Page 36 of Out to Get Her
Erin pulled her key from the door and held it open for Zach. Despite the events of the previous day, she’d been fine coming back here alone. Zach, however, wasn’t as fine with the idea. He insisted he’d feel better walking inside with her and making sure everything was okay, since he was already there after driving her home.
“See, everything’s fine.”
“You thought everything was fine when you came up here yesterday, too.”
“Okay. We’ll make a sweep through the house,” Erin said. “Will that make you feel better?”
“Much better.”
His wide grin erased any annoyance that might have been creeping up. She’d forgotten what it felt like to have friends. Sure, she’d made new friends in New Orleans, but they weren’t pick-you-up-when-you-had-a-flat friends. Certainly not rush-over-when-you-found-a-dead-body friends or sweep-the-house-for-new-dead-bodies friends.
They headed to the kitchen first, and after a quick peek inside the walk-in pantry, Zach followed her down the hall.
“It’s just knowing you’re alone here. Makes me nervous is all.”
She held back from saying,I’m used to being alone. That sounded sad. And probably more dangerous. But the truth was, most of the time, she was just fine being alone.
“McFly! McFly! McFly!”
Erin jumped as they reached the bathroom doorway. “Chill Marty, jeez.”
The poor bird had been used to Grandpa being home all day. He was probably going to freak out like this every time she left him alone for more than a couple of hours.
“I got it.” Zach went ahead of her to peer inside the hall bathroom. “All clear.”
“I’m pretty sure yesterday was a total fluke.”
Or that one crime in this house per visit was all the universe planned on subjecting her to.
“Still gonna make a round in this place, anyway.”
“Fine. Let’s get on with it, if you insist.”
She followed him down the hallway, pausing to look in the spare bedroom while Zach walked inside and opened the closet door, then peered under the bed. Her old bed. The one she was sleeping in while she was here, because it didn’t feel right to seep anywhere else.
Her bright blue chevron comforter still sat on the bed, along with the same yellow curtains and light gray walls from when she lived here. Her little desk and chair sat by the window with a view of a crepe myrtle tree.
“Next.” Zach breezed past her and entered her grandfather’s bedroom.
Erin remained in the hall for that one. She hadn’t been able to cross that threshold yet. Going through that room was a Tomorrow Erin job.
“All clear,” he said a minute later after checking the closet, bed, and master bathroom.
“Told you.” She tried to sound sure of herself, but a wave of unexpected relief washed over her. She hadn’t truly expected more trouble to pop up, but she still had some lingering anxiety after yesterday’s surprise. “You know you can’t do a house sweep every time I get home.”
Home? This was not home.
So why did that word feel so good?
He frowned with disappointment, then brightened. “Want me to bring you a dog tomorrow?”
“Uh… no.”
“A big one?” He wagged his brow. “Come on. A big, slobbery, barky one. Yeah, that would make me feel better!”
“That wouldnotmakemefeel better.” But she laughed anyway.
She’d been laughing a lot the last few days, considering the circumstances. Erin had expected to be downright miserable here, but being in this place and being around friends—both old and new—had been such an unexpected mood boost. She wished now even more that she could have dragged herself out here for the funeral. As much as that would have sucked, it might have helped her get through the initial grief sooner.
