Page 73 of The Auction
“Same old. Watching the crop like hawks.”
“So, married life,” he said, like he was announcing something that was trending.
“Yeah, it’s not all that sometimes,” I said, but I hated that it felt like a lie.
“Sure, sure,” he encouraged me. “You guys like barely knew each other. So you’re probably finding out all kinds of shit about each other now.”
I nodded.
“Heard you and April broke up,” I said.
He shrugged and leaned forward, reaching his hand toward the shelf above my head. Glancing around, we bothconfirmed there was no one else in the aisle. Heck, by the sound of it, I didn’t think there was anyone else in the store.
My heart started beating in my chest.
“She just wasn’t you, Juliette,” he said, quietly.
Which was a complete load of horseshit.
April was three times nicer, three times hotter, came from the coolest family in the county, and wasn’t letting herself get pushed up against a row of shelves with chicken coop wiring at my back.
This was wrong. My body felt that, but my brain told me to block it out. This was just an experiment. This was science. There was no room for guilt here.
Kevin was giving me these sad eyes and leaning his head down. I wanted to see what kissing someone else felt like.
But when his lips touched mine, I jolted at his touch.
I forced myself to stay still, though. Forced myself to take it in.
There was no tingle in my lower belly. My heart was still thudding against my chest, but not in a good way. Not in the fun way. His lips were too thin, his breath smelled like gum.
None of this felt like it felt with Creed.
“Son, you’re going to back away real slow from my wife.”
The words penetrated my brain before their meaning registered. It was like I understood the vibrations of them first. Just like when Creed had been having that nightmare months ago.
They come for what’s mine and I’ll kill all of them.
Kevin immediately stumbled backwards, his hands held high like he was being arrested.
“She came on to me,” Kevin blurted out, his eyes getting wide.
I looked back at Creed. And this man wasn’t someone I’d met before. Of all the facets of him that I knew, this Creed was different.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered.
“Ran out of chicken coop wire,” he said, bloodlessly. “What are you doing here?”
I shook my head tightly. “Don’t hurt him. It’s my fault.”
“See?!” Kevin cried.
I shot Kevin daggers with my eyes. “Shut the fuck up before he…”
He couldn’t hurt Kevin. It hadn’t been his fault. It wasn’t exactly true that I came on to him, that seemed like a reach, but I hadn’t stopped him and that’s what Creed was asking me. Whether I’d been taken advantage of. Pressured in any way.
My body shaking, I turned around and grabbed three rolls of wire and walked it over to Creed.
