Page 3 of Hemmed

“I agree with Ghost,” said Ian. “The other day, after all that rain, the frogs were out in full force. It was like a fucking frog invasion. I thought I was drunk for a minute, but sure enough, Alvin started walking around, and before I knew it, there were dozens of frogs on his back. I don’t know where he took them, but they were gone, and my beautiful wife wasn’t afraid to leave the house.”

“Don’t you think it’s strange that your wife was afraid of frogs and not alligators?” grimaced Gaspar. Ian shrugged, laughing at his friend.

“As long as she’s not afraid of me, I’m good with it.”

Gaspar just shook his head, everyone laughing at his plight. One day, he would understand that he had zero control over anything that happened.

“Alright, let’s get to business.”

CHAPTER TWO

Nelly puttered around the house, straightening things up. She’d already cleaned out closets the day before, scrubbed the bathrooms, cleaned the kitchen, and now, she was wiping down counters and just making the house presentable with flowers.

Her husband, Craig, was a real estate agent for million-dollar properties in the area. They were hosting a huge party later in the afternoon for all of his top clients and business associates. It seemed very last minute to her, but then again, Craig wasn’t a planner. She was the one that paid attention to deadlines and details.

She’d bought the perfect outfit. A cute, short summer dress that showed off her toned legs. She worked hard for those legs, running five to six miles a day and taking kickboxing classes. At five-feet-ten, she appeared to be all legs. On the dance and volleyball teams in high school, she stopped all that when she went to college. Now, she just ran and took the occasional kickboxing class.

They’d both agreed to hold off on having children, focusing on his career in real estate and hers as a graphic artist. She knew that he wasn’t ready, and she wasn’t sure what was making her hold back. Actually, she knew. She just didn’t want to admit it.

She loved her work and was grateful to have a job that allowed her to work from home. An office wasn’t a place she would enjoy. Too many people. Too much drama. She needed quiet spaces.

By six, she’d changed, fixed her long auburn hair, tying it up in a high ponytail with gentle waves cascading down her back. Her big hazel eyes had just a touch of pale pink shadow. The thick black lashes blinked back at her. Turning in front of the mirror, she was proud of herself. She looked good for thirty-four, and she’d put in the effort to look this good.

Always late, Craig bounded up the stairs and raced to change his clothes.

“Sorry, babe! I had a late showing, and then traffic was a bitch.”

She nodded at him, trying to give a genuine smile, but she knew he was lying. He was wearing his golf clothes, not clothes that he would show a house in. She also knew that he probably hadn’t played golf. He wasn’t sweaty or sunburned and his clubs were still standing in the closet where he’d last left them.

“It’s fine. I hope you had a good game.”

He turned back toward her as he entered the shower and gave her a glare. One of the other things they’d agreed on was that she wouldn’t ask about his life away from the house. If he wanted to golf, he golfed. If he wanted a weekend away with the boys, he got a weekend away with the boys.

“I have everything done. The caterer is downstairs putting everything out, the house is spotless, and the flowers are placed where you wanted them,” she said, smiling at him. He looked up and grinned.

“You look fucking amazing,” he laughed. “Great dress.” He kissed her, letting his hand slide up her inner thigh. Nelly laughed, gripping his wrist when she noticed the purple marks on his neck. An unexplained wave of nausea suddenly hit her and all she wanted to do was leave. She wanted to question him but knew that now was not the time.

“You start that, and we’ll be in bed when the guests arrive.”

“Fine,” he growled, “but I’m headed up those legs when this is done.” He might be. He might not be, thought Nelly. Chances were in her favor that he’d be drunk and head straight to bed.

A hundred people crammed into their Garden District mansion was almost more than Nelly could stand. She liked most of the people in attendance, but there were a few couples that just gave her a strange vibe. They’d never liked her, never allowed her into the clique. She always felt like an outsider.

Spotting two of Craig’s closest friends across the lawn, she noticed them with their phones open, laughing and pointing. One of them looked up at her, staring up and down, and she frowned at him.

“What’s wrong, babe?”

“I don’t know. Why are Tommy and Rich staring at me like that?” He looked toward the two other agents and frowned.

“I don’t know. Let me go see.”

He walked toward them, and they immediately put their phones in their pockets. She could tell that her husband wasn’t amused by their behavior, or at least she thought that’s what she was seeing. Then she watched as one of them brought out his phone again. A few moments later, her husband looked up at her, slowly walking toward her.

“What are they doing?” she asked.

“Looking at you.”

“Yes, I know. Why?” she asked.

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