Page 182 of By His Play

“Thursday,” I agree before he takes off across the parking lot toward his car.

I’m still smiling and swaying my hips as I walk toward my front door.

Dancing really is good for the soul.

I’m not convinced the advertisement for that dance class wasn’t a sign from above.

Thanks, Grams.

I unlock my door, intending to order takeout and then have a quick shower.

My apartment is dark as I step inside, and I don’t bother turning the hallway light on. It’s not until I get to the living room that I flip a switch, and the second I do, a scream rips from my throat.

44

KIERAN

It was still light when I let myself into Effie’s apartment.My heart was racing and my hands were trembling.

Trying to contain the anger and frustration that was threatening to explode was almost too much.

I didn’t want to believe the message I received. But he had no reason to lie to me.

The instant I walked in here, I knew.

I could sense her presence. And then, just to confirm it, I walked into her bedroom.

It was tidy, her bed was made, but it was obvious that she’d been living here.

She’s had a housekeeper looking after the place. All the other times I’ve been here when she was in St. Louis, everything was perfect. Almost like walking into a show home.

After confirming what I already knew, I lowered my ass to the armchair that faces the front door and waited.

I figured that if she was at work, she wouldn’t be too late.

Effie is a creature of habit. In the past, unless she was on a tight deadline, she would always leave at the same time and take the same route home.

She’s not a partier or even one to go for drinks after work, so I doubted she’d be doing that on her first day back.

So, when she didn’t return around the time I expected, I started to get suspicious.

She’s here. I know she is.

But where?

The sun sets behind me as I remain in the chair, waiting.

I’m not leaving until I’ve seen her. Until I’ve looked her in the eyes.

But as the hours pass, my need to pull her into my arms and tell her that I’m sorry for everything that’s happened gets engulfed by rage.

I want to know why she’s been lying to me.

I need to know why she hasn’t told me she’s back.

But more than anything, I need my best friend back.

These few weeks have been awful. With the pain of losing Grams, and then Effie too…

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