Page 51 of Pretty Heartache

I already know where this is headed. I stop with only one sock over my foot and stare at my phone as my heart sinks into my stomach like an anchor cut from the rope. “I wanted to give you a heads up. I’m in a bit of a bind again, so I won’t be able to make it out to the states for a while. It’s safer if I keepmy distance. Especially for yours and Adeline’s sake. But don’t worry. I don’t expect you to intervene. I don’t want you to. I have this handled, and it shouldn’t be much longer before it’s all straightened out. I did want to thank you for keeping an eye on my sister for me, though. I know she’s safe and protected with you... so, thanks for that, man. All right, I’ll talk to you later and let you know when I’ll be able to come back out for a visit.”

The voicemail ends, and I jab my finger on the red button, not even bothering to delete the message. A tight knot forms in the center of my chest.

I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees. Rubbing my fingers against my forehead, I hold back a scream. I wish I could knock some fucking sense into Archer. For years, I’ve protected him, even taking the fall for his mistakes. And it’s nearly cost me everything.

The claws that have made a home in my mind have weakened over the past few months. I wish I could say it was because the root cause of them has been erased, but it hasn’t. The voicemail left by my best friend tells me they are alive and well, but Adeline’s presence in my life has dulled their sharpness. The pain isn’t as agonizing with her around.

Now, he’s not only put my life in jeopardy, though, but he’s put Adeline’s in jeopardy as well.

We’ve spent the past three days avoiding one another. The silence has been apparent, and so has her avoiding stare. She’s remained holed up in her room, even going as far as only going downstairs long enough to make herself dinner before shuffling back up to her room and shutting the door behind her.

Her silence has been loud and clear.

She’s accepted my decision in telling her that what happened in the rainstorm can’t happen again.

But fuck me if that wasn’t the best fucking kiss I’ve ever had. One kiss with her three days ago, and I still haven’t been able to wipe it from my memory.

Good, because I don’t want to forget.

Still, guilt ebbs its way into my anger and desires.

Guilt for crossing a boundary with my best friend’s little sister when he’s under the pretense of me protecting her. Which I am, but I want to offer more than protection to Adeline.

I wanther.

After slipping on my other sock, I step into my favorite pair of jeans and quickly slide on a gray T-shirt. I swipe my toolbelt from the top of my dresser and carry it out of my bedroom. I haven’t assessed the damage done to the vintage pieces of furniture from the shed yet, but I make it my mission this afternoon to see what can be salvaged. Anything to keep me busy and get my mind off Adeline.

After jogging down the stairs, I make a beeline for the kitchen and open the refrigerator to grab the bottle of water Adeline leaves in there for me every morning. My head is buried deep in the refrigerator when I hear Ember’s voice carrying down the stairs.

“It’s going to be a blast!” Ember sings. “They have dancers in cages and platforms throughout the entire place.”

I swipe the water bottle and grab a stick of string cheese before shutting the door. When I spin around, Ember is standing in the threshold between the kitchen and hallway.

“Oh, hey, Micah.” Ember grins. She saunters across the room before leaning over and sliding her arms across the kitchen island counter. She crosses them and picks at her bright pink nail polish, then she whips her pin-straightened hair over her shoulder, looking up at me with glittered shadowed eyes.

“Good to see you, Ember.” I nod my head as I rip open my string cheese. I toss the wrapper in the trash bin and bite the end.

“You as well,” Ember comments, still smiling. Her eyes dart to my toolbelt. “Working hard, I see.”

I wonder how much of what happened the other day Adeline has told her.

Adeline’s comment about how we all wear masks has landed right in the center of my chest and refused to budge. I’ve played our conversation in my mind repeatedly… but I know she spoke the truth. We all walk around wearing masks, only allowing others to see what we want them to see. Does Adeline wear a version of a mask around her best friend?

I’m guilty of this; taking the fall for those I care about at the expense of my own reputation and keeping the heart of the truth buried under a mountain of masks.

“A lot of work to do around here,” I say around a mouthful of cheese.

“Understandable.” Ember nods. “I’m glad you were able to get rid of all the fucking spiders and cobwebs around here.” Her eyes roam over the kitchen. “Doesn’t screamAddams FamilyorHaunting of Hill Houseso much anymore.”

I laugh. “Thanks, I guess.”

“Oh.” Ember waves me off. “That was totally a compliment.”

“Right.” I smile, fishing back into the refrigerator for a beer. If I’m going to make it through all this furniture without thinking about my moment of weakness with Adeline, I’m going to need to loosen up a bit.

I crack open the can and take a swig before setting it back down on the counter, which I lean against and finish off my early dinner snack consisting of one stick of string cheese.

I swallow the last bite when Adeline steps into the kitchen, and I nearly choke as the nugget of cheese slips down my throat.

---