Page 52 of Somewhere Without You
A hole, the size of a softball,hadbeen smashed through one of the living room windows. Tiny glass shardswerescatteredacross the floor, the trail leading to alargerock sitting in the center of the room. From the porch, Winston let out alowgrowl.
“It’s okay boy,”I whispered, trying to calm both him and myself.“Everything’s fine.”
Butitwasn’tfine.
Islowlyapproached the rock, crouching down to pick it up.Butas I reached for it, a voice from behind made me jump out of my skin. I spun around, ready to hurl it at whoeverhadsnuckinto my house, whenIsawDanielle’swidegreen eyes, wild with shock.
“It’sjustme!”she shouted, hands raised in surrender.“I didn’t mean to scare you. The doorwasopen, and IsawWinston outside—” Her gaze shifted to the rock in my hands,thento the shattered window. “Whoa, what happened?”
I set the rock down and leaned against the wall.“Some asshole threw a rock through my window,”I said, still trying to process it.
Dani’s eyebrows shot up.“Oh, fuck.” She stepped closer, glancing at the broken glass. “Did you call the cops?”
I hesitated. “No. Not yet.”
“Why the hell not?”
I shook my head. “Because I don’t know what I’d even tell them. I didn’t see anyone. Winston and I just got home and this is what we walked into.”
Dani frowned, her voice lower now. “You think it was just some kids pulling a dumb prank or something?”
“I don’t know,”I shrugged.ButI did know. I swallowed hard, trying to shake Jackson’s name from my thoughts.
With Dani here, Winstonfinallydecided itwassafe enough to come inside. He crept incautiously, sniffing every corner before curling up on the couch.Eventhen, his ears stayed alert, tail rigid.
“Got any duct tape?”She asked, inviting herself the rest of the way inside.“Andmaybea broom?”
“You don’t have to dothat,”I said, already opening the closet door.“What are you doing hereanyway?”
She took the broom from me as I dug through the junk drawer in search of tape.“Well. . . I told myself Winston might want his kennel blanket. Youknow, something familiar to help him settle in.Buthonestly?Thatwasjustan excuse. Ireallyjustwanted toseeyour place.”
“Not much to see,” I said, glancing over my shoulder. “Unless you’re into peeling paint and creaky floorboards.”
Dani gave me a sheepish grin.“Isawyou pull in and didn’t want toseemlike some creepy stalker, so I waited until you got out of the car.” She bent down, sweeping the broken glass into a neat little pile. “I’m sorry, I should have called first.”
I tore off a strip of duct tape with my teeth and pressed it over the broken window.“No, it’s fine,really. It’sjustbeen a long day.”
“Well, how do youfeelabout unwinding a bit tonight?”Dani emptied the dustpan into the trash and propped the broom against the counter.“There’s agreatband playing down at the Tavern. Thoughtmaybeyou’dwant to come with?”
The Old Mill Tavernwasa dive bar tucked in the center of Windhaven. It used to be the town’s original train station back when itwasfirst founded. Over the years, ithadmorphedinto all kinds of things—a bookstore, an ice cream shop,evena tattoo parlor—althoughthatone didn’t last long.
I bit my lip, glancing between Winston and the now duct-taped window.“I don’tknow. . .” I said,hesitant. “I’m not sure how Ifeelabout leaving him alone,especiallyafter this.”
“Igetit,”Dani nodded.“IjustfiguredI’dask. Youseemlike a cool person, and, well. . . I don’t have many friends around here.Justthe dogs and Henry, and I’m pretty sure the bar won’t let them in.”
A sense of familiar longing twisted in my chest. Herewasthis girl,practicallya stranger, reaching out for friendship. Ithadbeen so long since anyonehaddonethat, and my first instinctwasto say no. But moving back herewassupposedto be a new start.Thatmeant stepping outside my comfort zone.Andtruthfully, if Jacksonhadbeen the one behindthatrock, I didn’t want to be alone in case he decided to come back.
“Youknowwhat?”I said, reaching for my purse.“I’dlove to come.”
Dani’s face lit up. “Really?”
I nodded, offering a small smile as I slung my purse over my shoulder. “Yeah. Why not?”
She waited by the door as I gave the living room one last glance. Winston was curled up on the couch, head resting on his paws.
When I turned back, Dani held the door open like it wasn’t a big deal—like this wasn’t the first time in a long time someone had asked me to come along just because they wanted me to.
The night air brushed against my skin as we stepped out onto the porch. I paused, just long enough to swallow the unease rising in my throat. Leaving Winston alone after what had just happened didn’t feel right—but I turned the key anyway, the lock clicking into place behind me.
