“You’re lying.” Chantelle’s hands were on her hips as she narrowed her eyes and glared at Taylor.
“Gotta go get some more cookies.” Taylor hurried out of the room.
Chantelle followed her. “I mean it,” she said in a low, urgent voice.
“So do I. Your mother’s cookies are more addictive than crack.” And Taylor was out on the front porch before Chantelle could stop her.
For old times’ sake, Taylor spent the night at Chantelle’s house, sleeping on the pull-out bed. How many more nights like this would they have?
Her heart was heavy in her chest when she headed home the next morning. She parked her car on the curb and headed up the front steps, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on her.
As she passed the thick hedges that hemmed in her lawn, there was a flurry of movement, and Joel stepped in front of her before she had time to react.
When she’d first met Joel, she’d thought he was handsome in a football-jock-past-his-prime way, with a big, square jaw and broad shoulders and just a little bit of a gut starting to lap over his belt. Right now, he didn’t look handsome at all; the dull rage in his eyes made him look downright ugly. And he was blocking Taylor’s escape, standing in the gap between the hedges.
“Where were you last night? You never came home,” he said.
“Staying at a friend’s house, not that it’s any of your business. We are not dating, and I told you to leave me alone.”
He took a step forward, his eyes gleaming with menace. “A guy friend?”
She shook her head in exasperation. “Female. Now leave.”
“You haven’t answered any of my calls,” he said.
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Joel, that’s because the last time I saw you, you slammed me against a wall.”
She slid her hand towards her purse for her mace, but he grabbed her arm.
She kept her tone steady. “See, this is the reason I stopped taking your calls. Because you are a physically abusive control freak, and I have no patience for that. Now let go, before I claw your face off.”
“Women like a man who takes charge.” Joel’s eyes gleamed with a crazy light.
“Where did you get that from?Dating Tips for Neanderthals? Right now, you are nottaking charge, you’re being creepy and horrifying and you make me sick.” She tried to pull her arm out of his grip, but he would let go.
“You should treat me with a little more respect. I’m your boyfriend.” It was like he wasn’t listening to a word she said. He moved closer to her, and she took a step back.
“Seriously, get your hands off me. I’m going to scream.”
“Nobody’s close enough to hear you.” It was true, unfortunately. “You should move in with me. I’m going to help you pack.” His hands clamped down on her arm, painfully tight, and he dragged her up the steps and through the front door.
He marched her inside, and to her total shock, she saw that her house was completely empty. The furniture was gone. The paintings and decorations on the walls. The floors were so clean that they gleamed.
Oh God. She didn’t have renter’s insurance because she was trying to save money. She’d just lost everything. She was trapped in her house with a crazy ex, and everything she owned was gone. Could the day get any worse?
He glared at her. “What is this? You’ trying to pull a fast one on me? You’ moving somewhere else so I can’t find you? No freakin’ way. You’re moving in with me, damn it!”
“Are you insane? I can’t stand the sight of you!” she snarled, yanking her arm away. He held tight. “I’m going to file a police report and get you arrested. Why the hell do you think I would move in with you?”
He smirked at her. “My dad fired you. You don’t have a job. You can’t pay your rent, so you have to live with me.”
Damn it. Joel worked at the Bronson factory= of course he’d heard about her being fired.
“Where did you put all your stuff?” he yelled, glaring at her. Then he gave her a nasty grin. “Doesn’t matter. I’ve got plenty of furniture. And if you want any new clothes, I guess you’ll just have to be nice to me. Come along, now.” He started pulling her towards the door.
Okay, this had gone far enough. Time to bust out the moves she’d learned in self-defense class.
She took a step closer to Joel and brought her foot up, then stomped down so hard on his instep that he screamed in pain. She followed that with a knee to the balls, and when he doubled over, she grabbed his arm, bent it back, and marched him out the door. She slammed the door shut, grabbed her phone, and dialed 9-1-1.
