Page 157 of My Sweet Dollie, You Have to Love Me
“Chill, hon. I don’t carry diseases. I’m checked regularly.”
The look on his face sours a little more, that red smile becoming a sickening grimace over her innocent comments.
She holds her hands up in defense. “Do you wanna help? I think you’d be better on the ladder than your little sis.”
“No, it’s fine, Annabelle. We can manage.” Because I can’t have him too close. “We only have two ladders.” Both of which had been loaned by Nyx, who couldn’t help as he had a busy workday ahead.
Annabelle batting her eyelashes hadn’t worked this time.
“Yeah, two ladders, and you don’t like climbing them. And if you’re really going on that date, which I don’t think you should, you don’t want to smell like paint stripper. He’s probably seen enough strippers in your time apart.”
“Annabelle, really? You know I’m already nerv—” I stop myself.
But not soon enough.
Annabelle’s phone pings, and she pulls it from her pocket after setting one of the ladders in place. “You have my number?” Her eyes snap to Ambrose.
“Oh, a drop,” she announces when another notification pings.
Annabelle stares at Ambrose for a moment, probably testing his sanity, given the clown makeup. And yet she still tells him who the date is with.
“The date is with Shane.”
I can’t prevent my eyes from wandering to Ambrose and peeping up at him through my lashes. Crouched down to her level, the attention he gives Bubbles is heartwarming, but the sinister smile on his red lips is anything but supportive. It’s enough to snap my head away.
Another buzz on Annabelle’s phone rings in my ears. The quiet sound is too noticeable—too loud.
“Yeah, I agree.”
“With what?” I ask her, my tone snappy.
“Your brother thinks it’s a stupid fucking idea. His words.”
Annabelle’s attention shifts from me to Ambrose, with zero signs of fear in her demeanor as she stands with her hands on her hips. “You’re not afraid of heights, right?”
He shrugs, confirming he isn’t because he isn’t actually afraid of anything outside of bright lights. I’ve seen how he cringes each time he walks through the illuminated house.
“But I’m not helping so she can run back to that loser. So, if neither of you can get up the ladders, these words are staying on the wall.”
I stay in my spot, mouth hanging open in disbelief as Annabelle reads his latest message.
That cruel smile comes back again, and he steps inside with Bubbles following.
The words THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE stare back at me as I stare in the direction of the house. The red looks so much like blood. So much like the stains on the hallway carpet upstairs that Ambrose hasn’t pulled up.
“I can’t believe him.” Annabelle sighs. “I really thought he was gonna help.”
“No, he’d rather ridicule my love life. It’s not even his business.” I shake my head.
Beneath the baggy material of my hoodie, Annabelle’s shoulders slump. “Maybe he’s just looking out for you.”
Taking a moment and a deep breath, I look away from my best friend.
“You’re more deluded than I am,” I say, taking one sip of tea and a mouthful of bobas before placing down my cup and nervously setting up the other ladder.
Another buzz, this time, my phone.
“If that’s Unlucky again, tell him to shove off.”
