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I turned off my car’s headlights as I approached the dark home. As soon as Anderson had provided me with an address, I remembered Mom had said a college girl moved into the rental she and Dad owned. The blinds were closed, and the sage-green siding stood apart from the typical white of the neighbors’ houses.
I turned off the car, then quietly slipped out and jogged up the street until I reached the residence. I snuck around the back to the sliding glass door that led to the master bedroom. The previous tenants had left some light damage, and I’d helped Mom replace the blinds before Brie moved in. I wasn’t sure why Mom had insisted on the vertical ones that never fully closed, but now I was glad she had. Sucking in a breath, I flattened myself against the outer wall and cautiously peered through the window. I nearly barked out a laugh as the internet headline scrolled through my mind:Star Football Player Arrested for Stalking and Voyeurism.
My pulse pounded in my neck as I laid eyes onher—Brie Langston.
The soft light from the television cast an eerie glow over her face as she huddled beneath a peach comforter. My attention followed the curve of her perky nose, then travelled over her full lips and down her slender shoulders. Suddenly, she tossed the covers aside and climbed out of bed. She stretched, the hem of her pink tank top rising above the low waist of her matching pajama shorts. My world tilted, and I flattened my palm against the house, trying to hold on to reality. But reality had just become clear.
She tugged her shirt down, but not before I saw it. A tattoo, above her left hip bone, of an eye, but hers had roses around it.
My breath stuttered in my throat. This girl wasnotBrie Langston—the beautiful girl in front of me was Lyndsay Jennings. The love I’d once had for her solidified to stone before crumbling into dust. Seeing for myself that she was alive and happy … I fucking hated her with every fiber of my being. Channeling the fury uncurling inside me, I stayed focused. If it was the last thing I accomplished, she was going down for what she had done.
ChapterSeven
Brie
Isank onto the leather couch in my living room, then pulled my computer onto my lap. Over the last few days, Gabby and Everlee had helped me pick out some art for my home’s walls, along with bookends, a cute antique clock, and a new lamp. The purple, red, and gold splashes from the pictures brightened up the drab scenery outside. At least we still had sunny days. The girls had mentioned we only had a few weeks left before the rainy season settled in, and I wasn’t sure I was ready.
I opened my MacBook in time for the incoming video call.
A dark-haired woman in her late thirties with round, black-rimmed glasses flickered into view. Her warm smile helped me relax. “Hi, Brie. How’s your week going so far?” Alida, my psychiatrist, asked. Since Alida was originally from Oregon, then moved to Tennessee, she was licensed in two states which had worked in my favor.
I plastered a smile onto my face. “Good! My new friends helped me decorate, so the house has a warmer vibe to it.”
“Good. You have a lot of big adjustments happening all at once. It can be a lot to cope with, so it’s nice to hear you’re spending time with your new friends.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her warm hazel eyes seeking mine.
I pursed my lips. “Yeah. Some days are better than others. I’m not sure what I would do without the cheer squad. And I have a date this weekend, but I’m not sure I should go.”
“Oh? Do you want to talk about it?”
I fidgeted in my seat, my shorts riding up and my bare thighs sticking to the leather. “His name is Mason, and I met him at a party after the football game. He’s nice enough.” My voice trailed off. I reached for my ponytail and twirled my blonde hair around my fingers, a nervous habit I seemed unable to break.
“But?”
“I’m not into him.”
“Brie, you don’t have to be into a guy you just met. There’s nothing wrong with that. I know you talked yourself into dating Marc in Tennessee, and I would hate to see you do that again, but you’re allowed to take your time and decide later.”
“Yeah. I tried to like Marc, but I knew we would never end up married. He was decent in bed, at least.” I gave a half shrug, then giggled as I felt the flush creep up my neck and feather my cheeks. My forehead creased as my thoughts returned to the party. “Something odd happened, though.”
“With Mason?” Alida pushed her glasses up her nose.
I toyed with a loose string on the hem of my baggy navy T-shirt. “No. My friend’s boyfriend. It was really strange. It was like I felt an unusual attraction to him, but it wasn’t really. I know when I see a guy that I want to hook up with. It wasn’t that at all. It was like he was familiar, but at the same time, I haven’t ever met him.” I tossed my hands up in the air. “Plus, I do not go after a guy that’s in a relationship. That’s a hard no for me.”
“It sounds like you’re clear on your boundaries, which is fantastic. You’ve done a lot of work over the last few years. Can you tell me more about how it felt to see this guy?”
“His name is Jagger.” I drummed my fingertips on the arm of the couch. “I can’t tell why he seems familiar. I mean, haven’t you ever had a déjà vu feeling when you met someone?”
“I have, but only once.” Alida grew silent, allowing me to think, but I came up with a big nothing.
“It’s okay. If you see him, maybe try to put a name to the feeling if it happens again.”
“I’m sure I’ll see him a lot. As I said, he’s dating one of my friends. Jagger is also on the football team, so I’ll watch him play at every game.” Uncomfortable with my reaction to him, I was ready to change the subject. “I’m not sleeping, so that might be messing with me.”
Concern flashed in her expression. “How many hours are you getting a night, Brie?”
“Maybe two. I’ll doze off, then wake myself up.” I rubbed my wrist where the cuff had dug into my skin last night.
“If I prescribe you something to help you sleep, will you take it? You can’t keep up your grueling schedule of cheer, classes, and a social life if you’re running on fumes all the time.”
