AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She pulled back, tears in her eyes. “I’m scared for you, Ellie.”
“I know.”
“Promise me that you’ll go see Collin tonight.”
I pressed my lips together in resignation. “I told you I will. I’m just trying to psyche myself up for it.”
“Be firm. Be strong. Don’t let him fuck you.”
“Claire!”
“You have a weakness for that man, and you know it.”
“I hate him. I loathe him. I never want to see the shithead again. You’re the one who’s making me go.”
Her eyebrows rose as she studied my face. “They say love and hate ride a fine line. Now don’t you go riding that fine line with him.”
Ignoring her, I started back down the stairs to get the linens. “I want chocolate cake,” I yelled back over my shoulder.
“Hey! Whose wedding is this?”
“You’re making me go see Collin Fucking Dailey. You owe me.”
I could hear Claire grumbling to herself behind me as I headed into the laundry room. After I finished getting the beds made, I straightened the vases of flowers. I was stalling and I knew it. My one bright spot was that I might not even see him. This might be one of those times he disappeared for days.
I hopped in Myra’s car and hesitated before turning over the ignition. I knew I had to do this. My life depended on it.
Chapter6
Wanchese was quiet when I drove through town. While Manteo was the flashy touristy end of the island, Wanchese was the practical, no-nonsense side. Many of the houses here were older and run-down. Federal regulations had hit commercial fishermen hard over the last decade, and plenty of them had lost everything thanks to overexuberant fines. Many had given up, deciding the hassle wasn’t worth it. As a result, the town had suffered.
My heart raced as I reached the docks. I had no idea what Collin’s boat looked like, but I remembered it was named theLucky Star, and I was well acquainted with his truck. A few memories in particular made me flush.
Claire was right. I couldn’t let him touch me…not even a handshake.
I found his old red pickup parked in a gravel parking lot across the street from several docked boats, and I felt like I was going to throw up from nerves. What would he say when he saw me? I definitely had the upper hand. The last time we saw each other, he’d begged for my understanding. I’d told him to go to hell.
They were wasted words. He was going there anyway.
I made myself take a deep breath and count to three. I could do this. I could be strong.
The area around the docks was deserted, without another person in sight. I parked Myra’s car several spots away from his truck and gathered my courage to check out the boats at the dock. If his truck was there, he was probably out on his boat. But when I scanned the names of the boats, I couldn’t make out if any were theLucky Star. I wasn’t sure whether to be upset or relieved.
The windows of his truck were wide open, not that I was surprised. He’d told me that he wasn’t worried about anyone stealing it or anything inside of it. His theory was that the truck was so old and run-down, no one would think it was worth their while.
His smug assurance made me feel a bit self-righteous when I opened the driver’s door and slid into the seat. I might as well snoop while I was here. I pulled down the visor and a bunch of receipts fell onto my lap. I thumbed through them—gas, food, a CVS pharmacy receipt for sunscreen. Part of me was relieved he hadn’t bought condoms. At least he wasn’t screwing anyone else. Unless he hadn’t run out of his current stash.
I made myself examine my reaction. “Elinor Dare Lancaster, you do not care who Collin Dailey screws.” But a strangling pain wrapped around my heart at the thought of him with anyone else.
I tucked the receipts back where I’d found them and tried to open the glove compartment, which—to my surprise—was locked. “So you’re not worried about someone stealing anything out of your truck, huh?” I jerked on the latch again. “You’re a big fat fucking liar!” I smacked my left palm onto the dashboard. “Fucking. Liar!” I shouted again, hitting the dash with each word, amazed at how empowering it felt.
Grabbing the steering wheel, I shook it as hard as I could. “I hate you, you asshole! You ruined everything! You ruined my life!”
I beat the car until my hand ached and shouted until my voice was hoarse, thankful no one was around to witness my meltdown. I laid my head back against the seat, surprised at how worn out I suddenly felt.
The trunk pointed west and the sun was dipping low in the horizon. Another hour and it would be dark. Another hour before the creatures began crawling from their holes.
I sat up.
