Page 29 of The Retaliation You Deliver
“Huh. Well, are you done?” He nods to my now empty mug and I stand.
“Yeah, I got what I needed.”
He leads me toward the front door and in seconds, I’m back at my car, staring up at the imposing house with way more questions about the ongoings inside that place than I did before I entered.
6
Macie
Ilay on my bed staring up at the ceiling as the sounds of the others getting ready for their night out stirs around me.
They begged for me to come but I’m not interested. I would rather be in my own room, curled up and watching Netflix.
I’ve easily reverted back to my old reclusive life, but I can’t find it in me to care.
The Macie I was when I was with Leon wasn’t the real me, I rationalize. He made me crazy, pulled me from the place I feel safe—my comfort zone. I spent so much of my life not knowing what’s around the corner and where the next hit is going to come from that I’m more than happy being locked away and being completely in control.
The music from the living room is so loud that I have no idea we’ve got visitors until someone knocks on my door.
“Macie?” Nate shouts, and I wince.
Earlier it was hella awkward. I appreciated his concern, his need to go and hurt Leon for what he’s done, but what I really didn’t need was for him to step over the line like he did.
I’ve never felt that way about him, and I was under the impression he didn’t feel that way toward me either. But now, I’m wondering if that’s not the case.
I want to think that he was just feeling sorry for me, took pity on me for being screwed over by the first guy I ever let close but I’m terrified it’s more than that and the friendship that I’ve valued since starting here is about to be destroyed because of it.
“You’ve got visitors.”
My heart jumps into my throat as the first face that pops into my head is Leon.
I know it’s stupid. There’s no way he’s going to seek me out after everything but my stupid, naïve little heart can’t help hoping.
“Okay, hang on.” I roll off my bed and pull on an oversized cardigan over my shoulders before heading to the door.
“Hey, what’s—oh,” I breathe when I see more people than I was expecting, only one of which I recognize, standing behind Nate.
“I hope you don’t mind us gatecrashing but I had a feeling you might need some fun.” Letty smiles as she steps around Nathan and invites herself into my room.
“Uh…”
“You were in bed at seven pm on a Saturday night, weren’t you?” she asks, seeing the messy sheets.
“Um…”
“You definitely need us.”
Dumping two bags onto my bed that I didn’t realize she had carried in, the others step around a confused looking Nathan and they join us.
“You okay?” Nate asks, ignoring the newcomers and looking directly into my eyes.
“Y-yeah. I think I am.” I have no idea what Letty is planning. But I trust her. I know she only has my best interests at heart.
He hesitates for a couple of seconds as Letty and the others pull drinks and food out of the bags they brought with them and begin making themselves at home.
“Okay, well… we’re heading out in a bit.”
“Have a good night.” I smile at him, but it doesn’t come as easy as it used to and I hate it.
