Page 2 of Beast

“Goodnight, Belle.” Aurora’s voice is a soft whisper. Her large eyes grow small, and her lashes flutter before they finally lower.

“Goodnight, sweet Aurora.”

Bending down, I kiss her on the cheek, then secure the comforter around her tiny frame.

As I sneak out of the room, I hear the front door open and close.

I look at my watch. It’s seven-thirty and no one is due home for another couple of hours.

I wonder if it’s Dani. Sometimes she finishes her shift at the radio station early and makes it home in time to kiss Aurora goodnight. But it’s not Dani, it’s her husband Julian.

“You’re home early,” I say from the top of the stairs.

He’s shaking off the rain from his hair and carrying a bottle of wine. He looks up when he hears my voice and smiles.

Somewhere in his late thirties, he’s already showing signs of premature balding and thickening around the waist.

I don’t have a lot to do with Julian. I’m usually leaving when he’s just getting home. We once chatted over coffee in their palatial kitchen, but it was uncomfortable and forced, with neither of ushaving a lot to say. He is socially awkward, while Dani has a big personality and an even bigger presence.

After seeing him at a handful of events in the past six months, he gets lost in his wife’s shadow and it’s obvious it frustrates him.

“I’ll just get my bag,” I say, coming down the stairs and following him into the kitchen.

“Don’t leave,” he says. “Stay, have a glass of wine with me.”

I eye the bottle. I haven’t had wine in a while. Not since Austin broke up with me over Valentine’s Day dinner, and I’d tipped the contents of my glass over him when he’d told me about Julie. And Christine. And that bitch at the burger joint… Frieda. I moved my stuff out of our apartment that night, and the next day I’d hauled ass back to St. Boniface.

That was eight months ago. A glass of wine sounds good.

“Sure, that would be lovely.”

I settle onto one of the stools at the counter and watch him fill two glasses.

He hands me one.

“What are we toasting?” I ask.

He smiles. “You.”

“Me?”

His smile turns serious. “It was your birthday last week.”

“Yes, it was…”

Is it weird that he knows it’s my birthday? I barely speak to this guy and now he’s toasting my birthday? Not even Dani mentioned it.

“I was putting some paperwork away last night and I saw it on your employment form. Thought it would be nice to celebrate.”

“Oh, I see. Well, okay, thanks.”

We clink glasses and I take a sip. The wine is good, thick and purple, and sweet with berries. I relax and take another mouthful as I look around the kitchen.

“Good?” Julian asks.

“Oh yes, thank you.”

I take another mouthful because something seems off. I feel it in my gut. But I tell myself to stop being such a worrier. Julian is just being nice.

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