Page 14 of Lies Beneath Secrets

CHAPTERTEN

Lauren

I look down at my phone and press the little red circle to hang up. My sister didn’t answer, yet again. That’s the third time this week. We normally talk at least once a week, briefly, but we still do. Sometimes I think those calls are just so I don’t worry about her; they always feel so… informative. “James and I did this, or James and I are thinking about that.”

James

The day I met him, something just felt off about the guy. He seemed too good to be true. Great job, clean cut, and so nice. Almost as if he had no flaws. To me, that was the biggest red flag of all, but my sister insisted he was the one. She married him within a couple months of meeting him. Their son Tyler was born shortly after.

“It’s windy today.”

“What?” I look up from my phone to find Conner standing by a pickup truck in the small parking lot for the tenants.

“The wind. It’s crazy today,” he says, pointing at me as my hair whips around my face.

“I couldn’t tell,” I say dryly, pushing my glasses up the bridge of my nose.

“At least the sun is out.” The wrinkles on my forehead probably deepen to epic proportions at his comment.

“Why are you talking to me about the weather?” I tilt my head to the side and watch as he reaches to his chin like he’s going to rub it. When he touches the bare skin, he instantly drops his hand.

“Just making conversation. Sorry to bother you.” He starts to open the door to what I assume is his truck, but I stop him.

“No, wait. I’m sorry. I’m frustrated because I’ve been trying to call my sister for the last three days, and she hasn’t answered. It’s really bothering me. We don’t normally go this long without talking.” Conner stands there for a moment, probably just as shocked as I am that I just unloaded my problem so easily.

“Or yes, complete stranger. It’s windy out,” I say and shake my head, looking down at my phone again. “Sorry.”

“How far away does she live?”

“What?”

“Your sister. How far does she live from here?”

“About an hour away.” I look up at my neighbor, wondering why he would ask how far away my sister lives. “Why?”

“I don’t have much to do today, would you like a ride there? I assume you don’t have a vehicle. I only ever see you walk and that Suburban doesn’t look like a ride you would be caught dead in.” He points to the vehicle that the loud couple in apartment 3B own. I don’t think it even runs to be honest. It’s a cross between a green and a vibrant yellow and has so much rust on it that I’m sure it isn’t highway safe.

“You want to give me a ride? To Windbrook? To see my sister?” I ask each with a pause as if I don’t understand him. Or maybe to see if he even understands himself.

“If you’re comfortable that is. I understand if you aren’t.”

“I—” I start to answer when Gabby knocks on the back window of the truck. I look at her, and she waves.

“I’m taking Gabby to a friend’s place. They have a swing set thing. She loves the hell out of it. They’re out in the woods, shouldn’t be too windy there for her to play.” Gabby smiles at me, and I give her a little wave back. “If you don’t mind the extra stop, I’d be more than happy to help you out. What are neighbors for? Right?” He gives me a little smile, and a strange sense of calm washes over me. The man is a good foot taller than I am and should be intimidating with his broad shoulders and thick, muscular arms. He could overpower me easily. But the kindness in his gaze and the way he is with his daughter seems to put me at ease. Everything about him says protector.

We’ve seen each other in passing since they both moved in three weeks ago. I may or may not have snuck a peek through the spy hole on my door each time I heard noise out in the hallway. Then of course, they’ve come to the diner a couple of times as well. But having a conversation with the man? Not really. I’ve had more of a conversation with his daughter than him, and she hasn’t even spoken to me. Riding in a vehicle with him for two hours doesn’t sit high on my list of things to do today, but a small voice in the back of my mind telling me my sister isn’t okay has me willing to forgo that. Two hours isn’t that long, right?

“Yeah. That would be great, thank you,” I say, surprising myself and maybe even him. Conner walks to the other side of the truck and opens the door for me.

“My friend lives about ten minutes from here. His name is Knox,” he explains when he gets into the truck. I nod and watch as the black tree hanging from the rearview mirror swings back and forth as he drives out of the parking lot. We sit in silence for what seems like forever until he speaks again. “How long have you lived in town?”

“Um, in the apartment? About two years. Before that, I was with my mom.”

“Yeah? Does she still live in town too?”

“A little outside of town, yes.” I’d rather not get into where she lives on the outside of town. Hello neighbor, my name is Lauren, and the baggage I have needs to be hauled around in a giant wagon everywhere I go. Here, let me show you.Not happening.

“That’s good you have her around.” I shrug in response and turn to Gabby in the backseat.

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