Page 45 of Sparrow

“Sick of you? Oh no, darlin’. I’m just getting started with you.”

***

“Was his friend hot?” Nora asks through the Bluetooth in my car as I drive back to Tybee.

“I was too embarrassed to notice. He saw me tweaking my nipples, Nor. What the fuck? I’ll never be able to face him ever again,” I groan.

She begins laughing at my expense.

“You’re a bitch sometimes.” I laugh with her.

“Amelia, you need to take a breath and step back. This is funny and you know it.”

“Yeah. Funny ha-ha. What would you have done in my situation?”

“Asked him to join in.”

“Why do I even ask you these questions?” I shake my head, even though she can’t see me.

“Sex is natural, Amelia. People do it and people do it often. So what if his friend saw you? Now, enough about this, tell me all about last night and don’t leave out a single detail.”

I fill her in, but leave out exact details that I want to keep private, for just Gray and I.

“You’re no fun. I asked for details,” she whines.

“You’re insane, but I love you. Hey, I’m pulling into my driveway. Let me head in and shower, then I need to get a few things done.” I shift into park and kill the engine.

“Okay. Find me later, you slut.”

“I will. Bye.”

I slip my phone into my purse and climb out of my car then up the front stairs to my porch.

There’s a small, brown delivery box on the ground right outside my door. Did I forget I ordered something? It’s all together possible.

I lift the box up and bring it into the house. It’s addressed to me, but there is no return address at all.

“Weird.”

I find my box cutter in the drawer and slice through the tape, pulling the flaps open to see inside.

My heart falls to my feet.

My wedding dress, folded neatly in the bottom with bright red lingerie on top of that, and my wedding ring tied around one of the strings of the lace corset. With trembling hands, I reach for the note that is nestled in the side, unfolding it to expose the scribbled threat.

Remember when you begged me to fuck you in this dress?

I’ll do it again. Very, very soon.

I want to vomit. I want to burn it. I want it out of my house.

How does he know where I am?

He found me.

I close the box and take it outside immediately, tossing it completely into the trash, shaking all the way.

I sprint back up the stairs and into my house, slamming the door, locking it, and then setting the alarm.

I take a breath. “Get a grip, Mills. You’re fine. It’s going to be fine.”

It has to be, right?

---