The Coincidence 05 The Certainty of Violet & Luke Read Online Free PDF

fingers stroking the space between my shoulder blades. ‘I could make something for you to eat … maybe that would help.’
    I shudder from his touch – always do – but refuse to move. ‘Yeah, I’m sure … I just want to stay home and rest.’
    ‘But … I don’t like leaving you here alone.’
    ‘Seth’s here, so I’m not alone.’
    ‘Yeah … but he might have class later today.’
    I glance over my shoulder at him. ‘I’m pretty sure he doesn’t.’
    ‘Still … I don’t like you being here without someone watching you. And Seth … As much as I like him, he’s not the most responsible person. I’d rather I just watch you. I’d do a better job.’ He gets this funny look on his face as if he’s realizing something that baffles him.
    I turn and place my hand on his cheek. ‘Luke, I’ll be fine. I won’t leave the house or anything without telling anyone.’ I tuck my hands under my head and bite my lip until it bleeds because it takes the emotional pain briefly away. ‘You can’t watch me forever and it’s not your responsibility to do so.’
    ‘Like hell I can’t,’ he mutters under his breath as I turn on my side. It grows silent between us. He wants to say more – I want to. Yet we both don’t – can’t.
    Eventually, his lips brush the back of my neck, right over the two stars tattooed on my skin, each representing a person I’ve lost in my life – my mother and father. ‘I’d feel so much better if I was here with you.’
    ‘And I feel so much more guilty if you missed another class with me,’ I reply, clutching onto the black with he places a gentle kiss over each star.
    He nuzzles his nose against my neck and sighs in a surrendering manner. ‘Fine, but call me if you need anything. And keep the door locked,’ he says. ‘I’ll tell Seth to keep an eye on you and promise me you’ll check in with him.’
    I open my mouth to protest. ‘I’ll just be in the house, like I said, I’m not—‘
    ‘I know you won’t go anywhere,’ he says, placing a hand over my lips. ‘But just please just promise me that you’ll check in with him so that I can have peace of mind.’
    The plea in his voice makes it hard not to agree so I nod, then he reluctantly climbs out from the bed, making the mattress lift with the lack of his weight and making the bed feel empty and cold. I hear his footsteps cross the narrow room and he stops in front of the dresser.
    ‘There’s something else I need to tell you,’ he says as he rummages through the drawer for some clothes.
    The edge in his voice makes me hesitant to answer. ‘Okay …’
    ‘It’s about last night… After we got home.’ He shuts the drawer then just stands there in the middle of the room. I can’t fully see him other than out of the corner of my eye, but he’s making me uneasy. Did I do something strange last night? Well, more strange than normal for me? Did I speak about the dream maybe, when I was half asleep or something? ‘There was a box on the doorstep when we got home from the party.’
    The hair on the back of my neck stands on end and goosebumps erupt across my arms. ‘And who was the box from?’ I ask, even though deep down already know – from the monster haunting my dreams. I’m just hoping – wishing – that maybe Luke will prove me wrong.
    He sits down on the edge of the bed, the mattress sinking below his weight and the emptiness I’d been feeling diminishes again. ‘It didn’t say exactly who sent it … but there was a photo of you inside … ‘He puts his hand on my back and I feel a tremble in his touch. ‘Please just come to class with me.’
    I turn all the way over and face him. The fear in his eyes tells me I should be afraid; that whatever was in the box I should be afraid of. But I won’t let myself do that, feel the fear. ‘What was in the box, Luke? ‘
    He keeps his intense brown eyes on me. ‘I already told you … a photo of you.’
    I steadily maintain his gaze. ‘And what was