Page 11 of Best of Me

“Her hand is gonna need some attention.” I pivot on my heel and head back down the hall, calling out to Darryl over my shoulder. “I’ll let you handle it while I clean up the mess.”

Stepping back into Mallory’s room is like walking into a brick wall, as all of Nancy’s hate-filled words slam into me.Why would Mallory being home set her off like this? Why would she say all of those horrible things about her child—her own flesh and blood? Why did she destroy her bedroom? And why is her room half the size of Valorie’s? Why? Why? Why?

After remaking the bed, I gather up the strewn clothing and toss them on to it. I begin gathering up the scraps of paper littering the floor, using my fingers to push the scraps into a pile. I’m not really paying attention to the task at hand, that is, until my fingers brush over what feels like an embossment of some sort. That catches my attention, and I make quick work of fitting together the jigsaw-like remnants.

Holy. Shit.It’s a birth certificate. Mallory’s. She destroyed her daughter’s birth certificate.Why? For what purpose, other than to hurt her?I mean, honestly, that’s the only semi-feasible reason, because it’s not like replacing it is all that difficult.

I rush to finish tidying up the rest of the small room, wanting nothing more than to get the hell out of this toxic-ass house and away from these toxic-ass people.

Nancy’s nowhere to be seen as I stalk back toward the front door, but Darryl is waiting for me in the living room and that’s just fine, because I’ve got shit to say to him—shit I should have said a long time ago.

“Duke, thank you—”

I cut him off, not wanting to hear his empty platitudes. “Save it. You wanna thank me? Thank me by getting your wife some professional help. She’s a danger to herself, and one of these days, she’s gonna take things too far. And then what, Darryl?”

He has the decency to look ashamed. And he damn well should. When you take vows, you honor them—you don’t just cut out when it gets tough. “You’re right.” He nods, his eyes clouding with tears. “I will.”

I step outside onto the porch and take what feels like my first full breath all day. Only, it’s not day anymore; it’s damn near sunset.Did I really spend that long here?I dial Nate as I walk to my truck, content to sit for a minute and gather my bearings. Being around Nancy is emotionally draining—I need some kind of reset to get back in the right frame of mind.

“You just now leaving?” Nate asks by way of greeting.

“Unfortunately.”

“Everything okay?”

“Define okay,” I deadpan.

“Seriously, are you okay?”

“I…I’m fine. It was just a really long day. How’d moving go?”

“It was fine. She had more stuff than I anticipated, and it was hotter than hell, but we got it done. But you totally owe me.”

I smirk. “I owe you, huh?”

“Sure enough, and Jenny’s already got it all planned out.”

I roll my eyes. Of course she does. “What’s the plan?”

“You’ll see,” Nate says cryptically as he ends the call, and I swear to God, it’s like I can hear his grin through the phone.

Groaning, I toss my phone into the cupholder, crank the engine, and head home, where an ice-cold drink and a steaming hot shower are waiting on me.

chapter six

Mallory

“Do you remember seeing a box marked sextoys?” I ask.

Jenny chokes on her reply, her short sputters coming across the line. “Y-your what?” she finally squeaks out, causing me to grin.

I’ve settled in nicely over the past week. Heck, I’d almost call this house a home at this point, but something’s missing—I just can’t quite put my finger on what it is just yet. Either way, this roof and four walls is the closest thing I’ve ever had to a real home, and I absolutely love it.

“Kidding! But for real, I can’t find my kitchen utensils. I’ve been eating with the chopsticks I got from the takeout place all week!” I readjust the phone, holding it with my shoulder as I, yet again, scan the small kitchen for my missing box.

Jenny and I have been chatting for the last twenty minutes, and it’s kind of surreal. If someone would’ve asked me if I liked talking on the phone a month ago, I’d have emphatically said no. Then again, aside from Ashley, I don’t think I’ve ever had a friend call me for no real reason, and we didn’t start talking on the phone until I moved here. So, when Jenny calledjust to talk, I about fell out.

“Now that you’ve almost caused me to choke and die, I’ve gotta go redo my makeup for dinner tonight. We’ll meet you there at six?”

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