifling my laugh but I was already ninety-nine percent giddy on his kisses alone.

"He is?"

"It's his sister's apartment too," I told him, loosely wrapping my arms around his neck. His frown turned a bit confused and my grin widened. There was something definitely adorable about the look he was giving me.

I leaned up and pressed a kiss on the corner of his lips. "Don't worry, babe. I promise I won't try flirting with him. Even if he's like a little bit hot."

Caden narrowed his eyes at me. "You don't even know how to flirt."

"Ouch."

"And besides." Traces of a smirk formed on his lips. "You'd be the last person he'd want to flirt with."

"Ouch again." I nudged him. "Can we move past the whole 'make Skylar feel like shit' phase?"

That got a laugh out of him and I shoved him again, only for him to pull me back against him.

"The truth, babe." His hands once again settled on my waist, near the hem of my shirt, fingers slipping in.

"God, you're so mean." I rolled my eyes. And I only managed to briefly glance at the stupid, mischievous tug of his lips before he gripped my hips, making me yelp a little, lifting me up and nearly throwing me on my own bed. My head bounced a little and I glared at him as he crawled over me. "Jesus Christ, Caden."

"What?" He was all mock innocence now, his green eyes carrying a roguish glint in them. I squirmed a little beneath him before pulling him down for a quick, breathy kiss.

"One would expect Caden Miller to act gentlemanly towards his girlfriend at least." My voice came out sardonic.

His had a hidden smile in it. "Or I could just kiss the living shit out of you."

I huffed because, well, both would work on me just fine.

"Bet you would like that."

"You think?" He loomed over me but didn't touch, safe for his hands just above my hips.

"I know." He said, sounding so fucking smug.

"Too bad I don't care," I replied crossly.

He smirked. "Oh, you will in a moment."

Heat crawled up my neck and not just my neck. My insides brimmed with the need. Just those words alone were enough to leave me a wanting mess. I wanted.

His words were like a promise. And Caden Miller never broke his promises.

•••••

"I think my boyfriend wants to break up with me."

I looked over at Emma, my sixteen-year-old cousin. Her long red hair, dyed just to spite her father, was pulled up into two pigtails. I would've spoken up and probably thrown a few words of consolation towards her, but really, I never talked much in these family get-togethers. Most of the talking was done by Uncle Matt--who I could hear chortling quite loudly outside in the backyard.

Sloane, my other cousin, perked up on the couch beside me and looked at Emma.

"Man, I would dump you too with that horrendous choice of hair dye."

Okay, ouch. I looked down at Chicken, trying to hide the smile on my face. Uncle John, however, who was lounging on one of the armchairs at a distance didn't bother muffling his snicker. I suppose it was a bit hard to hate my uncles when they seemed to be laughing at everyone and everything. My mom seemed to be the only one in her family without the gene.

"Hey, it's a pretty red!" Emma crossed her arms, then looked at me. "Isn't it?"

"A pretty red." I nodded.

"Hideous, you mean." Uncle John joined in, not looking up from the newspaper in his hands.

"Dad!" Emma complained, and then glared at Sloane. "That's not why I think my boyfriend's gonna break up with me, by the way."

Chicken let out a soft purr and jumped up in my lap. Sloane tried petting her but Chicken batted her hand away with a loud meow.

"Jesus." She pulled her hand away. "Your cat's moody, Sky."

"She doesn't like guests."

Sloane sighed and looked back at Emma. "You're overthinking it. Look at me, I don't even have a boyfriend!"

I tried tuning out my cousins and looked out at the backyard from the glass windows. The sky had gone dark outside and I could just about make Mom and Aunt Lizzy chatting.

"Even Sky here's got one." Sloane patted my shoulder and Chicken meowed again. My cat was having some issues.

"Yes!" Emma, all of a sudden looked excited as she faced me. "You have to tell us everything, Skylar! I saw the picture you posted on Instagram."

"I didn't post any pictures on Instagram?"

"Alex must've. You're still friends with him, right?" She asked.

Alex posted a lot of pictures on Instagram. Without ever showing them to me first. I mentally told myself to give him a call later and tell him that he was a douchebag.

"Yeah," I spoke up uncertainly.

"So..." Sloane nudged me carefully--I think because of Chicken. "When are we seeing this mystery boyfriend? He looked hot in that picture by the way. Just his back profile, but who cares. You should've invited him tonight."

I gave her a look. "No."

"What? Why?" Emma exclaimed, then nearly jumped. "Oh my gosh, he gave you that ring, didn't he?" Then, even if it didn't seem possible, she screamed. "Are you engaged already?"

I slid my hand under my thigh self consciously. "No! Holy hell, it was just a gift. Why would I be--what are you even talking about?"

Thank God Uncle John had left the lounge already. It was just Emma, Sloane and me now in the house. Plus Chicken.

Both of my cousins gushed some more and started rambling about stuff that I was too busy not listening to. Leaning back on the couch, I pulled out my hand and fingered the silver ring Caden had gifted me. I never really took it off, now that I thought about it. It was the single, nicest thing anyone had ever gifted me.

And Caden had meant it. The ring had meant something. A promise.

I sighed and hugged Chicken a bit closer.

Caden, I thought. He'd left just hours ago, telling me something about meeting me there in Pennsylvania a few days later. He was going to meet Adrian there. Maybe something to do with Kyle too. At least he'd be close. For his gang, of course. Not because of me.

I sighed again.

"Guys, the bonfire's done!" Someone shouted from outside and Sloane and Emma jumped up. I stood up too and trudged outside where the rest of my family was. And my aunts and my uncles and my cousins.

I glanced over at Mom as I lowered Chicken onto the neatly trimmed grass. I hadn't had a single chance to corner her and ask her about Blake's disappearance. Surely, she and Dad must know something about it.

"You know what? I've said it plenty of times and I'll say it again. I like spending time with you guys." Emma spoke up, facing me and Sloane both. I blinked at her because I'm pretty sure she'd never said that before. But since I was polite and since Mom had told me to be nice at such family events, I smiled at her.

"Ditto, Em," Sloane said, slinging an arm around her shoulders and nudging mine with her other arm.

I might've probably said something as well if I hadn't, at that exact moment, seen a tall shadow near the wooden fence surrounding our backyard.

It was too dark out here and I told myself that I was probably seeing things. But then someone, a much more solid silhouette, stepped away from the bushes. And no way did I miss the black hood. Black gear overall. I'd seen that before.

Outside my front door last night.

Oh God. And for a whole horrifying moment, the person stood still in that spot, looking at me. Directly at me.

My eyes widened and a slow chill ran down my spine. I could've felt Chicken curling around my feet, perhaps noticing me tensing up.

"Guys," I whispered, not letting my eyes stray away from the figure.

"Come on, Sky!" Someone shouted and when I looked over at Emma and Sloane, they weren't by my side anymore, but near the bonfire. Everyone was near the bonfire. Only I was standing in the middle of our backyard.

I snapped my head back towards the hooded guy and my heart nearly lurched out of my chest when I saw him running away. Out of sight.

He'd been watching me. Outside my house. Like last night. For how long?

I could've run after him, but my feet were glued to the same spot. Dread curled up in my stomach and I think I was having a nightmare. Or a really, really horrifying dream.

Unfortunately, my cat had some entirely different plans.

All I heard was a small mewl before Chicken rounded up the corner, chasing after his silhouette.