Page 11 of Screwed

If the robber knew anything about antiques, they would have taken the jewelry or the paperwork from the 1700s in the far case.

“Come on, Iris. Let’s go home,” Arlo says as he helps me to my feet and I nod.

Being here hurts too much. Maybe they’ll have a lead or some news for me in the morning and this all won’t seem so bad.

“I can take her,” Arlo tells Teller.

Teller looks at me, trying to see what I want to do and I nod, letting him know that I’m okay with Arlo.

“I can drive,” I argue when we step outside but Arlo shakes his head.

“You’re shaking like a leaf,” he tells me, his sandy-brown hair hanging over his forehead.

I look down and he’s right. I stop arguing with him and let him lead me over to his car. It’s still in The Fainting Goat’s parking lot.

He opens the door for me and I slip inside, breathing in his familiar pine-and-whiskey scent.

“Are you okay?” He asks me as he climbs behind the wheel and I shake my head.

“No,” I admit and he gives me a sympathetic look before he starts the car and pulls out onto Main Street.

The drive back to my place is silent and I’m grateful that he seems to have picked up my mood and I don’t have to think about making small talk the whole way home. I just want to be alone with my thoughts right now

I can’t believe that someone broke into my store. I can’t believe how much damage they did.

I can’t believe that they took my grandparents’ things.

I wipe a stray tear from my eye as Arlo pulls into my driveway.

“It’s okay, Iris. I’m sure that they’ll catch whoever broke in soon,” he tries to reassure me.

I just nod numbly.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“Anytime,” he says softly and I turn away from the concern in his eyes as I climb out and head up to my front door.

I can tell that Arlo wants to stay, that he wants to make sure that I’m alright, but I really just need to be alone right now.

I let myself in and lean back against the front door as all of my emotions seem to build inside of me.

I sink to my knees as tears stream down my face and for the first time in five years, I wonder if maybe my parents were right and I should have just gotten a boring office job.

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