Page 43 of What Comes Around

Apple’s name started trending, but not in the way she wanted.

That evening my phone rang from an unknown number.

I almost didn’t answer. But something told me to.

“ASHLEY!”

Apple’s voice exploded through the speaker, raw and hysterical.

That was fast.

“What do you want?” I asked calmly.

My tone only made her worse.

“I want to see you. Right now!”

“No,” I said, already moving to hang up.

“Fine!” she shrieked. “Then you better hide forever. But you can say goodbye to all of your mothers items.”

My hand stilled. “What are you talking about?”

“I took Dad’s storage unit key. The one with your Mom’s things,” she went on, breathless and wild. “The stuff he couldn’t throw away. Letters. Jewelry. Her clothes. I have it.”

My hand tightened around the phone.

“If you don’t meet me,” she said, her voice lowering, sharpening, “I will burn it all. Every last piece of her.”

Rage surged up my spine. Using my dead mother as leverage crossed a line she could never uncross.

“Don’t you dare!”

“Oh, why wouldn’t I?” she laughed. “I already bought three barrels of gasoline. If you don’t show up, I’ll take it straight to the unit. I’m a mental patient, remember? Even if I burn it down, they won’t lock me up. I’ll just have to pay damages.”

“Where are you?” I said tightly. “I’ll come now.”

“A café on Willow and Grant. One hour.Ashley. Alone.”

The line went dead.

Chapter 14: She Snapped

The café was nearly empty when I arrived, thirty minutes before closing.

Apple was already there at a small round table, drumming her fingers against an untouched cup of coffee. Her jacket hung crooked, half-buttoned. Mascara was smeared beneath her eyes as if she had cried and wiped it away with anger instead of a tissue. Her hair looked like she had dragged her hands through it too many times.

She looked… feral.

Her gaze snapped to me the moment I stepped inside. I crossed the room and sat across from her.

“I’m here,” I said calmly. “Let’s get this over with.”

“I knew it was you,” she hissed. “Back then. At the party. You sabotaged me. You ruined me.”

“You ruined yourself.”

Her palm hit the table, rattling the cup.