Page 50 of Further To Fall

“I don’t know. There was no one there, but I heard sounds in the background.”

“Who do you think it could be?”

I glanced down at my phone’s screen. “Probably just a wrong number.” Something pricked at my memory, and I scowled.

“What?” Austin reached up and rubbed at the furrow that was now between my brows.

“I guess it could be Lexi, although I haven’t heard from her since I changed my number and email.”

Austin froze at the mention of the elephant between us. “I’m sorry she was such a bitch to you, and even sorrier that I gave her the ammunition to use.”

I swallowed down the lump in my throat that felt like it was made of razor blades. “It’s okay. Let’s not talk about her. She’s not worth it.” I glanced down at my phone to check the time. “I have to get going if I’m going to have time to shower before I make dinner for you and the boys.”

“Okay, I’m going to grab a quick shower here and then I’ll be right behind you. Do you need me to pick anything up on my way?”

“Liam’s bringing beer, so I think we’re good. I’ll text you if I think of anything.”

“Okay.” Austin leaned forward, grasping the back of my neck and bringing my forehead to his lips. At the contact, the energy between us flared to life again, all the previous tension forgotten in favor of a whole different kind of tension. He slowly pulled away, and I felt instantly colder. “Drive safe.”

“Yes, oh overprotective one.” He smacked me on the butt as I made my escape.

I spent the drive home daydreaming about all the ways Austin set my nerve endings on fire. When I pulled into the driveway, the gate closing behind me, I realized it was a miracle that I hadn’t gotten into an accident. I sent up a silent prayer that I wouldn’t be receiving any red-light traffic tickets in the mail.No more thinking about Austin while driving, I mentally scolded myself as I cut across the grass and unlocked the front door. Toeing off my sneakers by the door, I set my purse down on the bench at the end of my bed. Time for a cold shower to get my body under control.

I pulled my hair up into a top knot since I wouldn’t have time to wash and dry it before Austin got here. I stepped under the chilly spray and jumped, okay, maybe not quitethatcold. Reaching for my body wash to scrub away the grime of the day, I let the water cool my overheated skin. I sighed in relief when I shut off the tap, wrapping a warm, fluffy towel around my body. I patted my face dry and then reached for a cotton swab and my toner. My hand hit air. My toner wasn’t where I always kept it. Weird. I looked at my vanity. It was always set up in the same way, in the order in which I used the products, but everything was moved around. A chill skittered over my skin, and I pulled the towel tighter around myself.

I opened the bathroom door and walked into my bedroom. Nothing had seemed out of place when I came through earlier, but with closer inspection, I could see that picture frames had been moved, and when I opened my bedside table’s drawers, it looked like someone had rifled through them in a rush.

I had a type-A personality when it came to organization, everything in my life had an assigned place and went into that place. Austin used to make fun of me for it or try to secretly move something and see if I’d notice. I always noticed. But Austin hadn’t been in my room, and Taylor would never be this careless. Even if she came in to borrow clothes, she generally left me a note. I was starting to freak out. Crossing to my purse, I slipped my phone from the side pocket and dialed Austin.

He answered on the second ring. “Hey, babe, you think of something you needed me to pick up?”

I gripped the phone tighter. “Austin, I think someone was in my room.”

“What do you mean?” His words had a harsh bite to them.

“Stuff in my bathroom wasn’t where I always leave it, my picture frames were moved around, and it looks like someone went through the stuff in my nightstand.”

“But nothing’s missing? Are you sure it wasn’t just Taylor looking for something? Where is she?”

“Taylor left this afternoon to go see her mom for the weekend, and she wouldn’t have moved my picture frames.” Austin probably thought I was a looney tune, but I knew someone had been in here.

“I’m two minutes away, just hold tight, and I’ll check everything out.”

“Okay, see you in a minute.”

“In a minute.”

I sighed a breath of relief. Even though Austin might think I was overreacting, he was still going to check things out. I was grateful. I keyed in a text to Taylor.

Me:Sorry to bug you while you’re with your mom but were you in my room looking for something before you left?

Almost immediately, my phone buzzed with a response.

Taylor:No, why?

Me:Stuff just isn’t where I left it, but who knows, maybe I’m just losing my mind.

I didn’t think I was though.

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