AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He braced himself for some sort of snide comment or criticizing look, but none came, as Elizabeth’s attention was snatched by a knock on the door.
* * * *
“Can I help you?” Elizabeth asked the strange man standing at her front entrance.
“Is Jody here?”
“Yes, and you are?”
“Matthew Bernt. She said there was a party, and I should meet her here.”
“I see, come in,” Elizabeth said as she opened the storm door and stepped aside for Matthew to enter. So much for a quiet drink with a couple of friends tonight. I knew I should have squashed this idea from the get-go. She led Matthew to the kitchen.
Jody immediately rose from her stool and walked toward Matthew. She planted a light kiss on his lips before turning to face the group again. “Everyone, this is Matthew. He works for my dad at Lake Developers. Matthew, this is everyone, Sam, Joe, Holly, and Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the one who just bought this great new house.”
Matthew settled onto his seat at the island.
After yanking another wine glass from the rack, Elizabeth filled it full of wine. In her haste, some of the red liquid splashed onto the counter. Realizing just how rude it would have sounded, she managed to catch her exaggerated breath in her throat before it escaped. She sponged off the counter and handed her new guest his glass of wine.
With a glance in Joe’s direction, she caught his judgmental gaze before he pulled his beer bottle to his lips and took a swig. Who is he to judge?
Elizabeth cocked a brow and glared at her friends. “Do I have any more guests coming tonight?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” Holly answered as Jody nodded in agreement.
After a bit of chatting, people seemed to pair-off with their conversations, Sam and Holly, and Jody and Matthew, leaving Elizabeth to deal with her neighbor. Their lack of having anything in common made it difficult to fill the air, so she suggested they move to the dining room table to play cards. She hoped her idea would create more interaction among them all, alleviating the pressure on her to solely entertain her neighbor. ‘May I’ was the game of choice.
A short time into the game it became evident that either she or Joe was sure to win. Jody and Matthew were off in their own little gazing world, totally not paying attention to their cards. And Sam was busy ogling Holly who graciously took it all in.
The game grew more intense with each card played for Elizabeth and Joe. In her entire life, she never played a game without trying her darnedest to win. She eyed her awful neighbor and listened to his comments as he played his cards. She got the impression he didn’t really care so much about victory as wanting to win just to irritate her.
Sweat beaded on her brow and upper lip. She could see the writing on the wall. It didn’t look as though she was going to win, and she couldn’t stand the thought of losing. Finally, the game ended, and the points were tallied.
Joe was the victor.
“Ha, I am the champion,” he said as he rose from his chair and embarked on some sort of victory dance normally seen in a football end zone.
Elizabeth bit her lips in an effort not to say anything she would regret, but was unable to maintain silence. “It’s just a stupid freaking game. Who cares?” she blurted as she threw her cards to the center of the table.
“Are we just a sore loser?” he teased. His cocky smile grew wider.
Her cheeks heated. As she from her chair, she reached across the table for the wine bottle, but in her haste, accidentally knocked over her wine glass. It shattered on the table, and she scowled at Joe. “Now look what you made me do!”
“I wasn’t anywhere near you. You did that all on your own, babe.”
“Do not, I repeat, do not call me babe,” Elizabeth snapped back as she leaned across the table to glare into his eyes.
A sharp pain shot from her left hand up the entire length of her arm, followed closely by a burning sensation. Warmth surrounded her fingers. She snapped her gaze down to find her hand nestled in a pool of blood amongst the broken glass. She sucked in a quick breath. Her lips quivered, her stomach tossed, and her vision blurred.
Elizabeth’s body warmed as someone leaned against her. No, she leaned against someone. An arm slung around her shoulders and a large hand grasped her firmly around her forearm. Her feet moved as if she was walking, but wasn’t sure where she was going. Just then, she remembered her bloody hand and slid her gaze down to find a messily wrapped dishtowel covering it. Her heartbeat picked up pace, and her pulse pounded in her ears as she watched blood seep through the cloth.
Through her fuzzy vision, she realized her sluggish steps had brought her out of her house, through her yard, then her neighbor’s, and to his truck. Joe opened the passenger door, with one hand, while his other hand stayed firmly wrapped around the upper part of her arm. With as queasy as she was she’d likely fall if he let go of her. He guided her into the truck, no, more like loaded her into the truck.
“Where are we going?”
“To the emergency room. I think you may need stitches.”
Elizabeth’s cloudy vision followed him as he climbed into the truck, started the engine, and pulled out of his driveway. Every now and then he would ask her if she was okay, and she would just give a slight nod of her head; she couldn’t seem to speak.
