My mother was beautiful. So much so, people always commented on her appearance.

She was tall and slim, with skin so pale it was almost translucent, and blue eyes so bright the sky and ocean paled in comparison.

But my favorite feature of hers was her hair.

Long, silky red locks that fell down her back in soft waves.

My mom once told me she was made fun of for her red hair while growing up, but I never understood why.

It made her different…unique.

She looked like a princess out of a storybook...

But our lives were the farthest thing from a fairytale.

I winced when she kneeled and palmed my cheek. “I’m sorry.”

She was always sorry.

But sorry wasn’t enough.

Not when the same thing kept happening over and over…like a record skipping while playing one of the worst songs you ever heard.

“Close your eyes,” she whispered, but I shook my head.

That’s the thing about permanent pain…

It made it hard to trust.

Not only others, but yourself.

“Please.”

I knew better than to refuse, so I obliged.

“I got you a present.”

I wasn’t surprised.

Presents always came after the pain…like a rainbow after a storm.

Only the storms were becoming too powerful and occurring far too often.

And there was no more shelter.

“Put out your hands.”

When I did, I felt something dry and scaly against my skin.

Confusion flooded through me when I opened my eyes and looked down at the lizard with the blue belly.

I had seen him earlier when my mom took me out on a walk. I begged and pleaded to keep him, but she said we couldn’t.

My father had a strict rule against pets. My mother said it was because he was allergic to both dogs and cats, however he didn’t want birds or reptiles around either.

“I got a small tank from the pet store down the street that we can keep him in. As long as you promise to feed and look after him.”

I nodded so hard I’m surprised my head didn’t come off. “I promise.”

I ran a finger down his back, then paused. “What about dad?”

She gave me one of her gorgeous smiles. “Well, we’ll have to keep it a secret from him. Think you can do that?”

I nodded again. I was so used to keeping secrets, it was second nature.

“What do you want to name him?”

I shrugged. I’d never been allowed to have a pet before, so I never took the time to think of what I would name one if I got the chance.

“He’s green,” I noted. “And scaly.” I laughed when his long tongue came out. “And kind of cute.”

“Kermit,” I declared because he was green like the frog on my favorite TV show.

He obviously wasn’t a frog, but it was close enough.

My mother patted his tiny head with her finger. “Kermit it is.”

I shifted uncomfortably, trying to gather the courage to ask. “Mom?”

Her blue eyes softened. “Yeah?”

I needed to know why.

Why did it hurt so much?

Why did she let it happen?

Why did I deserve it?

The sound of the front door opening upstairs made me jump, and I lost my nerve.

“Nothing.”

She ran up the staircase while I went off in search of a safe place to keep Kermit.

Too bad I could never find one for myself.

Chapter 15

Aspen

“Mom,” a deep voice calls out, stirring me awake.

I open my eyes and glance up at an unfamiliar ceiling. It suddenly dawns on me I’m not in my bedroom.

And I’m not alone.

My brain pounds against my skull, like a hammer thumping a wall.

I jolt when I take in my surroundings and realize I’m in the basement.

What the…

Sheer horror surges through my bones when I notice I’m in Knox’s bed.

Despite the migraine from hell and the exhaustion pummeling me, I lurch off the mattress.

“What the hell is going on?”

Shock roots me to the spot when I look down and see I’m wearing nothing but a black t-shirt.

One that smells just like him.

“Shut the fuck up,” Knox’s raspy voice grunts from under the covers.

Is he freaking serious?

Walking over to his side of the bed, I rip the pillow he’s sleeping on away and hit him with it. “Why am I in your bedroom, asshole?”

An irritated rumble escapes him as he rolls over, and if looks could kill I’d no longer have a pulse. “Because it’s where I put you.”

With that, he snatches the pillow out of my hands and rolls back over like it’s no big deal.

Where he put me? What the hell does that mean?

I poke his naked back with my finger. “Knox.”

“Go away,” he snaps.

I poke him harder. “I need answers.”

He pounds the mattress with his fist. “And I need sleep.”

Rolling my eyes, I flick my gaze to the alarm clock on the nightstand. “No, you don’t. It’s two—”

Holy shit. It’s two in the afternoon.

I never sleep this late.

I snatch his pillow away again.

“Goddammit,” he roars, sitting up in bed. “Why the fuck are you extra annoying today?”

“Gee, I don’t know,” I start. “Maybe because I woke up in your bed wearing your t-shirt and I have absolutely no idea how I got here.”

With a huff, he reaches for his cigarettes on the nightstand and brings one to his mouth. “You seriously don’t remember anything from last night?”

Folding my arms around myself, I shake my head. “No. I mean, I know I went to a party with Traci and Staci, but after that…”

“After that, what?” he prompts, bringing a lighter to the end of his cigarette.

“Everything is kind of fuzzy, and then it just goes blank.”

Like there’s a glitch in my memory.

I have no idea what to make of the look on his face.

I take an awkward step back, hoping like hell that the worst didn’t happen. “Please tell me we didn’t sleep together.”

I know people do stupid things when they drink, but I never thought I’d be one of them.