Page 21 of Total Exposure

“Just one more thing,” she says.

“What’s that?”

“Who are you trying to fix?”

“What?”

“Is it him? Or is it you?”

“I have no—”

“You’re so much like Bric.”

“Fuck you,” I say, forgetting who I’m talking to for a moment.

“But you’re different in a lot of ways too. Bric just played for fun. You take this all very seriously, don’t you? It’s almost personal, isn’t it?”

I huff out a breath of air. “Goodbye, Chella. Thanks for your help.”

“No problem,” she sings back.

The call ends and I look at the screen as I stare out the window of my corner office in my father’s law practice.

I’m nothing like Elias Bricman.

Chapter Six - Evangeline

“Why can’t you at least come with me?” I’m whining. I realize this. And even though Lucinda is patient, my neediness is wearing her down. I can almost feel her close her eyes and ask the Lord for patience. And I’m pretty sure she’s an atheist, so… yeah.

“I told you,” she explains. “You must not associate this house with me. It must become your own.”

I huff out some air. “Well, that’s fuckin’ stupid.”

“Well, your phobia is fuckin’ stupid.”

We both sit on the phone. Silent moments tick off. I think we’re holding our collective breath. I think she just closed her eyes again. This time asking the Lord she doesn’t believe in to take that back.

“I’m sorry,” she finally says.

“Whatever,” I say. “It is stupid.”

“It’s not stupid,” she counters. “Your feelings are legitimate and I’m totally one hundred percent committed to your—”

“Forget it,” I say, sorta pissed, but… sorta not. “I’m mad that you’re making me go alone, but I’m certainly grown-up enough to not make you feel bad because the truth slipped out.”

“That’s mentally… mature of you, Evangeline.”

We both huff out small laughs. So I beg again, “Just walk me to the gate.”

“No,” she says. “I’m not going near that house. Ever. When you feel like it’s time to leave, you leave. And you call me. And we’ll meet. That’s how this has to go.”

I say nothing. She’s not gonna give in on this.

“You still there?”

“Yes,” I say. “I’m picturing everything, that’s all.”

“What are you picturing?”