Evanescent - By Addison Moore Page 0,69

insists on walking me to Jen’s haunted abode.

It would figure—right after I convinced him that I’ve been sleeping in Jen’s room this whole time, he most likely wants proof. So much for having a trusting relationship, although, in Wesley’s defense, it was me who lied.

We walk down into Austen’s bowels, through a cinderblock hallway, before landing in the housemother’s quarters.

How Jen can stand being holed up in this twisted lair is beyond me. I’m terrified being upstairs by myself where it’s opulent and scented with designer perfume, and here she is in a hovel, with the smell of mold thick in the air.

I give a gentle knock. “Are you decent?”

“Since when do you care?” Her voice carries through the wood, muffled, as I step inside and find her brushing her teeth. The room is oversized and boxy with the walls painted the dull brown of a paper bag.

Here it is, the split second I have to convince her to help me. If ever Jen was going to be a true sister to me—this was when I needed her most.

“Jen?” I sharpen my gaze until she ceases her rather violent scouring session. Here it goes. I need to hone in on those sisterly vibes and make it clear that my ass is on the line. I widen my eyes, round as wall clocks, and clear my throat. My relationship with Wes might very well end within a thirty-second time span if she inadvertently rats me out. “I want you to look Wes in the eye and tell him where I’ve spent the night these past three weeks.”

Jen holds out a finger. She spits in the sink and wipes her mouth with a towel.

“Austen House,” she says, making her way to the bed. Her long flannel gown, with its delicate print of cornflowers, reminds me of something my mother would wear. “Ask me something a little more challenging next time.”

Wes catches my gaze in the mirror. I can tell he’s not satisfied.

“Let’s just drop this, Laken.” He presses a kiss against my cheek.

“No,” I say. “Jen, where in Austen House have I been sleeping?”

Jen washes those pale eyes over me as if I’ve just done something heinous.

“Right here with me. We’ve slept toes to nose, and I’m ready to call HAZMAT over your lack of hygiene. Anything else?” She plucks a magazine from off the floor and leafs through the glossy pages.

Holy shit. I step away from Wes. I do believe Jenevieve Anderson just told her very first lie—and it was to protect me, her sister.

She scowls at us. “Would you guys mind holding off on the interrogation? I’m beyond exhausted. By the way, Wes, your brother is an ass in the truest form.”

Add cursing to her shortlist of brand new personality traits she’s developed this evening.

“I’d better go.” Wes presses out a humble smile.

I walk him back to the dank hall, and the lights dim before coming up full strength again.

“It’s like this whole place is haunted,” I whisper. “Hey”—I bite my lip and look up at him with all of the faux curiosity I can muster—“where did you think I was this whole time? You didn’t think I was secretly shacking up with Cooper or something?” I try to look aghast at the concept.

“I don’t know what I thought.” Wes lowers his gaze. He’s so consummately gorgeous, my dark knight, my best friend, and here I am feeding him barefaced lies. “Grayson was filling my head with a bunch of bullshit, and I must have been in the mood because I was taking it in as fast as she gave it.”

“Figures it was Grayson.” I shake my head. “I can’t wait until I graduate. Until we can move in together, until I can stop being your wife in spirit and take on the actual role.” I run my finger down his chest. “I love you so much, Wes. I would never want to hurt you.” I mean every single word.

Wes pulls me in tight and his chest pumps as if he’s shedding silent tears.

“I would never want to hurt you either, Laken.” He leans back and looks me right in the eye. “You’re my everything. I never want to lose you. I want to share the whole world with you—I want to share a lifetime—forever.”

I latch onto Wes, and we hold each other a very long time.

We’re going to love each other forever.

I just hope we’re together while doing so.

Once Wes takes off, I head back into the room with