Crazy In Love (Secrets of Suburbia #3) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,35

I've already given in and let you inside. And up to my room. We're already breaking the rules. What else do you want?"

Snuggle Muffins lifted up his paw and touched the side of my bed.

"No," I said. "Absolutely 100 percent not, Snuggle Muffins. You're a dirty little monster and you can't come up here."

He sighed.

I looked over my shoulder at the empty spot in the bed. Maybe having Snuggle Muffins up here would help prevent me from sneaking down into the basement. Because my body really really wanted to be next to Noah. At this rate I'd probably sleepwalk down there if I didn't fill this empty spot. "Fine. Just this once." I leaned down and lifted him up on the bed.

He immediately snuggled into my side. He was really living up to his namesake. Yes, his eyes were blue which made the name Blue suitable. But he was also quite the little snuggler.

Silly dog. "Don't get used to this,” I said and patted his head. “I'm serious."

Snuggle Muffins rested his head on my shoulder and closed his blue eyes.

We both knew that I'd said "just this once" about a billion times today. There was no conviction in my words. He knew it and so did I. And we both knew he'd be sleeping beside me from here on out. He easily filled the spot of my dear husband who could die tied to that chair for all I cared. He'd lied just to get in my pants. There was nothing worse than that. Oh, wait. There was also the fact that he cheated on me. More than once. And he stole all my money. Those things were worse than the lying to get in my pants. God, I hated him.

I scratched behind Snuggle Muffins’ ear. Petting him soothed me for some reason. He was so soft. And warm. And dirty. Was I supposed to bathe him or something?

I moved my hand away from him and just stared. The worst part about Snuggle Muffins was that I actually liked him. I liked his stupid little face and his stupid little sighs. And his stupid knowing stare. Even his stupid fuzzy fur. He was crawling under my skin, nestling in right by my heart. The next thing I knew he'd probably be sleeping with my neighbor and stealing all my money. I turned away from him and stared at the wall. I didn't want to be second best anymore. Especially not to the dog that I didn't even want.

***

There was something wet on my hands. Wet and...sticky. And warm. Ew. I moved my hand through the thick substance, and my fingers touched something soft. And I had this horrible image of blood. A chill ran down my spine. Blood pouring from Noah's head when he fell down the basement stairs. All I could see was red. Seeping into the wooden steps. Seeping into his hair. Trailing into his lifeless, unblinking eyes. Covering my hands. I stifled a scream.

But that hadn't happened.

Noah was safely in the basement.

There was no blood. There's no blood, Ensley. I wasn’t a murderer. I wasn't a pervert. I was a kidnapper. Period.

His head was fine, just a little slow in the memory department. Even if he was quick to lie.

So what the hell am I touching? My eyes flew open. My hand was on Snuggle Muffins' snout and it was covered in...God. I had no idea what that sticky wet mess was. Saliva? Snot? "Snuggle Muffins, stop being gross."

He sighed.

"I'm only a kidnapper," I said out loud, but the chill didn't go away.

Snuggle Muffins didn't seem to have a reaction to my statement.

"What's on my hands?"

I swore he smiled. The little demon.

"Bad dog." I climbed out of bed and washed the mess off my hands. And for just a second, I thought I saw the water run red in the white ceramic sink. Stop. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I was just agitated. The questioning wasn't supposed to take this long. Noah was supposed to cave by now. But that didn't mean there needed to be any blood. I could do this another way.

When I looked back down at the sink, the water was clear once more. I splashed some water on my face. Everything's fine. I'll get my answers today. I'll end this today. And then I'd still have plenty of time for the last phase of my plan.

I walked back into the bedroom and Snuggle Muffins was standing on the corner of