Page 32 of Time for Change

“Wow,” I reply, wishing he were wrong but knowing he’s right. What if my shut off also manages the water for another apartment? Will I be shutting off their water too?

“I’m gonna run down to the basement and take a look.”

Before I can reply, he’s out the door, closing it with a thud. I’m left standing there, wondering what I should do in the meantime. Should I go down to the basement and help him look? He didn’t take any tools, and it’s not like I have any in my apartment besides a small hammer and a few miscellaneous screwdrivers. I’m sure neither would be beneficial to him right now.

After the world’s longest ten minutes, the water under the sink slows to a steady drip before stopping altogether, and when that happens, I feel like I can finally exhale for the first time since the leak began. I dump the remaining water in the bowl down the tub drain, and just as I’m returning to the kitchen, Jameson enters my apartment, looking annoyed.

“You found the shut off.”

His eyes harden just a bit. “You didn’t lock the door when I left.”

His words catch me by surprise. “Oh. I didn’t think about it,” I tell him.

“Always lock the door, Stevie. This building isn’t the best and your safety is a priority.”

The fierceness in his words startle me. “O-okay,” I mutter, still standing there, holding the bowl.

He reaches behind him and flips the deadbolt before walking past me to the kitchen. I join him and watch as he tinkers around under the sink. “The water is shut off to your apartment. There was no way around it, but as long as the valves are labeled properly, it’s only yours. At least you won’t have to worry about it continuing to leak, but you need it looked at ASAP.”

I nod. “Mr. Gunderson says he’ll be back tomorrow afternoon and can take a look.”

“You’ll need water before then,” he states pointedly, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

“Umm, yeah. I can go to a gas station in the morning. I’ll be fine tonight.”

His eyes narrow, but he doesn’t argue. “You can use the toilet, but don’t flush. It’s not ideal, but at least you have access.”

“Yeah, of course. Thank you.” I move out of the way, standing over by my kitchen table to give him plenty of room to walk past.

He just stares at me for a few seconds before making his way out of the kitchen. Suddenly, he stops, his eye catching on my counter. His hand whips out and grabs something, and the moment it registers what he’s holding, my heart stops beating in my chest. I want to reach out and grab it, but not only am I too far away, I’m frozen in place, unable to move. Or think. Or breathe.

“Where did you get this?” he demands, his light brown eyes hard as he glares at me.

“I—”

His eyes fly down to the picture in his hand before returning to me. “Where?” The hardness in his tone has me taking a step back.

“I, it’s, I found it,” I insist, tears welling up in my eyes.

“Found it where?”

It’s hard to breathe all of a sudden as the panic starts to set in. I don’t think he will hurt me, but I don’t know this man and I’m trapped in a locked apartment with him. My eyes dart around, looking for an escape, a weapon, anything.

“Stevie.” My name on his lips is almost a growl.

“I found it. With things that were my mom’s.”

As if not expecting that answer, he seems stunned as his attention returns to the photograph I found, to the two people in the image. Knowing there’s no way of getting out of this without the truth, I open my mouth and blurt it for the first time since I discovered the tidbit about my mother.

“I’m—I’m your sister.”

Then, the world around me goes dark.

Chapter Ten

Jack

It’s late, but I can’t sleep. I keep scanning the text exchanges I’ve had with Stevie like some lovesick sap. Our messaging has been light and enjoyable, with nothing too personal shared. We have a long way to go before I’d consider us in a relationship, but I am liking this stage of getting to know each other. It’s comfortable, a complete one-eighty from other first dates I’ve had, and I’m honestly looking forward to knowing more about her.

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