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“All right, I’ll be good. When will you be back? I’ve grown accustomed to this guard dog persona.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow…Why don’t you go to my place? You already know the code. I can have the guest bedroom made up for you.”
Each word he utters carries a true lilt of concern.
“Have made up? You have a maid at your beck and call?” Judging by the size of his house, I shouldn’t be surprised. But what kind of serial killer has the maid going through their things? Yes, please clean the blood splatter from the cuffs of this shirt.
“No,” he says through a laugh. “I have an annoying brother, whom I like to lord over.”
Something about the fact that he’s sharing a part of his life with me strikes me to my core.
“Thank you. I’ll be fine here, I promise.” While I appreciate the offer, I’m still not exactly comfortable staying in someone else’s house. Besides, no one’s going to frighten me out of my own house. “I really do promise it’ll be fine.”
“Yeah…”
The accentuation of the word sounds like he’s questioning whether that will be the case. I don’t know why it rubs me the wrong way, but it does. I’ve been alone for the vast majority of my adult life. I’ll be fine now.
“Yeah. As a matter of fact, it will be.” I raise my voice, making sure he receives the message that the topic is closed for discussion.
“I didn’t mean it like that…I just…I don’t like it…I don’t know how to do this…”
“Do what?”
“This. You.”
His words hit me deeper than he realizes. My heart sinks at the fact that I’m already pushing him away. Like everyone else I’ve ever gotten close to. Friends. Lovers. I always find a way to keep them at a distance.
“I’m used to seeing the problem, fixing it, and being able to move on. With you, it seems that my emotions are strapped together like live wires cut at the ends. I don’t know what to do without making it all worse.”
It seems we share vulnerability when it comes to emotions.
“I’m not great at that either. I’ll try to be more patient. I’m sorry. You don’t have to continue trying to figure me out. Just help me find this asshole.” My eyes start to sting as I fight back the disappointment at yet another thing I’ve fucked up.
“What are you talking about?” he asks, genuinely confused. “Darling, I will never stop trying to figure you out. It’s one of the things I adore about us.”
“Us? There’s an us now?” A tear falls from the corner of my eye for a whole different reason.
“There was an us the moment you snared me with those brilliant green eyes of yours.”
A second tear falls, catching on my upper lip. I swipe it away on a laugh, unable to hold back the warmth spreading in my chest.
“They’re hazel.”
“Liar. They’re green. The color of ferns and life.” The sound of a car beeping fills the line. “I have to go, but please be careful. Please.”
“I will, I promise. Good night.”
I sink deep into the bubbles, aware that I’ve somehow managed to find myself at the mercy of a serial killer and I couldn’t be happier about it.
28
Pulling up to the house, I slip the car in park. Ethan’s name appears on the display screen for the sixth time. Opening my phone, I shoot off several texts to him, confirming I’m here, nothing is wrong, except his girlfriend’s house needs a better landscaper…or weed killer. Perhaps she had a landscaper, and the poor bastard is still lost in the wilderness, by which I mean her garden.
Movement from the second-story window catches my attention momentarily. A pretty brunette peers out from behind the blinds, illuminated by the light behind her. After a quick scan of the street, she steps back into the room. The lights turn off, leaving only the faint blue flashes of a television. Letting out a sigh, I adjust myself to get comfortable. This is going to be a long night.
I really shouldn’t complain, though I did try. I had my whole evening planned out to the hour. His texts earlier made it pretty clear that I had no choice in the matter anyway. I have to hand it to her. She has him wrapped around her little finger.
Bringing the Peachykeen energy drink to my lips, I take a long swig of the delicious nectar. I’ll need all the help I can get to make it through tonight. After a quick check around the street for any other signs of life—as per instructions—I sink deeper into the seat, satisfied I’m alone.
