Page 39 of Read With Your Heart

A man is only as good as his word.

[Leon]

Fucking hell. I heard her scream over the shower I desperately need to get off in so I can forget the sound of her teasing my sister.

Racing down the stairs in only a towel, I jump three at a time to find Tricia staring at the front window, and Lys sitting upright, looking back at her teacher.

“What the hell?”

“I thought I saw a spider,” Tricia says, her voice trembling as if she saw an ax murderer.

“A spider?” I growl.

“It looked like a man was outside on the front porch,” Lys says while still observing Tricia, whose eyes don’t move from the window. “But it could have been a reflection from the television.” Lys doesn’t sound certain.

Based on the position of the set, with the back of the unit to the window, there is no chance it’s a reflection. I don’t try to correct my sister. Instead, I’m watching Tricia, who is visibly shaking. A spider cannot possibly cause such a panic-stricken expression. She’s too tough.

“What did you see?” I question Tricia. Her eyes don’t leave the dark glass pane.

“Tricia,” I bark. She flinches but doesn’t move her head. Stepping closer, I speak again. “Baby, look at me.”

Slowly, her neck twists, and she peers up at me, eyes wide and dark as a forest under midnight. She’s lost inside, and I can’t find her, not even with her looking at me.

I lower to one knee, holding the towel around me as best I can so the goods don’t show. “What did you see, pretty lady?” I question, keeping my eyes fixed on her as my voice softens.

“A spider,” she whispers, but she’s lying. An eight-legged creature would not freeze a person like this unless it’s the size of the house . . . or the size of a man.

“What did he look like?” I question, still holding her gaze.

“Large with curly hair.”

“Six feet tall and frightening,” I add, my voice hardening as I speak. Tricia doesn’t move. I don’t think she’s even drawing in air.

“Breathe, baby,” I suggest, keeping my voice quiet, knowing Lys is watching us. My eyes remain on my roommate as I slowly rise. Tricia focuses on me as I take a step to the door and then turn to open it.

“No!” she cries out, but I’m on the small front porch before she finishes the word. The light’s on waiting for Lena, and I see truck taillights off in the distance up the road.

Fucker. I turn back for the house. Inside, Tricia remains fixed to the couch. Her eyes connect with mine, but she’s still not seeing me. Swallowing a few times, she closes her eyes and licks her lips. When she opens them, she tries to smile at Lys, but it isn’t working. The curl of those cherry-red lips is all wrong, and I don’t like it.

“I’m going to look for some chocolate,” Tricia tells my sister, who is still watching her teacher with concern. Slowly, Tricia stands, her legs wobbling, and I reach out for her. Her hands come up, held out to prevent me from touching her, and she gives me a false grin.

“Chocolate,” she whispers and heads to the kitchen.

“Lys,” I hiss quietly to my sister once Tricia leaves the room. “What did you see, hermanita?”

“It was only a reflection,” she says, her voice small and quiet.

“Lys, you aren’t in trouble, but you need to tell me,” I demand.

“He looked about your size with a ball cap on his head, but it wasn’t for a team.” Camouflage, I bet.

“Did you see him do anything?”

Lys motioned with her fingers—two pointed at her eyes and then pointed at me.

“He did that to Tricia?” My voice rises, and Lys stares at me. “Lys, answer the question.”

My sister flinches. “Did you know she was married? She said he was one of the mean people in town.”