Page 7 of Whatever He Wants
“But wait.There’s more,” Isaac continues in his icy tone.“You left the room to answer the door for my delivery, and your boyfriend stole one of my pieces from my watch box while you were gone.”
“No,” I say in dismay, but Isaac must have assumed I’m defending Matt.He sneers, his response a snarl.
“Yes.I have video proof.”
As much as this revelation horrifies me, I don’t doubt Isaac.Matt has done this before.Back in high school, when Matt and I had just started dating, he broke into a friend’s house and stole two grand from the friend’s parents’ safe.
Matt said he stole the money to help pay for his mom’s car repairs.Later, I found out only half went to the repairs, the rest he blew on a game console and a pair of loudspeakers to go with it.Over the years, he would get things he can’t afford.Whenever I ask him how he got it, he would say a friend gave it to him, and I always believed him.
He’s never been in trouble for theft since his lone conviction, but maybe that’s because he’s gotten good at hiding his crimes.Maybe I’ve been too stupid to realize the truth: my boyfriend is a klepto.And I was an even bigger fool to let him into Isaac’s house.
“I’m really sorry, Isaac.I didn’t know—”
“I don’t accept your apology.You disobeyed my only rule, showed great disrespect for my home, and caused the theft of something valuable to me.If you want to make this right, start by getting my watch back from your boyfriend, or I’m calling the cops on his thieving ass.”
Shame weighs my shoulders down and twists in my gut.I lower my gaze from Isaac’s frosty expression and nod.
“I’ll call him right now.”
I hurry over to the bed and grab my phone.Matt left a few hours ago to see a friend about a job opportunity.This had put me in a great mood.I had some time to myself and Matt might be earning money again soon.It’s turned into another ruined day off thanks to Matt.
Isaac’s stare burns my exposed skin as I call Matt, and I can’t wait for this to be over so I can dress and feel less vulnerable.Matt answers and I demand he come home immediately.When he asks why, I keep the reason vague in case he tries to avoid the crappy situation he created.
“I’ll be there in half an hour,” he says.
I hang up the phone and approach Isaac again.It’s hard to meet his gaze but I force myself to do it.My throat feels tighter when I speak.
“He’ll be home soon.I’ll make him give the watch back.I promise.”
“And when I do get it back, you and your boyfriend should start looking for a new place to live.”
I recoil, my eyes wide.
“Are you kicking us out?”
“Yes.I want you gone by Friday.”
“But that’s in two days!That’s not enough time.”
“That’s not my problem.”
He turns to leave.I grab his forearm, stalling him.
“Please, Isaac.Don’t do this.”
He sneers.“I’d be a special kind of stupid to let a thief and his enabler continue living rent-free in my house.”
I swallow the hurt from his insult and focus on changing his mind.
“Isaac, think about this.We have nowhere else to go.We’ll be homeless.”
“Youdon’t have to be.There’s always my mother and Gordon’s place.”
“You know I can’t go back there!”
“Yeah, because of the fucker who stole from me.”He tugs his arm free and shakes his head.“You threw your future away for him and what does he give you in return, Denise?Nothing but problems.”
It’s bad enough I’m already grovelling to keep a roof over my head.There’s truth to what he said but his judgmental attitude feels like salt in the wound.
