Chasing Secrets - Jessica Sorensen Page 0,1

not like I ever celebrate it. Even when my parents were alive, we were always too poor to do much. In fact, sometimes it was forgotten amongst the stress of paying the bills and trying to survive.

I lower my hand from the screen, wondering about that life, about my parents, who they really were, and if they knew what I was. Perhaps that part of my life wasn’t even real. For all I know, my memories have been tampered with.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Crap. That’s probably one of the guys telling me it’s time to get my butt going, but I’m not even dressed yet.

“Um … yeah, come in,” I say as I hurriedly try to select an outfit. When the door creaks open, I don’t glance back, calling over my shoulder, “Sorry I’m taking so long. I don’t have any idea what to wear. I think I might be like outfit clueless or something.”

“Outfit clueless?” The sound of Arrow’s voice makes me smile. Just the guy I need to help me pick out an outfit.

“Hey, it might be a thing,” I quip, flitting a glance and a smile over my shoulder at him.

He’s changed into a pair of black pocket pants, the bottoms tucked into a pair of thick boots. He has on a black long-sleeved shirt and fingerless leather gloves. He looks like he may have just polished himself, too, since the bronzed metal woven into this flesh is all shiny.

“You look like you’re about to go into battle,” I remark, then worry flows through me. “Wait … We’re not fighting someone while we’re here, are we?”

Shaking his head, he closes the door behind him and starts across the room, his boots scuffing against the floor. “No. Well, unless East or Asher get into a bar fight.”

I elevate my brows. “Does that happen a lot?”

He nods, stopping in front of me. “Unfortunately, yeah.”

“Really?” I crinkle my nose. “East doesn’t seem like much of a fighter.”

“He doesn’t try to start fights intentionally. He usually just smarts off to the wrong creature or hooks up with their mates …” He trails off, worry flooding his features. “Sorry.”

My brows knit. “For what?”

“For …” He shifts his weight, seeming uncomfortable. “I mean, you and East have been …” He stops talking again and shakes his head.

It takes me a moment to figure out what he’s trying to say.

“Oh,” I say as it dawns on me. I think he thinks I’m uncomfortable with him talking about East hooking up with creatures. I’m not, though. With who East is, I’ve already concluded that he’s probably done a lot of sexual stuff, unlike me. However, talking to Arrow about East and me together is making me feel a bit squirmy. “You don’t have to apologize for that. I figured East hooked up a lot.”

He scratches the back of his neck. “I know, but I probably shouldn’t be throwing in your face.”

“You’re not,” I assure him. “What you said was fine.”

What I’m not sure is fine, though, is talking about this with Arrow. Or, well, the fact that I’ve kissed East, Arrow, and Asher. Plus, had a few orgasms with them. Not with Arrow—we’ve only kissed—but … Does Arrow know what has gone on between me and his friends and bandmates? Do guys talk about that sort of stuff? I could ask, but I don’t want to make things even more awkward than they already are. So, I revert the subject to the fighting.

“What about you?”

“What about me?” He suddenly swallows audibly. “Wait … Do you mean, have … I hooked up a lot?” He mutters the last part.

I swiftly shake my head. “No, I meant about the fighting, and if you ever got into them?”

“Oh.” He visibly relaxes. “I’m not really a bar fighting kind of creature.”

“Yeah, you don’t seem like it. Honestly, Asher is the one who seems like he probably pisses a lot of people off.”

“That might be a little bit true. I’ve had to jump into some fights and intervene because Asher was in a pissy mood.”

I laugh softly. “Now that I can definitely see.”

His bronze lips turn upward. I love the sight of it. When I first met him, he never smiled, and East informed me that he rarely did until I came into their lives.

“Hopefully, that won’t happen while we’re on Midnight.” Arrow tugs on the ends of his sleeves and shifts his weight, anxiousness flowing off him. “I highly doubt it. At least, Asher won’t intentionally start one.”

My brows rise. “He