Chapter 19: 19__Hide-and-seek

It had been three years since Braden moved out.

Erin didn’t know whether to be happy or sad.

On one hand, she had far more peace than she’d ever thought she’d have in the Stone home. On the other hand… his evil ploy had worked. Erin had been unable to forget about the disgusting kiss. For the past year, she’d been tormented by it, replaying it in her mind over and over, and having her dreams replay it with several things added for the purpose of torturing her even more. She despised him even more now. How could he go so far just to torment her? The frustration was killing her inside.

Not once had she seen him since he’d left. He came home for a couple of weekends and during his semester breaks, but that was when Erin conveniently sought permission to stay over at Phoebe’s until further notice.

She wasn’t being a coward, she was only protecting her peace. She had plenty of coursework to get done herself, she couldn’t focus on getting her degrees while having to face Braden at the same time. One evil at a time would do.

The years went by in the exact same way and everyone in the Stone home became used to it.

Braden would be coming home for a weekend or his semester break would be coming up and Stephanie or the Chairman or even Erin’s mother would let her know. Her bags would immediately be packed and off to Phoebe’s she’d go. It was a hide-and-seek to protect her sanity during the harsh university years.

Nobody questioned it, they found it rather amusing instead. They thought Erin and Braden were being adorably awkward with each other now that they were adults and had been apart for a few years.

Erin scoffed. More like she was running away after that terrifying kiss. It was her fleeing, not her being shy!

She was nearly certain that the first thing he’d say when he saw her was ask if she’d been able to sleep for the past three years. No matter what, Erin would make sure he thought she’d been having the best time of her life!

Thunder boomed outside and the room lit up from lightening.

“Eek!” squeaked Phoebe, poking her head out from under her blanket. “What is this? The end of the world?”

“I wouldn’t be that lucky,” murmured Erin, staring lifelessly at her textbooks.

Phoebe looked at her. “Why do you sound like you’re ready for the end?”

“Braden’s coming home again this weekend.”

“Yaaaaay!! Sleepover time. Stay over for a month this time.”

Erin made a face. “I’d never get any studying done here with you. I’m only staying for the weekend he’ll be home.”

Phoebe frowned. “But like, we graduated high school nearly three years ago. You’re telling me Braden’s still being a spoilt brat?”

“Yup,” said Erin with a sigh. “He’ll never give it up.”

“I swear he’s such an attention seeker.”

Erin tilted her head. “I doubt it’s for attention. He simply wants me in as much pain as possible.”

“Yeah, right.” Phoebe sat up and raised a brow as she wrapped herself in the blanket. “I feel like he just wants your attention. Why else does he still compete with you even when you’re at different schools now? It’s like his life depends on it!”

Erin pursed her lips, resisting the urge to say his life did indeed depend on how much better than her he was. Another sigh left her when the melodic ringing of a phone filled the air.

“Phone,” said Phoebe, reaching for a bag of chips.

Erin dug her phone out from under her textbooks and sat straighter when she saw who was calling, quickly answering the call. “Yes, Mr Stone?”

“Erin?” answered Julius Stone. “It’s storming outside, dear, where are you?”

“Oh, uhm…” Erin glanced at the thundering sky outside Phoebe’s balcony. “I’m at Phoebe’s just doing homework. Should I head home?”

The Chairman made an affirmative sound. “I’m sending a car to pick you up. It’s freezing cold too, make sure you’ve got a jacket.”

“Okay,” quipped Erin, smiling. “I’ll be home soon.”

The call ended and she looked at Phoebe’s crestfallen expression. “Gotta go.”

“Nooooo,” wailed her best friend, throwing herself against the bed. “Stay with me, please! Why’re you guys neglecting me lately? Jackson’s too busy with practice and now you’re leaving me.”

Erin made a face as she packed her stuff. “Drama queen, I’m literally here like five times a month.”

“Five, not twenty-five. I feel unloved.” With a huff, she angrily stuffed her mouth with a handful of chips, making Erin laugh.

