Fatal Desire, Teen Edition by Emma Grace

overnight bag. She
silently hoped the men had left the house so she wouldn’t have to
tell them what she was doing.
    “Coward,” she whispered to herself.
    Amber walked slowly down the stairs with her
overnight bag. Seeing both men on the couch waiting for her, she
sighed. She wasted no time letting Matt and Derek know her
plans.
    “I’m going home,” she stated. “You two are
not stopping me.”
    Derek raised a brow at this statement. “We’re
not,” he questioned even though he and his brother had agreed she
needed to go home and spend some time with Olivia and hopefully
lure out her stalker.
    “No, you’re not,” Amber said determinedly and
started to walk to the front door.
    “Amber,” Derek growled low. Amber stopped
when she heard the warning tone in Derek’s voice. “Sit down.”
    Amber turned and sat in a chair facing Matt
and Derek. She dropped her eyes to her knees and refused to look at
either of the men.
    Matt cleared his throat and stared at his
brother.
    “Look, Honey,” Derek began. “I will take you
to see Olivia.”
    Amber’s eyes flew to his. “You will,” she
questioned.
    “I will. I know you need to see her. I also
know she needs you. But we need to discuss the situation before
just barreling in.”
    Amber hung her head again, fully chastised by
Derek’s tone and words. Matt punched his brother hard in the arm
and gave him a look that said fix this. He couldn’t stand to see a
female in tears and he was afraid Amber would break down any
minute.
    Derek got up from his seat, crossed over to
Amber, and pulled her into his arms. “Matt and I have a plan. We
have already discussed you going home.”
    Amber sighed. She knew Derek wouldn’t let her
down. She really didn’t want to face the demon by herself.
    Sitting back down with Amber in his lap,
Derek explained what he and Matt had concluded. The three talked
for another hour before Amber and Derek left Matt’s house to drive
the short distance to Amber’s hometown.
    Arriving shortly before supper time, Amber
and Derek stopped at a local diner to eat. It didn’t take long for
residents to recognize Amber and come over to talk. Several had to
ask about where she had been and get all of the details of her
travels. It was clear none of them knew the real reason she had
left thanks to Olivia’s quick thinking. She had told many of the
town’s people that Amber needed to get away from the memories of
her parents and wanted to try new things.
    They all seemed genuinely glad to see her
back and filled her in on the latest gossip and happenings in her
hometown. It took her and Derek over two hours to finish their
meal.
    Derek drove them to the local motel with
Amber’s directions and they booked a room. They unpacked their
luggage and Amber sat down to call Olivia.
    “Hello,” this time Olivia answered the phone,
and the sound of her voice tore at Amber’s heart. She sounded so
sad and depressed.
    “Hey Livvy, its Amber,” she said.
    “Amber, where are you? Are you coming to
town,” Olivia asked.
    “I’m in town now. Can I come by,” Amber
asked. She grabbed a pen and piece of paper from the bedside table
and asked Olivia for her address. Olivia gave Amber directions to
where she lived and she and Derek drove over to see Olivia.
    Patrick answered the door at Amber’s knock
and invited the couple in. Seemingly uneasy around Derek, Patrick
fixed his eyes on Amber.
    “I’m so glad you came. Olivia is upstairs
getting dressed for the first time in three weeks,” Patrick said.
He hugged Amber. Feeling uncomfortable hugging her best friend’s
husband and someone she had met once briefly, Amber quickly hugged
Patrick back and stepped out of his embrace.
    Derek noted the unease in Amber’s eyes and
decided to question her later.
    Just then, Olivia came flying down the
stairs.
    “Amber,” she yelled throwing herself into her
best friend’s arms.
    “Olivia,” Amber replied hugging her
tightly.
    Both girls began to cry. They