Page 66 of The Wrong Drive-
And I should leave. I really should.
But somehow, I find myself walking around the house, climbing onto the back porch. I try that knob, and I shake it.
Locked.
I peer through the window, the curtains not entirely closed. There, in the corner of the living room, is a very much dead Christmas tree. My stomach twists into knots at the sight of it.
Maybe it wasn’t him there today. Maybe he left. Maybe he’s gone.
Like really gone.
I shut my eyes, stifling the sob that racks my body, as I lean against the rails for a moment.
It’s over. I have to let him go.
I take a deep breath and force myself to get up. I eye the barn as I make my way back toward the road. I know it’ll be locked, too. It’s got a brand-new steel door in place of the old one, and the fact that he can fix the door but forget about me, only makes it all worse.
Fuck Turner. Fuck him. This was such a waste of time.
My shoes crunch the rocks as I make it back to fence, and then climb it. I drop back over and then freeze.
Who the hell is that?
There’s a black one-ton truck parked just off to the side of mine. It’s not blocking me…but it’s there. My pulse jumps to my throat, and I rip my driver’s side door open. I climb in and lock it.
I peer up into the rearview, and then throw it in reverse. As I do, I’m able tojustcatch a glimpse through the dark window…
Of a black cowboy hat.
What the hell? Did that guy follow me? Is he a detective or something?
In a burst of fear, I stomp the gas and leave it all behind.
Including my fucking heart.
Chapter 26
Emersyn
“Isn’t this Christmas party amazing?”Catie’s heels click obnoxiously as she prances up to me, a glass of champagne in her hands. Her hair is tied up in a perfectly fashioned half updo, and her small frame shows no sign of how much wine she drinks on the usual. “It’s so much better to get drunk than it is to bake cookies and shit.”
I blink a couple of times, taking in my drunk best friend in her tight red dress, low cut to nearly her belly button. “I suppose so.” I turn my eyes back to the skyline of the city, and while it’s not impressive, it’s better than watching her.
“Can you believe they found all that data on Adam? I can’t believe he was hiring prostitutes. God knows what he got himself into. He probably gave you the wrong address on purpose.”
“Catie,” I say in a sharp tone, the truth still stinging a little. For a man who calledmea whore, he had been doing way more than I ever did. “I really don’t want to talk about him tonight.” My fingers brush across the wooden heart pendent resting against the black, long sleeve dress I’m wearing to this catastrophe of an elegant Christmas party.
A year. It’s been a freaking year.
“Well, I’m still trying to cope with the fact that Aaron is in prison for doing the same fucking thing, Em. It’s not like life is just a ball of fucking fun right now.” Her voice drops, her shoulders falling. “It’s amazing what someone going missing does to their secrets. They all come out—whether we want them to or not.”
I eye her, my faded paranoia tapping on my shoulder, but then nod. “I know. I’m sorry. You should get back to the party. Dustin, the guy you like from work, is here, you know. I saw him looking for you.”
“Oh?” Her brows shoot skyward. “I didn’t think he’d have the balls to come.”
I shoot her a smile. “Well, I guess you were wrong.”
“As per usual,” she giggles. She spins on her heels and clicks out of the sitting area, heading back where the bulk of the people are at around the bar. I continue to stand there, staring out into the night.
