Page 52 of The Housemaid
I squeeze my hands together. “Can I sit here?”
“Sure. Knock yourself out.”
I step out onto the cold wooden planks on the porch and lower myself into the seat next to his, wishing I had a beer as well. He doesn’t even look at me. He just keeps drinking from his beer bottle, staring out into the huge backyard.
“I want to explain.” I clear my throat. “I mean, why I didn’t tell you about…”
“You don’t have to explain.” He glances in my direction then back down at his beer. “It’s pretty obvious why you didn’t tell me.”
“I wanted to.” That’s not true. I didn’t want to tell him. I didn’t want him to ever know, even though that was entirely unrealistic. “Anyway, I’m sorry.”
He swishes the beer around in his bottle. “So what were you in prison for?”
I really, really wish I had a beer. I open my mouth, but before I can figure out what to tell him, he says, “Forget it. I don’t want to know. It’s none of my business.”
I chew on my lip. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I wanted to try to put the past behind me. I didn’t mean any harm.”
“Yeah…”
“And…” I stare down at my hands in my lap. “I was embarrassed. I didn’t want you to think less of me. Your opinion means a lot to me.”
He rolls his head to look at me, his eyes soft under the dim porch light. “Millie…”
“I also want you to know…” I take a deep breath. “I had a really great time the other night. It was one of the best nights I’ve ever had. Because of you. So whatever else happens, thank you for that. I…I just had to tell you that.”
There’s a crease between his eyebrows. “I had a great time, too. I haven’t felt that happy in…” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “A while. I hadn’t even realized it.”
We stare at each other for a moment. There’s still electricity between us. I can see in his eyes that he feels it, too. He glances at the back door, and before I know what’s happening, his lips are on mine.
He kisses me for what feels like an eternity, but it’s probably more like sixty seconds. When he pulls away, there’s regret in his eyes. “I can’t…”
“I know…”
It’s not meant to be between us. For so many reasons. But if he wanted to go for it, I would do it. Even if it meant making an enemy out of Nina. I would risk it. For him.
But instead, I get up and leave him behind on the porch with his beer.
The wood of the stairs is cold against my bare feet as I walk back up to the second floor. My head is still spinning from that kiss and my lips are tingling. That can’t be the last time. Itcan’t. I saw the way he was looking at me. He has real feelings for me. Even though he knows my past, he still likes me. The only problem is—
Wait. What’s that?
I freeze at the top of the stairs. There is a shadow in the hallway. I squint at it, trying to make out the image in the darkness.
And then it moves.
I let out a screech and nearly go toppling down the stairs. I grab onto the banister and save myself at the last second. The shadow shifts closer to me, and now I can see what it is.
It’s Nina.
“Nina,” I gasp.
Why is she standing there in the hallway? Was she downstairs? Did she see me and Andrew kissing?
“Hello, Millie.” It’s dark in the hallway, but the whites of her eyes almost seem to be glowing.
“What…what are you doing here?”
She scowls at me, the light from the moon creating disturbing shadows on her face. “It’smyhome. I don’t have to account for my whereabouts.”
