Page 50 of Where Love Lies

“Mom, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know Dad was going to do that!”

“What did you tell him?”

“That I got in trouble and Heston grabbed my face and told me not to disgrace the family.”

Sighing, I sit next to her, placing my hand on my cheekbone. I wonder what Cam would have done if he knew what happened yesterday. Wait, why do I care about that?

He and I may not see eye to eye, but we share something that pulls us together and makes us care about one another to a point, I suppose. We may not be together, but he will always see Paige and me as his; he always has and always will. When we were together and someone disrespected me, he would make a scene and even hurt whoever said or did something, which made him a hypocrite because he hit me behind closed doors.

* * *

After talking with Paige, I walk back outside to inspect my flowers that got trampled. They look rough, the bright pink petals already dark and trying to close. Squatting down, I hold one in my hand. Poor things. Something moves out of the corner of my eye and my head snaps upright. It’s Tenly. She’s wearing a white summer dress and sandals, and her is hair down. I don’t think I’ve seen her wear anything outside of athletic gear. I notice she’s carrying a pan of food in her hands, walking down the road in the direction of our new neighbor. I squat back down, like I’m looking at my flowers, but I keep a watchful eye. She’s now at his door knocking. When he opens the door, my eyes widen in awe. He’s shirtless, wearing shorts that sit just below his hips, showing off that V thing healthy men have. His big frame fills the doorway.

He smiles and nods, taking the plate. Tenly twirls her hair around a finger and looks down at her feet. That’s a first. Shoving his door open wider, Tenly walks past him into the house. As he moves to close it behind her, his head snaps up, and our eyes meet. I hold my breath, snapping my attention back to my flowers. I’m breathless, flustered even, not knowing if I should play with my flowers, go inside, or text Owen. The man has moved into the house of horror and has every woman on the block ready to sin.

26

Three days later

Laying in my bed, I look at the dark ceiling, the moon blanketing the room in a low light. Heston sleeps beside me, letting out a little snore every few minutes. Things have changed drastically between us the last three days. I don’t know if it’s because I called off the engagement or because I suggested therapy, but we haven’t had sex or held hands, and there’s a negative energy hanging between us. The kind that brews in the sky right before a hurricane. I don’t know what we’re trying to salvage at this point; it’s clear we’re done. This is over and one of us is going to have to admit it. Knowing him, it’ll have to be me. Huffing, I stand up and walk to the window, my eyes sweep the moon and the houses that sleep at four in the morning. The murder house lights turn on, catching my attention, so I cross my arms and watch. A woman with dark hair rushes out the front door in a small top and jean shorts. Getting into a yellow beetle, she leaves with the headlights turned off. That car looks familiar. I’ve seen it in the neighborhood. He’s been here days and already sleeping his way through the neighborhood. I can’t help but wonder how he’s living in that house? Maybe I should introduce myself? I’m drawn to this man, curious about him more than I should be. I’ve come to notice an increase in my pulse just thinking about him. I want, no, I need, to know more about him.

* * *

Next Morning

Grabbing my robe, I throw it around me and go in search of coffee. Feet stomping down the stairs causes me to stop and look up. Paige is coming down with her phone in hand, not paying any attention. Sensing me, she finally picks her head up. “Hey, Mom, Layla’s brother just got home from college and their family is having a BBQ. Can I go?”

“Uh…you’re grounded—and you and Layla can’t be alone together.” I pull my robe tighter.

She rolls her eyes.

“Oh my God, please! I’m so bored!” Her right foot does a light stomp. “Her parents are going to be there.”

Biting my bottom lip, I stare at her, thinking. It has been really rough around here lately, and her getting out would be good for her, but Layla is a kid on the road to self-destruction and Paige is riding shotgun. And I can’t let that happen.

“I need to talk to Layla’s mother and make sure she’s okay with babysitting you.”

Paige texts Layla, asking for her mother’s number and reads it off to me.

“No, I want to meet her, Paige,” I clarify and she snaps her head up with a pale color taking over her glowing face.

“Mom, no.” Her voice is soft and filled with embarrassment.

“Yes, I haven’t met her and would like to.” I turn around to get dressed, leaving Paige staring at me with a gaping mouth.

Dressing in a simple shirt and shorts, I walk over to their house with Paige in tow.

Pointing at her, I say, “I swear Paige if you do anything stupid!”

“I won’t!” She groans.

Their front yard is bare of any character or personality, a sun-faded basketball lying next to a small tree that has no leaves.

Stepping up to their house, it’s quiet, no sounds of kids playing or the TV blaring. The smell of bacon still fills the air from what I can only guess was for breakfast. Knocking, I step back and cross my arms. I glance over at Paige, who purses her lips, not thrilled with me coming over.

The door swings open and there she is, Melanie Grady. She’s wearing a loose shirt and sweatpants, her dark hair pulled into a messy ponytail. Despite her lazy attire, she’s pretty, her face clear of any blemishes, her eyes wide and beautiful.

“Hello?” She acts as if she doesn’t know me, which I find odd, seeing as how the whole block is always peeking out of their blinds. Maybe she’s just putting on a front and acting like she hasn’t seen me walking around because it would come off creepy.

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