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“Morning, buddy. That’s great. Why don’t you wait downstairs with everyone? I’ll be there soon.”
Everyone?
I want to die.
“Okay,” a young voice chirps. “See you in a minute.”
When I hear the door shut, I sit up, leave out the breath I don’t know I’m holding, and finally grab my clothes.
Jake holds up his hands before I have the chance to ask. “Sharon is his aunt.”
“Another one?” I whisper-yell.
“His mother’s best friend, but also her sister-in-law.” He shrugs. “Like you said, it’s a real family affair.”
“How did he not see me?”
He stuffs his arms in a shirt. “He’s like his father when he’s hungry. The only thing that kid can see right now is food.”
I’m panicking. The air is too thick.
“Do you not live alone with your son? How did they get in here?”
I swear, I think he’s going to laugh at me, and I won’t be the only one with a concussion if he does.
This isn’t funny.
“I do. They have a key. We’re a close family.”No shit. “Breakfast was planned.”
The more his words sink in, the more I think this concussion is an internal bleed. My head is throbbing, and sweat is crawling down my back.
One long stride and his hands are on my arms, steadying me.
“Claire, relax.” It comes out of his mouth in a growl.
“How? Your wife’s best friend is downstairs.”
“Her brother and sister too,” he adds. “But her parents are out of town.”
“You have got to be fucking with me right now.” I glance over at the window. “How far up are we because I can jump? If I fall on my ass, I’ll bounce.”
He laughs again, and I want to punch him. He didn’t laugh this much last night when Iwasfunny.
I feel like the worst person alive.
His wife may be dead, but she’s still his wife.
I know nothing happened between us, but it doesn’t look that way.
Not to everyone else.
Needing to cool off, I turn on my heels with my clothes draped over my arms.
“There’s a spare toothbrush in the cabinet,” he calls after me.
I grunt at him.
I wash my face, careful of the bandage hiding a large bump and purple bruising, brush my fingers through my knotted hair, and dress.
