Pulling into my driveway, the engine's rumble faded into the quiet evening air. The decision gnawed at me. Go or stay? Her invitation hung in my mind like an unanswered question.
The truth was simple: I wanted her to be mine. To be someone she could lean on without worrying about what others thought.
The answer wasn't clear yet as much as I wished it were.
I stepped out of the car, my eyes immediately drawn to the door. That damned wreath. Bright red and green, with a ridiculous oversized bow.
I couldn't believe I actually hung it up.
Fuck, what was going on with me?
The cool air nipped at my skin as I walked to the door, each step echoing the confusion in my mind. Pushing it open, I stepped inside. The familiar scent of motor oil and old leather filled the space, but something felt off. It felt heavy, oppressive, without her presence. The walls seemed to close in on me.
Beth had been here, laughing and filling the space with her endless chatter. Now, without her, it felt... lonely. I used to be fine on my own, but now, I hated how empty it felt without her.
Dropping my keys on the counter, I ran a hand through my hair. The grime from a day's work clung to me like an unwelcome reminder of who I was—who I'd always been. Maybe that's why Beth's presence was so jarring. She was everything bright and new; I was everything dark and worn.
I decided to shower. Not because I planned on going to her party—hell no—but because I felt dirty. The water roared as I twisted the knob, steam filling the small bathroom. Stripping off my clothes, I stepped under the spray and let the heat work its way into my muscles.
As the water washed away the grease and grime, my mind drifted back to Beth again. Her laughter echoed in my head, filling up the silence that now surrounded me. She'd wormed her way into my life despite all my efforts to keep her out.
Rubbing shampoo into my hair, I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. Maybe Ellie was right; maybe Beth did have some sort of magic that made people feel alive again. But magic wasn't real—life had taught me that lesson well enough.
Still, as the water cascaded down, rinsing away the soap and dirt, a small part of me wondered what it would be like to let Beth in fully. To allow her light to chase away some of my darkness.
But that wasn't something a shower could fix.
Stepping out of the stall, I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around myself. The mirror fogged up instantly, obscuring my reflection—perhaps for the best.
In this moment of clarity brought by simple water and heat, one thing was clear: life felt different now that Beth was around.
And maybe that wasn't such a bad thing after all.
I headed to my bedroom and started rummaging through the closet. My fingers brushed over the worn leather jacket, the one I wore when I first moved back. But it wasn't right for tonight.
Who was I kidding? Of course, I was going to the party.
I grabbed a clean pair of jeans and a button-up shirt that didn’t look too bad. The mirror showed a man I barely recognized, clean-shaven, hair still damp from the shower. Maybe Beth's magic had worked on me after all.
Buttoning up the shirt, I stepped into the living room, my mind still tangled with thoughts of her.
Then I saw Connor.
"What the fuck is this?" he asked, holding up the wreath I'd hung on my door. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me. "And what the fuck are you wearing?"
I stood there, stunned into silence. Connor’s presence hit me like a punch to the gut. His tone dripped with disdain, his gaze piercing through me like I was some kind of joke.
"You look like you're going to some... Christmas party or something," he scoffed, shaking his head. "Didn't take you for the festive type."
"Connor—"
He cut me off before I could even start. "What happened to you, Daryl? Used to be tough. Now look at you—clean clothes, hanging up wreaths like some suburban dad." He sneered, tossing the wreath aside. "What's next? Baking cookies?"
I clenched my fists at my sides, feeling a mix of anger and shame rise up in my chest. "It's just a party."
"Oh sure," Connor said with a mocking grin. "A party with all your new friends? What happened to staying out of people's business?"
His words stung more than they should have. "It's not like that."
