Page 10 of Look My Way
Who was that guy?
Will he be there when I drive by right now? Only one way to find out. My foot is heavy on the gas as I go over the speed limit with my mind racing. When I asked earlier if Lex was his boyfriend, his eyes had twitched. I was really hoping I was seeing things. Whoever this man is, he could get in my way, and I was never a fan of that. Not when I was running behind because some Karen was arguing with the manager of a coffee shop and preventing me from getting my favorite pick-me-up before a job. Not when some jerk-off stole the parking space I pay for at my apartment, and not this guy either.
His car is exactly where it was earlier when I drive slowly through the quiet neighborhood. Circling around, my nails dig into my steering wheel’s cool leather, and I park on the side of the street, trying hard to see through the blinds again. No such luck. The lights are off too. Darkness folds over the house like a thick cloak, but it doesn’t stop the light pink shutters from standing out. The bright door matches, along with the outer trim.
This is without a doubt his house. No one looks at other people’s plants with the amount of concern he did. He really cared about this house too. Does anyone care for him?
I’m about to drive away when one of the windows lights up, capturing my interest. The blinds are halfway up, and the curtains move. The room is a kitchen and someone is washing dishes. Not my carino, but his guest . . . Or does he live here too?
Sighing, I pick up my phone, and then my eyes go back to the man. I’m about to text him, but a strong feeling comes over me, along with a flashback from when I was younger and a co-worker called my mom at the wrong time. Not that this man is anything like my father, but everyone has the potential to be, and I can’t get over that recognizable fear vibrating off Liam at the diner.
As I’m putting down my phone, it vibrates and there’s a message awaiting me
Felice:I may have a new client for you!
Me:Who this time? Hopefully not another lonely cougar trying to invite me in for more than lemonade.
I don’t have to be in the same room to hear her laughter in my head.
Felice: No. It’s a guy, but that’s not to say he won’t have lemonade to offer either.
I chuckle.
Me:Who is it and what do they need?
Felice:A neighbor of mine who’s looking to have some wooden planter boxes built in his boyfriend's backyard.
Me:Well, tell them to contact me and I’ll see what I can do.
Felice:Already on it. Expect a call sometime within the next few days.
Me:Thanks. I knew I kept you around for a reason.
Felice:Oh, come on. We both know it’s more for my bomb ass personality.
Me:Sure. We can pretend that’s why.
Felice sends a few laughing emojis, and when Liam’s porch light turns on, my eyes are back on the house. No one steps outside and no curtains move. Could be set on some automatic timer. Either way, it’s my cue to head home. I’d prefer to return when the mysterious guest is gone anyway, and if he ends up living here too, then I’ll just have to find reasons for him to be away from home more.
I smile when it becomes clear the other car in the driveway is one belonging to a cop. Oh yeah, I’ll sure think of something. Cops are typically pretty busy in bigger cities, and this one is about to really have his work cut out for him in the next couple of weeks.
Six
Liam
Most of my days have been spent in bed and with multiple check-ins from Daniel. His partner came by once too when he couldn’t. He said he was occupied during a house call, but why would he do it alone?
Things were really starting not to add up with that man lately. When he thought I was asleep, I saw him sneak off to my office, and he didn’t return to bed for hours. He also keeps getting secret phone calls around midnight. Are they from Jared? It’s not like I can look even if I want to. Daniel always keeps his phone on him, and when he leaves it on the charger during his morning solo showers, it’s locked tight with a password he’d never give me.
Luckily Daniel’s nearly round-the-clock treatment of helping me feel better only lasted three days. He’s back at work at regular hours today, and I might be able to leave the house so I canbreathe again. My home was once my favorite place to be. My little safe haven with all my books, painted rocks, garden, and other items that made me smile whenever I came across them. But then Daniel started coming over more and spending the night. He’d be here on his days off too, all day long, hovering over me. When he came around for lunch an hour ago, he smelled like a different cologne. It was more flowery and sweet.
I almost asked about it but there was no point. He’d only lie or make me out to be crazy, saying my medicines were affecting my sense of smell. Is he screwing around with more than just Jared? Maybe something else is going on entirely. Maybe I’m crazy. There’s been zero proof of him cheating, only assumptions and gut feelings.
If I found hard evidence, would I leave him then? Who knows. Anyone else would say to leave now, but they wouldn’t understand. Daniel is different. His love is different. It could be worse. He jumps for me when there’s something I really want, comes home when he says he will, never sneaks out in the night, and is always in my bed or asking me over to his. Except we haven’t been to his apartment in a while. Has he been swinging by before coming home or before going to work? All his uniforms, shoes, and everything he needs are here.
Shaking my head, I walk to my office and sit in my chair. I pull up the window shades to let the sunlight in before opening my computer. Trying to keep my eyes on the screen is hard. I want to check my phone again. There have been no new messages from Zavier, which has me both disappointed and relieved. His messages helped me disappear to a less burdened state of mind, the same way my books do, but they were also dangerous.
If Daniel saw them, these last three days of me being too sick to even tend to my garden or paint would have been more like ten. Maybe longer. I could say I was fine over and over, but Daniel would mention that the way I was walking was off, or thatI’d accidentally put the iron in the fridge again. I’d say I didn’t remember doing it, and he’d use that against me too.
