AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She was charged, right?”
“No, it never made it to court. She killed herself in jail.”
I want to puke.
“Long story short, that’s when I developed a deep obsession with true crime shows and how to read a person’s body language and facial expressions to figure out if they’re guilty or innocent. For the record, Mom was one hundred percent innocent.”
“And your deadbeat dad is still out there living the high life,” I add, as if it needs to be stated.
“Maybe. Maybe his girlfriend killed him and took the money. Who knows? And at this point, I honestly don’t care if he’s dead or alive. As soon as Georgia turned nineteen, she legally adopted me and changed our last name to Beach. She thought it was funny. And after what we’d been through, Georgia wanted our names to make us feel good, not have people look at us the way you’re looking at me right now.
I squeeze my eyes shut and grimace. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s normal. And you’re reacting to hearing the story. Imagine though, if every time you said your name, people would look at you like that.” Virginia sighs. “It also has the benefit of making it harder for Dad to find us if he decides he wants to. Neither of us wants to ever see him again.”
I don’t have words. I stand and take Virginia’s hand, pulling her up and into a long, tight hug. Before I release her, I’m not sure if the hug is for her or myself.
“Spend the night,” I say. It’s a selfish demand.
“I shouldn’t.”
We lock eyes for several seconds. I feel like she can see right through me. She’s right, of course. If she thinks she might get attached, she should run in the other direction because her story will end just like her mother’s. Well, not with jail and suicide, but with me dropping out of the picture without warning, just like her dad did. Or more accurately, just like my dad did.
“You’re probably right.”
I follow her to the hall and the elevator door.
16. Virginia
SCARIER THAN THE SHINING
I’m a mess and my emotions are ping-ponging because, as I’m putting my sandals on, I’m disappointed that Will didn’t argue for me to stay.
“You do realize that a man who tells me I’m right makes himself even more attractive? So you agreeing that I should leave makes me inclined to change my mind and stay … I’m on to your Jedi mind tricks, Will. Or should I call you Luke?”
I’m trying to keep it light since the heaviness in my heart is a clear warning to step away from the man with the million-dollar smile and the heart of gold under those fine, tailored layers.
Will chuckles but says, “No trick. I promise that once I tell you my family secret, you’ll be punching the elevator call button faster than Shelley Duvall trying to get out of that hotel inThe Shining.” He rapidly taps the spot beside the door several times and makes a terrified face.
I shudder and step away from the elevator. “All that blood.”
“You don’t really want to get in there, do you?”
“You’re right. I don’t,” I admit.
“Stay? Just for an hour longer. You showed me yours … it’s only fair that I show you mine,” Will says. The longing in his eyes betrays the truth behind the joke. “Fresh cup of tea? How about a spicy red dragon chai?”
“If I’m going to go through all the effort to take these sandals off, I think I’ll need something a little stronger.”
Will’s eyebrows rise.
“Even though you think I’m a weird hippie, I’m not a teetotaler, you know.”
“Oh, I know.”
“Really?”
“I’m observant, too. I can tell by the way you swished that alcohol from the security detail’s flask. It was obvious that you really wanted to swallow it.”
