Page 21 of Where Love Lies

I text backget your ass over here, then turn my focus to Cam’s text. He’s coming over to get Paige this morning and wants to know why she isn’t answering her phone.

Biting my thumbnail in thought, I know I’m going to have to tell him about Paige drinking with the neighbor girl and that I took her phone away as punishment. However, I’ll be giving it back to her while she’s at her dad’s, in case she needs to get ahold of me. He’s left her at his house and came back angry drunk too many times for me to fully trust him. Climbing out of bed, the sun splits across the floor. It never did that at our apartment. There were too many buildings blocking the sun from doing what it does best. Taking off last night’s clothes, the ones that I slept in as well, because they smelled like Heston, I slip on my favorite pair of lightweight cotton shorts and a white shirt. Today, I’ll keep it simple and comfortable. My hair, however, is another story. I slip my fingers through my curly tresses, attempting to tame them. I’m surprised it’s silky and not tangled or oily. I guess I’ll leave it down. For now.

Heading out of my room, I don’t hear Paige awake yet. If I let her, she’ll sleep all day. I jog up the stairs and knock on her door a couple times before opening it. She’s lying halfway on her bed, the other half hanging at the end of the mattress, reading a book placed on the floor. She’s still in her pajamas, and her hair is a clumpy mess from falling asleep in her braids.

“Your dad is coming, get ready.”

She inhales audibly and slides off the bed, annoyance clear on her face.

The stairs creak and crack beneath my feet as I walk down them, making me nervous one might break from under me. Making a safe landing, I go into the kitchen, start some coffee, and grab a muffin from the cupboard. I peel the paper liner away and sink my teeth into it. Banana nut is my favorite. My eyes land on the dirty dishes in the sink from last night’s dinner, and a brazen smile spreads across my face. I can still smell him on my skin this morning. I wonder if that will happen again today…Wait, Paige will be at her dad’s for the night. I’ll have Heston here. Alone.

11

Footsteps stomp down the stairway, and Paige comes into the living room before with her arms crossed and her face blank. It’s the guess-what-mood-I’m-in teenager game.

“What’s wrong?” I ask with a shrug of the shoulder, cramming the rest of my muffin into my mouth, little crumbs coat my fingers, and I wipe my hands free of them over the sink, waiting for her to answer me.

“So, can I have my phone back? I mean, I’m going to Dad’s, and sometimes he—” she stops herself and glances down at her feet, embarrassment or hurt shadowing her posture like a heavy storm lurking within dark clouds on a perfect summer day. I hate that I have to share custody with Cam—especially when said child is more of an adult than he is. But there’s nothing I can do when the judge doesn’t see that side of him. Turning around, I grab a vase and reach in. I slip the phone out and hold it toward her.

“Really, a vase?” She tries to sound angry, biting back a smile. She was probably up looking for the phone all night and never thought of the vase.

“It’s dead, so you’ll need to charge it.” The words barely leave my mouth before she snatches it from my palm, her eyes glued to the screen, seeing if there’s any life. “Hey!” I get her attention. “That whole drinking until we’re passed out better not happen again. Do you understand me?”

“Yeah, I won’t be doing that again. I was so sick yesterday,” she mumbles, shaking her head. Man, if I had a dime for every time I’ve said those words, I’d be rich as hell.

“Good,” I clip, rounding the counter.

“How did you and this girl even meet?”

“I heard a dog howling, so I looked out the window and saw her sitting outside. She saw me looking at her, so it would have been awkward not to go say hi.”

“Wait, she was howling? You mean like a dog?”

“Yeah. It sounded like a damn coyote on the front porch.”

That girl is peculiar for sure. She’s young and dressed in black from head to toe, and I don’t mean the way I see kids going into Hot Topic at the mall. She gives off more of the energy of a devil worshiper and now she’s acting like a dog? Hopefully she doesn’t talk Paige into meowing in the front yard. Though…that would be better than getting drunk. Wanting some fresh air and to see if any of the neighbors are out, I walk past the living room, tossing my mom’s blanket on the back of the couch, then open the front door. Warm air feathers the sweet scent of the neighbor’s tulips right into my house. I step outside and can’t help but look at my yard for beautiful foliage. It’s bare and in desperate need of something—a lot like the Gradys’ yard.

“Hey, Rain!” My eyes snap up, finding Tenly jogging up the road. Just seeing her “early bird gets the worm” energy makes me want to yawn. I look down at myself, brushing away the crumbs from my carb overload, and notice the cool pavement is actually hotter than hell and step into the grass. Her sports bra and elastic workout pants make her look more like a Nike model than someone trying to stay fit.

“Hey,” I respond, and she speed-walks to me.

Out of breath, she still manages to smile that big, white-teeth grin. She inhales, standing a little straighter. “Noticed a handsome man leaving your place last night. I thought you were divorced?” Her eyes rise with concern, but the smile on her face conveys she’s up for a saucy secret. Hoping the man leaving my house was there for promiscuous reasons.

“Um, yeah. I met someone. His name is Heston.” My brows furrow, and I cross my arms, feeling pushed into an uncomfortable corner. I mean, I don’t want her going off and telling people something horrible, so I need to make it known it’s someone I’m actually seeing and not a one-night stand. Not that any of this is her business.

“Mmm, does Heston look as good in daylight?” She laughs, and I lightly giggle as jealousy flares inside my chest.

“How did you meet? Was it romantic?” She reaches out, patting my arm for me to spill the details.

“I wouldn’t call it romantic.” I laugh. I can’t help it. “He kind of just crashed into my life.”

With her lips closed, she nods as if she understands what I’m saying, but she doesn’t because Heston literally crashed into me. I don’t know why I don’t just tell her, I guess because it’s kind of unique, the way we met, and something inside me doesn’t trust Tenly when it comes to unique guys.

Her eyes squint, trying to hide from the sun’s abrasive rays, and takes a step back like she’s leaving.

“You’ll have to introduce us sometime. You can’t keep him to yourself forever!” She points at me playfully, her grin wide, then turns and crosses the street to her house.

I shake my head, offering a small wave when she does before closing her door. I take the knob in my hand and twist the door open to go back inside. My phone rings, and I dig it out of my pocket. It’s the insurance company. Hopefully, they’re calling about getting me a rental.

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