Craving Them (Book 1 - SAMPLE)

Chapter 3 - Andi

"I can't tell my
dreams from
my nightmares."

~~Dan Wells

****************

~~Andi~~

When I woke the next morning, the sun had barely risen and the sky was still a mix of pink and purple as daylight bled into what remained of the night before. Worry gnawed at my stomach as memories of my sister's screaming pricked at my mind but it was quickly eased away when I remembered finding her in Kas's arms. He was so good to her, and she deserved someone like that.

My sister had denied the allegation of being in a relationship with Kas a hundred times, claiming they were just best friends. But it was times like that when I had the most doubts. Kas was completely devoted to her, practically worshipping the ground she walked on. The way he looked at her was as if she were a deity in the flesh, a miracle he had been blessed to witness.

Even he had denied any romantic possibilities between the two. I had teased him about it multiple times since he had become part of our lives four years ago, but he had always brushed it off as if the idea was unimaginable. And maybe it was to the two of them, but I could picture them together someday.

I ignored the jolt in my stomach as the thought swept through my head and rubbed a hand over my tired eyes. My own night had been filled with a fitful sleep and I had woken up several times with adrenaline flooding my veins and my heart racing, but whatever had triggered the reaction had slipped away. It had happened the same way during countless nights over the last few years, but it was the times I remembered that were the worst.

"Well, I've officially started my day off in a shitty way," I grumbled as I padded my way into the bathroom across the hall from my room.

"Talking to yourself again, I see," my twin commented as she walked by.

"Keeps life interesting," I shrugged.

"Cheer up, sister. We'll both be off to college in about a week," Nik reminded me with a grin. "Then you and lover boy will finally have your own place."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks and I rolled my eyes. "Bryce is just a friend, Nik."

"So you say but I'm not blind. I see the way that boy looks at you," she teased, leaning against the bathroom door frame.

"Then you need to get your eyes checked," I scoffed, lightly pushing her away from the door. "Now leave me alone so I can wake up."

I could hear my sister's laughter trickling down the stairs as she walked away while my thoughts strayed away from Kas and onto the other important man in my life. If I was honest, though, I doubted I would have made it this far without either of them.

Bryce Crowe, with his black hair and blue eyes that reminded me of an ocean island due to the golden brown branching out from the center, was my best friend. Other than my siblings, he was the only person left in my life that had known me both before and after that night six years ago. I wasn't the same person as I was then and I knew it, but Bryce had never left my side.

Stepping beneath the water cascading from the shower head, I followed the drops as they slid down my torso, my fingers lightly skimming over the scars that decorated my belly. Bruises would fade and broken bones would heal, but these marks were an infinite reminder of a night I wanted to forget. Bryce had never admitted it, but I knew in my soul that he had been the one that saved Aurora and I.