Page 39 of Pretty Heartache

I need to get out of here before I do something I might regret.

“Are you going to stop?” she asks, her eyes searching mine.

I’m not sure if she means stop treating her like a child or stop what I’m doing right now. Something tells me it’s the latter.

Dammit.

I inhale a deep breath, expanding my lungs with as much oxygen as possible.

But a loud crash snaps us out of the trance we’re in. My hand falls away from the ladder, and I snap my head toward the front of the shed. The crew is carrying out one of the large dressers, with one of the guys kicking the door open with his foot. The fragile wooden door claps against the wall. I didn’t even realize they’d come back into the shed. The man who was starting to beat himself off to Adeline is nowhere in sight. The rest of the men carry the dresser out, leaving the two of us alone again.

When I turn back to Adeline, she’s already moved around me and away from the ladder. Her back is the last thing I see before she disappears out of the shed, returning to the house.

While I’m left with my chest split wide open, and the truth staring me directly in the face.

TWELVE

I must be losing it.

It’s been two months since I’ve moved into Micah’s house, and I haven’t stopped thinking about him. Things have changed between us.

Ever since the night Archer ditched me, Micah has stayed in the house. He won’t speak much during the day, keeping busy with the parts of the house I had yet to touch, such as the more physical jobs I had absolutely no skill set in even trying to attempt.

We’ve grown a little closer, though, despite our distance. Most nights, I cook dinner for him after he finishes with his work. We sit together in the living room, kicking off a marathon of watching a bunch of old movies from the eighties. We sit on opposite sides of the sofa. It’s funny seeing him out of his element.

Some nights, I fall asleep during the movie, then wake up in my own bed. Only because the couch has become Micah’s bed.

Until he moves into the bedroom next to mine.

I lay in my bed with my eyes closed for as long as I can. The sun refuses to let up, but I’m thankful it’s here. It’s been sunnyall week, a clear indication the cold, blustery days of winter are behind us for the next four months.

I stretch my arms above my head, sore from yesterday’s work. My phone rings from my nightstand, forcing me to roll over and open my eyes and see Ruby’s name lighting up the screen.

“Hey, Ruby.”

“Oh, Adeline.” She sighs, relieved. “I’ve been so worried about you. I haven’t heard much from you since you left.”

“I’m sorry.” My heart warms knowing she’s been thinking of me. I do feel guilty for not messaging her as much as I should have after leaving Los Angeles, but the past is easier to let go when you’re able to shut the door on it completely. I learned my lesson when I left Boston three years ago. Unfortunately, me closing the door on the past has included those I loved. First, my mom. Now, Ruby.

I’m working on finding the strength to not take my rough past out on those I love.

“I didn’t mean to make you worried.”

“Oh, honey.” Her voice wobbles. “I’m just glad to hear you’re okay. Are you safe?”

“I am.” I nod, wondering how much information I should divulge to Ruby. Other than Ember, I don’t have many friends I can confide in. Although Ruby is more like a mother to me, loving me in ways my own mother never could. “I’m staying with a family friend. Well, he’s actually Archer’s best friend.”

I bite my lip. My anger with Archer is still strong, festering into a tightly woven knot in the center of my chest. I haven’t been able to bring myself to talk to him since the night he ditched me, but he also hasn’t tried to contact me, either. I guess we’re both at a stalemate.

“You mean the one who went to prison years ago?”

Shit. I forgot Ruby heard about Micah’s past with drugs.

“Yes,” I wince, rolling onto my back. I lift my arm over my head, resting it on my pillow as I stare at the ceiling. “But he’s clean now, and he’s changed.” I glide my finger over my lips, thinking back to yesterday when he pinned me against the ladder. “It’s been great living with him, actually.”

“Just be careful, Adeline,” she warns, her tone cooling.

“I am being careful.”

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