Page 199 of Composed
“Love you too, bye.” Riley puts the phone down, repositions her ear defenders, and trains her stare on my nose. She taps a bright pink Converseagainst the floor, her fingers clicking at her sides. “You know that private jet of yours?”
I narrow my gaze. “Not ours, but yeah…”
“How quickly will it get you to Chesterton?”
“Pretty quick,” I say as Saint pulls out his phone and swipes his thumb over the screen before tossing it into my lap. It's already ringing. I press it to my ear and glance at Riley. “Why?”
“Because Hendrix is too fucking proud to ask.”
Axel makes a noise of approval at Riley’s profanity.
Riley shakes her head, but her lip twitches for a beat before falling. “She’s gonna need you today.”
Chapter sixty-three
Hendrix • Now
Perfect – Simple Plan
MyengineidlesasI stare out of the car window.
The house is exactly the way I remember it. Netted blinds in the downstairs windows, brown and cream sprawling bricks, ugly red door. Even the cracked number eight plate still hangs upside down.
It’s been ten years since I last stepped foot inside. Ten years since I saw my parents. And ten years since I let my dad’s hateful narrative dictate the trajectory of my life.
I draw in a slow breath and peel my fingers from the steering wheel. The second I woke up this morning after a fitful couple hours of sleep, I knew what I had to do.
The only way I can move forward with Cole and be the woman he deserves is if I face the girl I was and the choices I made—and they all start here, inside those four walls.
I kill the engine, and step out of the car on shaky legs.
Wind whips my hair. I shove my hands in the pocket of Cole’s hoodie and inhale his scent.
I almost asked him to come with me, but I know I have to do at least this first bit alone. Then, I can tell him everything.
Here’s hoping he’ll still look at me the same when I’m done.
I force myself up the garden path and rap my knuckles twice on the door.
Rocking back on my heels, I glance over the still windows as the sound of cars passing on the road rumbles behind me. It’s funny, really. I moved back to Chesterton seven years ago, but not once have I trawled this street.
The day I left this house, I let my parents disappear.
They never tried to reach out to me that I know of. Not that I’d have answered if they had. The decision to go no contact was as easy as breathing. I've never once regretted the decision.
The door creaks open.
I hold my breath, muscles tightening as a woman pokes head around the frame. “Hi, can I help you?”
“Hi.” A frown tugs at my lips as my gaze drags over her shoulder. “I was looking for Nicola or Frank Moore. I didn’t realise they moved.”
“Oh.” The woman steps back, pulling the door wider.
I glance down her light blue nursing uniform and step back. “Sorry. I’ll just get out your hair.”
“No, you’re fine. I don’t know who Nicola is, but Frank still lives here.”
My frown deepens. “Nicola’s his wife.”
