Page 83 of Living Hell

TWENTY-EIGHT

Iona

“YOU CAN’T HIDE IN THEREforever.” Tyler’s voice came through the door.

“Oh, I beg to differ,” I said as I sat on the bed refusing to open the door to the bedroom.

Meeting with the sheriff two days ago confirmed I needed to get out of this town. If what he said was true, just being in Tyler’s life was putting him in danger.

I was glad I told the magazine before him. Now he hated me and wanted me to leave. It would be better for everyone if that happened.

While I was surprised by how fast the article was published, I knew it had to be done. Only two days after the interview and it’s everywhere.

Despite the quick turnaround and not totally thinking this through, I was ready to stand my ground. Or hide behind the bedroom door in this case, if I had to. And right now, I had no desire to face him and witness the disappointment in his eyes.

He wanted to use me, well, his plan backfired. I got knocked up and now the whole world knew he was the father.

Tyler couldn’t get out of it this time. No lost phones and mixed up numbers would save him now, and I had to do my best to push him away.

“Were you going to tell me, Iona?” He sounded hurt and my heart broke a little. But then I remembered how he never wanted me here in the first place. That he was faking this relationship so he could get his precious home. A bunch of wood, cement, and paint were more important to him than me or our future child.

And, of course, what the sheriff had said. As hurt as I was by what Tyler did in high school, it’s the actions of a madman that scared me now.

“That I unplugged your alarm clock. No.”

I heard him sigh. “Not about that. About the baby.”

“Of course. But I thought a better way would be for you to see it in black and white.”

I cringed. That was cold even for me. I only hoped it worked.

“I love you, Iona. I want to be with you. Please, open up.”

I stared at the door and for a moment, I believed him. I stood and made my way over to the door but stopped myself before I opened it. He told me he loved me so soon after I came back. I hadn’t seen him for eleven years and instantly, he’s in love. That’s not normal.

“You lied.”

“About what?” he asked as if he had no idea that his words did things to me. They had the power to lift me up or smash me to the floor.

“You’re just like your father. Telling people what they want to hear just so you can get what you want.”

“What are you talking about? Open this door so we can talk about this.”

“No.” I’d be swayed too easily if I saw him and his perfect smile and especially, his panty-melting blue eyes. He could easily wrap me in his arms, and I’d turn weak.

There was a sigh, and I heard him move around. A moment later, the Hello Kitty key chain slid under the door. I lifted it and wanted to punch it down his throat.

“This is the cause of all our problems,” I said with anger pushing each word out of my mouth.

“There’s a reason I never threw it away.”

“Yeah, I heard.”

“What did you hear?”

I rolled my eyes. Did he believe I’d never find out? Maybe he wasn’t as smart as I thought he was.

“That it was a keepsake from your conquest. That you bragged to the guys at school about how you planned to seduce me, and then you showed it to them to prove that you did.”

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