Page 43 of No Place Like Home

I grabbed the bouquet of dark flowers and made my way to Pete’s and Son’s. I had given Blake enough time that he should be done with visitors.

When I walked into Pete and Son’s, I headed straight for the back, ringing the bell on the counter so Jake would know someone was there. I didn’t need a front-row show to his and Juliet’s life—not anymore. Walking in on them making out at their house was more than enough.

“Who gave you flowers?” Blake asked as soon as he saw me walk in.

“Dude, what the fuck? Why am I here if you’re here?”

“I missed yousomuch.” He smirked at me.

I glared at him. “I’m tired. I have to go home.”

“Come on. I’ll go with you,” he said as he slung an arm over my shoulder.

“I hate him,” I told Jake, who hadn’t looked up from his phone since I got here.

“He’s like herpes once you have him. There’s no getting rid of him,” he replied with a shrug. “Clark tried to give him up for adoption. Packed his backpack and everything. The fire department called ma right away.”

I threw my head and laughed. I needed this laugh. I was wired so tight I was ready to snap.

Both Carson men stared at me like I was losing my mind. I kinda was. I didn’t want to see Quincy, but it was time I did.

* * *

Makingmy way up the hill where Q’s fancy house was located, I couldn’t help but marvel at the opulence on this side of town. Did people really need five bathrooms? Also, the utility bills were probably a bitch to pay. I’d keep my little cottage any day. Less time was spent cleaning, and that was a win. I didn’t need five bathrooms when I was single.

I rang the doorbell and waited for about five minutes. I doubted it was broken; this house was new. I knocked for good measure. The house was huge, so it probably took a bit for Quincy to get from points A and B quickly.

“Why do I always get the short end of the stick?” I asked no one in particular when it was clear no one was coming.

Now I had two options. I could leave and say I tried, but I just knew that Freya and Emma would find out that I didn’t try hard enough. My shoulders sagged, and I went with option number two. Turning the knob, I was surprised it opened.

Fuck.

Groaning, I walked in because there was no reason not to check the house out. As soon as I walked through the door, I got chills. The house was huge, but it was also cold. So very cold and dark. This was not good.

Mommy, please wake up.

I needed air.

I couldn’t breathe.

I heard my little sister's voice in my head, and I was taken back to another moment in time.

Shaking my head, I pushed through it. The house was semi-clean, but it had a musky smell in the air. The curtains were not drawn, and the windows had remained closed off.

“Q,” I said, and my voice echoed through the foyer.

There wasn’t an answer.

I hugged myself as I walked deeper into the mansion. It was some weird sense of déjà vu, and my heart rate spiked. I didn’t want to be here right now.

Some people lived out their dreams, others never got a taste of them, and some unlucky few got it all, only to crash and burn. Those people, the ones who had it all and got it ripped apart, were the ones you should fear. Because when they no longer had something to lose, they became dangerous.

Holy fuck.

The kitchen was a mess. Wrappers of food everywhere, fruits that were past ripe with flies surrounding them. This was not good at all. I took a step back and went to look for the stairs.

“Quincy.” I tried it again.

---