Hate me

Aspen

I clutch my mug of coffee, watching the steam rise as the sun fights with the clouds outside the window, battling to see who will win for the day. 

I feel his presence behind me as I bring my cup to my lips and take a sip. I wanted to enjoy a few moments of peace before everyone came down for breakfast, but I should have known better. 

There is no peace when he’s around. Especially now that he’s holding my job over my head. 

Wearing nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants that hang dangerously low on his hips, Knox makes a beeline for the coffeepot on the counter. I can’t help but notice he likes his black…just like his soul. 

Glaring, I reach for the French vanilla creamer on the island and pour more into my mug. 

I swear I see a hint of a smirk on his face as he turns and places a bagel into the toaster. 

I peel my gaze away when I realize I’m staring at his back and the way his broad shoulders and sculpted muscles tense and coil.  

 I look around the kitchen, noticing my mother hasn’t come down yet. She usually has breakfast made for everyone, as per her husband’s request. 

As if reading my mind, Knox says, “My father got called into work early this morning. We’re on our own for breakfast.” 

I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s nice not having to deal with the bullshit.  

Twisting back around, Knox picks up his cup of coffee. “Be ready in twenty.” 

I hear him talking, but my brain is having a hard time comprehending what he’s saying because all I can focus on are the severe v-cuts ru

“Stray,” he snaps, forcing my gaze up. 

“What?” 

He grabs one half of his bagel from the toaster. “Stop staring at my dick like you want it for breakfast.” 

I open my mouth to tell him I’d rather dine on rat poisoning, but he’s already walking away. 

The hallway is full of boisterous chatter as I head toward my locker. I assume it’s about the usual—Staci and Traci’s video…or mine. 

However, Brie rushes over to me the second I begin turning the dial on my lock. Given we don’t really talk outside of lunch, it’s a little unusual for her to seek me out. 

“Did you hear what happened?” 

It’s even more unusual for Brie to come to me with gossip. 

But one look at the startled expression on her face tells me something bad happened. 

I close my eyes, silently praying Knox didn’t make good on his threat to tell everyone at school that I moonlight as a stripper. 

“Aspen,” Brie whispers, concern lacing her tone. 

I focus my attention back on her. 

“Sorry.” Shaking my head, I take a few books out of my locker. “Yeah, no. I didn’t hear anything. Why, what’s up?” 

“They found a body at Devil’s Bluff last night.” 

That’s…alarming. Black Mountain is a relatively safe place. Sure, we have the occasional murder, but not often. 

“Really? Who?” 

“A young woman. I didn’t know her, but it’s all over the news.” She worries her lower lip between her teeth. “Kind of scary that it happened so close to home, you know?” 

She’s not wrong about that. “Yeah.” 

She looks down at her shoes. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.” 

“Thanks,” I tell her as I take out my phone. 

I only have a few more minutes before class starts, so I quickly pull up a news article. 

Sure enough, there was a female body found at Devil’s Bluff by someone walking their dog. 

The police don’t have any leads yet, but the victim was a thirty-year-old woman named Sheri Garside, daughter of prestigious heart surgeon, Dr. Phillip Garside. 

However, it’s the photo in the article that nearly brings me to my knees. 

For a moment I think I’m seeing things, because the picture is a dated one that looks like it was taken out of a yearbook. 

But upon closer inspection, there’s no mistaking it’s definitely Candi Kane. 

My stomach churns as I brush past Brie. “I have to go.” 

“Are you okay?” she calls out after me, but I keep trudging down the hallway. 

My heart’s in my throat as I race down the halls of the school, searching for Violet. 

I can’t believe Candi’s dead. 

I can’t believe she was murdered. 

I find Violet by her locker talking to Big Mike, a notorious school player. I want to warn her he’s bad news, but it’s really none of my business. Plus, there are way more pressing issues at hand. 

“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” I flick my gaze to Big Mike, who looks thoroughly a

Violet’s eyes widen in surprise when she sees me. We rarely speak during school because, well…neither of us like talking to people, so we stick to ourselves. 

Turning to Big Mike, she clears her throat. Reluctantly he takes the hint, but not before telling her, “I’ll see you later.” 

The second he leaves, she looks at me. “What’s up?” 

Taking her hand, I lead her to the nearest restroom. After we’re inside, I check all the stalls to make sure it’s empty and no one can overhear us. 

“Okay, you’re kind of starting to freak me out. What’s going on?” 

“Did you hear about the body found at Devil’s Bluff?” 

She nods. “Yeah, someone stumbled on it while walking their dog. I know it’s scary, but try not to freak—” 

“It was Candi Kane.” 

I can tell this is news to her because her eyebrows shoot up to the ceiling and she blows out a heavy breath. “Shit.” 

Shit is right. 

“I know.” I rub my temples as I recall the rest of the article. “Apparently, her father is a renowned heart surgeon.” My heart clenches. “And her real name was Sheri.” 

“That’s…damn. I never would have guessed.” 

That makes two of us. Typically, people don’t become strippers when they have a stellar home life and rich parents. 

Then again, I have no idea how her home life was. Maybe we were more alike than I thought. 

But I’ll never know…because she’s dead. 

Violet frowns. “As sad as it is, there’s really nothing we can do about it. We have no clue what Candi was into when she wasn’t at work. For all we know, she could have been involved with the wrong crowd.” Reaching over, she gives my shoulder a squeeze. “We’re late for class, though. I’ll see you at work later, okay?” 

“Yeah.” 

She’s almost to the door when the bad feeling brewing in my gut grows. “Violet?” 

“Yeah?” 

“Just…stay safe.”

 She gives me a warm smile. “Everything will be fine, Aspen. Sometimes bad shit happens. I’m sure the police will figure out who did it and lock them up soon.” 

Yeah, she’s probably right. 

But just to make sure, I know exactly who I can ask. 

If given the choice between being bit by a thousand fire ants while lying on a bed of hot coals or striking up a conversation with my stepfather, I’d happily choose the former. 

Unfortunately, I don’t really have a choice but to involve him. I want to make sure Candi gets the justice she deserves. And since Trent had no problem swooping in to help with the investigation regarding the death of my father, he should have no problem lending a hand with the death of Candi. 

Getting to the bottom of this is so important to me, I end up calling into work just so I can talk to him.