Page 84 of Just Like This
Chapter Thirty-Four
Cami
“She hasn’t eaten in days.”
“Really?”
“And hasn’t slept either. The lights in here are always on.”
“Jesus.”
I was hiding in the bedroom, buried under the covers, clothed in a layer of flannel with Garrett’s shirt covering part of my body. But the walls were too thin, and this place was too small. “I can hear you,” I yelled out, annoyed.
“Good,” Valerie shouted back. “You need to eat something or else.”
I rolled my eyes and slid further under the darkness of my blankets and warmth of my bed.Ourbed. Mine and Garrett’s. I wanted to ask, “Or else what?” but that would invite her further into my business. And right now, I just wanted to be alone.
My father was gone. He would know what to do, know what to say, but most importantly, he would know what album to play. I tried hard to imagine the advice he would give, something just right to put me at ease, but there was only silence.
“Do you need anything?” Palmer’s voice was soft, and I peeked above the covers to see him standing in the doorway, his arms crossed and his face full of worry.
I pushed myself up and reached for the prescription bottle on the bedside table. “Just some water,” I replied quietly.
He nodded once before disappearing. A moment later, he returned with a bottle of water and sat down on the edge of the bed. He took the bottle from my hand and inspected it carefully. Slowly, he unscrewed the cap and shook out one tiny white pill. “You’ve been careful with these, right?” he asked quietly, letting the pill fall into my hand. I nodded and quickly slipped it into my mouth and reached for the water. He leaned forward and placed a kiss on my forehead. “Call me if you need anything,” Palmer reminded me before he left.
I fell back against the mattress and waited for the drug to start working. In a matter of minutes, my whole body felt heavy, and my eyes started to blink rapidly until I sank into a dreamless, restless sleep.
My eyes fluttered open, and Garrett was sitting on the edge of the bed. How was it possible? He was still missing. I blinked once, twice to make sure he was real, but he disappeared. Just a figment of my imagination. Disappointed, I rolled over just as Garrett walked out of the bathroom. I sighed. He didn’t really leave. I stretched out my hand, but just as our fingertips touched, he was gone. Was I hallucinating now?
Sitting up, I shoved the covers down around my waist. The room was dimly lit by the pre-dawn light. I kicked the blankets away and shifted my feet to the floor. My legs felt like lead as I made my way to the bathroom. I took a shower, a long hot one I hoped would burn away the fog, but it didn’t help. I dressed in long sleeves and black leggings and headed over to the main house. Valerie was just getting up. I could hear her shuffling around, getting ready for the day. I flipped on the coffeemaker and started brewing a fresh pot.
“What are you doing here?” Valerie’s surprise filled her voice as she stepped into the kitchen dressed and ready for work. I plated the omelet that I had prepared and set it down on the table.
“Making you breakfast,” I informed her.
“I can see that. Why?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Something to do?”
“Well, I won’t complain,” she said almost happily before she sat down and started eating. I placed a mug full of coffee in front of her along with the creamer and sugar.
“I’m going to clean out some of Dad’s stuff today.” Valerie stopped eating and looked up at me with wide eyes. “Just his clothes. Nothing important. I just want to get them together so we can donate them.”
“Are you sure that you want to do all of that alone?”
Honestly, I wasn’t. The emotional weight of going through my father’s belongings was heavy, but I needed to keep busy. I couldn’t just stay in the guest house forever.
“No, but I’ll be fine. And if I can’t, then I’ll stop and wait for you.”
Valerie smiled rigidly before getting up to put her plate in the sink. She hugged me tightly before leaving for the day. I was all alone in a house that was filled with my father. My hands gripped the edge of the seat as I breathed in deeply.
“Hey, baby.” I looked up, startled by the sound of Garrett’s voice. He stood there, leaning against the doorway wearing his olive green T-shirt and a pair of jeans. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m going to clean out my dad’s stuff today,” I told him.
“Stay strong, okay? You can do it.”
“I’m trying,” I told him, but he was already gone. Just another cruel trick of my memory. Frustrated, I pushed away from the counter and headed down the long hallway to my father’s bedroom. Bagging up his clothes so that they could be donated seemed like an easy task, but as soon as I stepped foot into his room, it seemed monumental. I sucked in a sharp breath and headed toward the closet.
