Page 54 of Hoax and Kisses
Stomach twisting, I dig my keys out of my pocket and hold them out. “I promise you, I’d never do this to you if it weren’t important.”
After what she shared with me tonight… shit, I’m such a jerk.
We may have broken a rule, delving into details of her life, but I can’t let her into mine. Not when it comes to Daphne. My priority is taking care of her, and tonight, I utterly failed in that department.
Zoey yanks the keys from my grasp, making sure her fingers don’t touch mine. She looks away, her face unreadable.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” I rub my beard. “I’ll swing by and pick up my truck.”
She doesn’t answer, keeping her focus locked on the movie instead.
My lungs deflate. Time to go, then. “I’m really sorry. Enjoy the rest of the movie,” I say as I back away.
No answer.
“You guys have a deal. She won’t back down,” Lola says when we step into my house. “She needs you way more than you need her.”
“Thanks for taking care of Daphne tonight,” I say, ignoring the Band-Aid she’s trying to slap on my guilt. “I’m gonna finish the movie with her if you want to stay.”
Lola shakes her head. “I have to go home. Freddy’s waiting for me.”
I shudder. I can’t believe she’s looking after that satanic monstrosity while my parents are away.
I give her a quick hug. “Thank you again.”
She pats my sides. “Don’t sweat it.”
Once she’s gone, Daphne and I settle on the couch with our popcorn and hit play.
“Better?” I ask
Snuggled in with her favorite heavy blanket, she pops a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “Yes.”
I sink deeper into the cushions. “Good.”
The pressure in my chest eases a notch, but there’s a hitch there, a kernel of discomfort that won’t go away. It only flaresmore painfully when thoughts of Zoey all alone in the park plague me.
I dig my phone from my pocket and send her a text.
Matt
Are you still at the park?
My nerves wear thin as the minutes crawl by, and when my phone finally vibrates, I startle, and the device clatters to the floor.
“Are you okay?” Daphne asks, peering at me out of the corner of her eye.
“All good,” I say as I retrieve it. “Watch the movie.”
Zoey
Just got home.
A knot loosens in my chest. She’s home safe. She’s replying to me. There might be hope.
Matt
I didn’t mean to leave like I did. I’m sorry again. I had to take care of something.
