Page 60 of Aftermath
The Coastal Killer, sure. Fine. I knew I needed his help with that. But my mother was a whole different issue, one I was well equipped to handle on my own.
“And your curls are falling flat,” she said, brushing a hand over my hair.
“I don’t have the same curls as you,” I reminded her.Hers were tighter, more coiled compared to my own.
“If you just used the right product-”
“Stone, this is my father,” I said, brushing past my mother and cutting her off. I sat Winston beside my father on Calvin’s short couch in his living room. Before my mother could fawn over me anymore, I found my way to the kitchen to check on Eloise and find beverages.
“Sorry we didn’t make it to visit yesterday,” Eloise said the moment she saw me. “I wasn’t feeling great after brunch.”
“That’s alright,” I answered, having already forgot my call with my mother.
“Here,” Calvin said as he handed me two beers.I caught the look on his face. Theyou need this more than uslook.
“Thanks,” I said and made my way back, afraid to leave Winston with my parents alone.
“Only five more minutes, I promise,” Eloise called frantically after me.
I found Winston and my dad laughing together while my mom watched patiently from an armchair. My father had Winston deep in stories of when he was in the military, ones I heard a million times growing up.
I held out the beer to Winston.
“I’m all set,” he said politely.
“Are you sure?” I asked, raising a brow.
“I actually don’t drink,” he said, his voice trailing off a bit.
“Oh,” I said. “I didn’t know.”
My face warmed, and I took a nervous step back.
“I’ll take it,” my father offered as he grabbed the bottle from me quickly.
I’d been living with him for days. How had I not realized?
There was a bottle of scotch sitting right on his counter, but now that I thought about it, the bottle had definitely never been opened. The amber liquid filled the bottle to the brim.
It was probably one of Nelson’s bottles, and I’d just assumed it belonged to Stone. I winced quietly, taking a seat in another armchair across from the couch.
“How did you two meet?” my mother asked, unable to contain her nosiness.
“Work,” I said shortly.I didn’t need to go down this path with them. If they knew what we were researching together, my mother would have a fit, and my father would take her side. It was the same as every argument I’d ever had with them.
“You work at the museum?” my mother pushed.
“No,” I answered before Stone could.I cast him a quick glare to let him know I had this handled. His eyes looked pleading back, like he couldn’t help himself from wanting to jump in, to protect me.
Seriously, Len, you’re imagining it.
The longer I stayed with him, the more I thought the little touches and comments were becoming personal. I kept telling myself it was in my head. I was there for my safety, that was it. I’d help him solve the cold case and move on. He had to return to Virginia when the case was finished. There was no chance he thought of me beyond just another resource.
“Stone is here for research,” I started. “I’m helping him.”
His head turned back to me at the sound of his name. He tilted it, and I could feel his gaze pouring into me.
Shit, I needed dinner to be right now.
