Page 57 of Crash and Burn

“No. Check the call. I was talking to her.” He thumbed through my phone and shoved it in his pocket, then walked toward me and brought his arms around me in a weird bear hug, his hands were in my hair as he inhaled.

“Amy, I’ve missed you so much. You smell so good.”

“You smell drunk, Kevin. Why did you come here?”

“You didn’t have to leave. We could’ve worked through it. Everything was an accident. You shouldn’t have reached in the fire. That was so stupid. You were always doing stupid shit, not thinking.”

I tried to shove him away from me, but he gripped my face hard and pushed me against the wall. “Amelia! ...don’t spoil this. Why don’t you come make me some dinner like old times? Come on. I’ve missed your cooking. Show me around your place, although, I’ve already taken a self-guided tour.” He smiled a horrible, evil smile. “Nice place you got here. I don’t appreciate you having another man in here, though.”

“How do you…” He cut me off.

“Don’t play dumb, baby. It’s not a good look for you.”

I tensed up. This was the same shit he used to do when we were together. I felt like I slipped back in time to the year before and I couldn’t escape him. He grabbed my arm, “Let’s go, Amy. Now!”

God…please Sheila…please show up with the police.

Chapter 22

Hudson

Standing in my living room, I was still shocked at how Lex and the girls turned my place around. It didn’t even look like the same place. I guess it wasn’t. It was new. A new chapter.

The living room looked cozy, and Lex picked out this nice stand for the record player. She also printed a small photo of Amelia and me that we took at Thanksgiving. I loved it because I was trying not to laugh, and Amelia was looking at me, cracking up. I didn’t even remember taking it because we were having such a great time. I wondered what we were laughing about. My arm was around her and we were happy. I’m glad Lex picked that one. It was what I wanted Amelia to see when she came...ifshe came. Even though I was nervous, I couldn’t wait to see her.

Lex got me all new things for the bedroom, including a brand-new bed. Practically everything in the house was new. The crew was great because they treated it like an instant housewarming and wouldn’t let me pay for some of the stuff. They just kept calling it a gift. It made me laugh and choke up a bit inside when I thought about them showing up in a line and handing me stuff. Lex took Dev’s slippers. That was a fucking hard one.

When she took them, she said,“Hudson, this is major. I understand your attachment. But Dev wasn’t a pair of slippers or a pillowcase. She will always be in your heart just like she will always be in all of ours and always, always be a part of this group. No matter what.”

She hugged me for a long time after that and then she took the slippers. I didn’t know where she took them or what she did with them, and I didn’t want to know. But the whole thing felt like closure.

The out with the old and in with the new was difficult at first, but it got easier, as we went along. I had a few moments where I wanted to break down. Everyone just kept reminding me that I’m not pretending Dev didn’t exist. She did. She was everything to me for so long. I loved her with everything I had. I still do, but it’s different now. I needed to let her rest and remember her for all she brought to my life while she was alive.

I cared about Amelia a lot. A-fucking-lot. I just hoped I hadn’t completely blown it. I wasn’t sure if she had enough of me. I missed her and I wanted her.

I could hear my phone vibrating.Where is it? Ah, kitchen counter.I jogged over to the counter and saw the number for the diner on the caller ID. I picked up so fast, I almost dropped the phone.

“Amelia?”

“Hudson! It’s Sheila. I need you to go to Amelia’s.”

“Hold on. What do you mean? Why? You know I haven’t…”

“Hudson it doesn’t matter. I think she’s in trouble.”

The hair on the back my neck stood up and I could feel the adrenalin pumping. “Why do you think she’s in trouble?”

“She called me to say I shouldn’t come by for drinks because she was too tired.”

“Ok, what’s so bad about that.”

“Hudson, we didn’t have plans for drinks. Something is wrong and I need you to go to her right now.”

“Fuck! I’m on my way. Call the police, Sheila.”

I hung up the phone, grabbed my keys and ran to my car.Fuck! Please be ok, baby. I’m sorry I wasn’t there. Please be ok.

*

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