Page 82 of Love is Strange
She hugs me tightly and taking my hand, she squeezes it reassuringly, “Let’s check the house and see if anything is missing first. Then we can call the cops.”
I nod and squeeze back, glad that she's here with me. I don’t want to bother my dad as he's away on business and can’t exactly rush back. We go back to my room, and Casey sits on my bed while I look through my belongings, trying to determine if anything has been taken.
“I think everything is here, Case,” I tell her, biting my lip again.
“Are you sure you didn’t leave the window open, Em?” Casey enquires. Her voice, which is now calmer, settles my nerves.
“I don't know. I mean…I could have sworn I shut it...but it’s possible that I didn’t,” I say slowly as I think back, trying to remember if I left it open.
“I’ve been so all over the place lately with school and homework. I probably did forget to shut it.” I exhale a laugh and shake my head.
She grins at me. “Sooo, sleepover at my house again?”
I throw myself down onto the bed with my legs dangling over the side, “Yes! It beats being here alone since Dad won’t be home until super late.”
I roll over onto my side to look at her and start to play with the open weave pattern of the blanket when I feel something wet and sticky on my fingers. I pause, and then sitting up, I examine a mark on my bedcover.
“Case, what do think that is?” I ask her, pointing to a damp patch, which I can now see is glistening slightly on the blanket.
“What?” she says, turning with a frown on her face.
She leans a little closer, inspecting it more carefully.
After a moment she rears back, her eyes are filled with shock, and a light blush colors her cheeks. She appears to be fighting back a laugh. “Somebody was definitely in here, Em, because unless you gave yourself a little self-love before I got here, then someone else clearly did.”
“Eww. What the hell! Why would someone break in and do that?” I gasp incredulously.
“Has anyone been acting weird around you lately?” Casey asks.
“Only your brother,” I say sarcastically, and she rolls her eyes.
“Not him, he’s at college. But I don’t know, maybe you have a stalker.”
My hands fly to my mouth at her words, and then I remember I put my hand in it and start gagging. “Ugh, I need to wash my hands and bleach my face.”
I run to the bathroom and scrub my hands and face twice, probably using way too much soap, but I don’t care; I need it gone. Coming from my room, I can hear the sound of the bed sheets being removed, and once again I'm thankful for my best friend.
I return to the bedroom where Casey is sitting on the bare mattress, and the now full laundry hamper is by the bedroom door.
She has her phone in her hand, and holds it out for me to take. “Call the cops.”
I take it from her, dial the number I need, and hold the phone to my ear. When I get through, I tell them everything, but as I listen to their response my shoulders slump, and Casey puts her arm around me, and gives me a hug.
“What did they say?” she asks quietly.
I inhale shakily and reply, “They said that one incident doesn’t suggest stalking, but I should be vigilant and alert them if anything else occurs. The dispatcher said that someone will be around to talk to me when my dad is home and asked if I had somewhere I could stay, for now.”
Chapter Eight
ASH
When I seemy sister’s car pull up, I leave. Aware that if I'm caught here by either of them, then they will know, and I can’t risk that. Ember will most likely stay with Casey tonight, so I won’t be able to see her again, just yet. I walk around the block to where I left my car and hopping in, I begin the two-hour drive back to college. I glance at the town in my rearview mirror knowing very soon I'll be back.
The entire drive back I’m feeling restless and on edge. I know it has everything to do with the pretty, young woman I’m once again leaving behind. I can’t get her scent out of my head and the urge to turn the car around is strong, but I know I have to wait. I have to keep reminding myself she's too young, but that knowledge doesn’t stop me from fucking craving her.
Ember’s birthday is coming up, and I want to get her a gift. As it's on October 30th and so close to Halloween, I’ll actually be able to come home and give it to her in person. I don’t really know what to get her, so I might have to ask Casey for ideas. Knowing my little sister, though, she’ll speculate about my reasons, but it’ll be worth it.
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