“I’ll be back this weekend when Braden comes, okay? I love you!”

Erin got soaked to the bone running from the car to the side patio doors of the main house and burst inside with a squeak.

“Erin?” said Stephanie, lifting her head from the sofa by the fire.

“Hi, Steph!” greeted Erin, racing by. “Is mom in?!”

“Erin, wait!” called Stephanie, but Erin was long gone, leaving wet footprints in her wake. She made a face, knowing the unpleasant surprise that awaited Erin.

The water was dripping off of her, but Erin wanted to see her mom before going up to their house. If she could change here and hang out with Stephanie by the fire, it would be even better.

She reached the kitchen and greeted a passing maid as she ran in. “Mom! I—”

Erin screeched to a halt and her wet shoes slid her across the tiled floor until she slammed against the kitchen island, jerking to a stop. With desperate hands, she gripped the granite top and stared with wide eyes at the sight before her.

Three years of avoiding his face became futile, all her peace evaporating the moment she came face-to-face with that cold, blue gaze.

Braden Stone. In the kitchen, an apron tied around his waist.

Erin stared. What on earth had happened to him? He’d… changed?

Silently, he lowered the can of baked beans in his hand, his eyes never leaving her face.

“Erin Moore.”

Erin gaped at him, rainwater dripping off her chin. His voice had gotten deeper?! He’d gotten taller too, she frowned at that. As if she needed him to have even more of an advantage over her. His blond hair was longer and fluffier, curling around his ears and nape. Her eyes ran up and down, stunned by the hard shift he’d done into adulthood.

“Erin?”

She spun around. “Mom.”

“You’re soaked!” gasped Alicia, holding her daughter’s shoulders. “Go change quickly. You’ve said hi to Braden, haven’t you?”

Erin blinked, glancing back at Braden Stone awkwardly. “I…. Uhm…” She frowned at the apron her mother wore. It matched Braden’s. “Wait… what are y’all doing?”

Alicia smiled, making her way behind the island to stand next to Braden. “Oh, I promised Braden I’d teach him to cook when he came home this time.”

He said nothing, staring at her in that dark way of his.

Erin scoffed, shaken out of her initial shock. “You’re teaching him to cook?!”

Braden crossed his arms over his chest and Erin’s eyes went there. “Why do you sound mad about it, Erin Moore?”

She forced her eyes up from his chest with great confusion. Had he lived in a gym or an apartment for the past three years?! “I’m not mad, Braden Stone,” she countered. “Just confused. Since when are you even civil, much less friendly, to my mother?”

Alicia frowned. “Erin—”

“Maybe,” said Braden. “If you were home a little more in the past three years… you’d know since when.”

She frowned darkly at him. What was that accusatory tone? What was he doing in the kitchen with her mother?! Erin was beyond confused. “What are you even doing here? You were supposed to come for the weekend, it’s still Wednesday!”

“I’ve written my finals,” Braden said with a casual shrug like he hadn’t just told her her peace was basically over. “I did more modules than usual in each semester, so I could finish earlier. Only had one module this semester, so I’m done.”

She stared blankly at him. He was… done? Did that mean she had no more Braden-free days?!

“Braden being home is a good thing, sweetie,” said her mother with raised brows. “You two might be a little awkward, but don’t start a fight on the first night.”

Erin scoffed. “Mom.”

“What?”

“Why’re you taking his side? You didn’t even tell me you two were on cooking together terms now.”

“I did, I told you Braden was growing to be a good man.”

“I thought you were being sarcastic…” Erin stared at them in utter disbelief. Her gaze returned to Braden who still studied every inch of her face like he didn’t recognize her. Damn him. He’d caught her at her worst, there were literal leaves from the storm outside stuck on her coat!

Annoyed, she spun on her heel to march away.

“Erin.”

His voice stopped her.

She waited and then heard him approach. When he stood close enough, she looked up with a glare. “What?”

His impassive face broke for the first time and she saw a smirk curve his mouth as satisfaction filled his eyes. “Just curious. You still sleep well these days?”