Page 128 of Please Save Me

“Sounds like you’ve been busy… Say, I walked past the gym the other day and noticed you spending time with a blonde woman… Who was she?” At face value, there was nothing about Dale’s words that could have been interpreted as malicious. But, the under current in his tone suggested otherwise.

That begged the question ofwhat was Sophia to me? Until recently, the answer to that had been easy, my brother’s girlfriend… but the past few days, she’d been pushing that limit. I was fairly certain it was just Sophia being friendly, but her actions the last few daysalmostseemed flirtatious.

She’d been touching me more and asking me about my day, the case, and genuinely just talking to me. But, I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Not yet at least.

I cleared my throat, trying desperately to keep my cool. “Sophia? She’s just a family friend.”

Dale raised an eyebrow. “Just a friend? She seemed rather chummy with you.”

“If you’re planning on telling my wife, I can assure you she won’t care.”

His smile widened slightly. “I can assure you that I wouldn’t dream of causing problems inyourmarriage.”

The way he said that caused me to pause. “Are you insinuating you’d cause problems in other people’s marriages?”

“Not at all. Marriage is a beautiful thing,” he said. “But, lying, on the other hand, is not.”

A small chill ran down my spine. There was no way he could know I was lying about my marriage to Mason. I hadn’t even specifically told him who my faux wife was.

“Can I ask what you’re insinuating?” I chose my words carefully, not wanting to expose anything he didn’t already know.

“Nothing at all. Just speaking on the glory of living anhonestlife. One a fine young man such as yourself knows all about.” His voice seemed to ooze with hidden meanings. Like he was trying to unnerve me, trying to make me doubt what he actually knew and what was merely a guess.

“Of course.” I tried to sound cheery, but I was pretty sure I failed.

“Good to hear. It’s always nice knowing people of such integrity live in my humble community.” He patted my shoulder, his touch lingering for just a moment too long. “Even if you aren’t interested in formally joining me…yet.”

I almost rolled my eyes. It seemed like Dale would be content to rehash the same lecture forever, and honestly? It was growing old.

“Do you have anything new to add to that? If it didn’t work the first five times, it won’t work now.”

Dale’s smile brightened, revealing thosedisgustinglyyellow teeth. “Not at all, I just wanted to remind you that no matter what, my offer will stand, and even if everyone else in the world abandons you, God never will.”

I stared at the strange, stout, old man as he stood and ambled away with more confidence than he deserved to have. And, despite all that, I knew one thing for sure. I may have not been a crucial member of the house like the rest of the adults, but I wasn’t alone, and no one in that house would beabandoning me.At least, I didn't think they would be.

Before I went home, I needed to stop for a few packs of cigarettes. And, while I wasn’t considering quitting, it was getting annoying to have to get a new pack every day. So to circumvent having to run out for them this week, I purchased ten packs for myself… and one for Cameron. He seemed to not like my menthols much, and while I knew he supposedlyquitsmoking, he purchased me candy last night and I wanted to return the gesture.

Not because I liked him or anything. After all, I had standards. I just didn’t want him to have anything to hold over my head.

When I finally arrived back home, I was a little disheartened to see a certain orange truck missing. Sophia’s car was gone too, but I figured she was at the gym. That wasn’t unusual… but, where could Cameron have gone? He didn’t have church anymore, not since Dale excommunicated him.

Whatever, I couldn’t think about that right now. I had more important things to do, like give Cameron the cigarettes so he’d never have the audacity to talk to me about something as personal asfeelingsagain.

With that in mind I grabbed the paper bag from my driver's seat and hurried onto the porch before wrapping my fingers around the door handle. My heart threatened to escape my throat the second I realized the door was unlocked while no one was home. But, my fear was all but dashed when I noticed Mason sitting on the couch.

She had a blanket draped around her shoulders as the soft glow of the T.V. lit her features.

Her eyes were transfixed on the screen, and her expression completely blank. Her lack of emotions led me to believe she was doing something mundane, like watching the news. But, that illusion was completely shattered when a slightly younger, thinner, and peppier version of Mason bound onto an impossibly vast stage.

The T.V. was barely audible, but the cacophony of cheers still echoed in the house. The Mason on the couch tipped her head slightly as the one on TV waved, blowing kisses to various points in the crowd before winking at the camera.

I sat my bag down on the table near the entryway as I slipped my shoes off. Once I was done, I cleared my throat. My goal was to draw Mason’s attention, not startle her.

She shifted slowly, glancing at me over her shoulder.

“You’re home,” she whispered.

I nodded before venturing closer. “Where’s everyone else?”

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