In Your Time novel Chapter 29

It was only a moment later when someone entered my room. Braden and I came up with a plan to pretend I was asleep so whoever it was would leave quickly. Braden sat with his back against my headboard while I was curled against him under the covers on my side. The blanket covered my face as well. I heard Braden shush whoever walked in.

"What do you want?" He asked the stranger.

"I used to come over your house all the time. What; I'm not welcome anymore?" A girl's voice asked. I recognized the voice. It was Tara. What in the world did she want? If anything, I had to give her points for being persistent.

"No, you're not. I don't want anyone to misunderstand us," he answered. It was quiet except for soft footsteps for a while.

"I thought your room was on the other end of the hall. This looks like a girl's room," she said.

"It's Phoenix's room, and she's asleep right now, which is why I told you to keep your voice down," he explained.

"That lump on the bed is her?" She asked. I could hear the judgement in her voice. Braden sighed before I felt him shift slightly.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"I wantEd to see if the rumors were true. I guess you really are engaged and living with that girl. Your mom seems fond of her too," Tara said simply.

That girl?

"Well, now that you have your answer, are you going to leave?" Braden asked bluntly. I heard Tara scoff.

"I guess puppy love really is all a lie. You promised you'd take care of me always, but yet, here you are, watching over another girl sleep," she said. I noticed in the short time I knew her that Tara was very straightforward. She really didn't sugarcoat anything.

"You knew how I felt about you, and you vanished. When you did, it changed everything between us. I don't trust you anymore, and I actually don't like you at all now. I'm not sure what I saw in you back then either," Braden argued.

"At least you can still get mad at me. If you didn't, then I'd really know I had no chance. They say the line between love and hate is a thin one," she replied coolly. She had a point.

"I don't hate you. And I actually don't care about you. The reason I'm getting mad is because you're messing with Phoenix and coming to my home unannounced when Phoenix already doesn't feel good. I can deal with you messing with me, but I swear, if you mess with Phoenix in any way, intentionally or unintentionally, you'll see a side of me that's better left untouched," he threatened. She shushed him and I could just imagine what sort of smirk she would wear on her face at a time like this.

"Keep your voice down or you'll wake the bird," Tara said before I heard the door close. Braden pulled the covers off of my head with a sigh.

"She's gone," he said.

"Did she just call me a bird?" I asked confused.

"Probably because of your name," he answered easily.

"She really doesn't give up, does she?" I asked as I stared at my closed door. Braden sighed before wrapping an arm around me and pulling me into his side.