Page 56 of Tainted Love

I park in the driveway and step outside without answering her. Visions of the past dance in my mind, memories I have long forgotten about. Climbing trees in the backyard with Elijah. Running down the dock to cannonball into the lake. Fighting with Lilah over who gets the largest marshmallow for our s’mores.

Lucy throws the car door open and swings her legs out. She hisses as her right toes touch the graveled ground.

“Stop—” I tell her, quickly rounding the car.

“I got it.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Don’t touch me. I’m fine.”

I sigh and stand back as she puts all her weight on her left leg and pushes herself up. Her leg flexes hard but she easily rights herself with little trouble.

“You still have your balance,” I say. “That’s good.”

She says nothing and throws my jacket at me. Her bare foot bounces on the rocks and I notice her face contorting with each jerk of her knee.

“Lucy, come on—” I reach out and she slaps my hand away. “You’re only making it worse.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry…” she says with sarcasm dripping from her teeth. “That’s usually your job.”

I lunge forward and grab her waist, easily throwing her over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Ouch!” she shrieks. “Fucking hell—!”

“Calm down.”

I kick the car door closed and carry her with me toward the house. Her little fists slam against my back but it’s clearly just for show. Finally, I reach the door and she relaxes, blowing out a loud exhale to make her annoyance loud and clear. I twist the knob but it’s locked.

“Damn…”

“Why don’t you just knock?” she quips.

“Because no one lives here anymore.” I turn around, my eyes scanning the wraparound porch.

“Watch the leg!”

I shift to the left to avoid slamming her into the banister. “Sorry…” I take us around the corner until I see the hanging flowerpot at the far end of the porch.

“What are you doing?”

I spin around, easing her closer to it. “Reach into that pot. You’ll feel a small, wooden box.”

She sighs and raises her arm up to feel inside. “Okay…”

“It slides open. Should be a spare key in it.”

I walk back to the door while she does it.

“Got it.”

I open my palm to her. She drops it in my hand. “Thank you.”

“How did you know that was there?”

“Because, Lucy…” I slide the key in but the lock refuses to turn. A hard twist breaks the rust inside. “I used to live here.”

She snorts. “Really?”

---