When we left the house, I noticed a black Jeep Cherokee parked two doors down. I wasn’t familiar with it. And though I didn’t track my neighbors’ vehicles, I was very perceptive. Since that particular neighbor was prone to having overnight guests, I attributed it to that, not thinking about it again.
That would be the first of many mistakes in the coming days.
TWENTY
Everly
Sunday, June 2, 2019
“How is it that you manage to beat me every time?” I asked Heaven as she took out my last piece on the board.
Though she’d said she was going to her sister’s yesterday, her plans had changed when one of Honor’s kids had gotten sick. She’d asked Heaven to delay a day or two. When she’d mentioned it to Ian, he’d told her to stay as long as she needed.
“Checkers is my jam,” she said, something akin to sweet innocence in her voice.
“I can see that. I still think you cheat.”
She laughed.
We’d been up in the attic for the better part of the afternoon, chilling, playing checkers, chatting, and reading. Nothing overly heavy, neither of us looking to move too much. Just a relaxing Sunday at home.
The thought had me stilling. This wasn’t my home even if I was here for an undetermined amount of time. I’d probably do well to remember that.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to go stir-crazy in this house,” Heaven said, her voice low, her eyes moving to the door.
I sighed, leaned back against the recliner at my back. “Me, too.”
My butt had fallen asleep halfway through the last game and I rubbed at it to wake it up. Hardwood did not make a great chair when playing checkers.
“Don’t you just want to go grab a coffee or something? Maybe see a movie?”
“Yep. I do.”
“Instead, we’re staring at the walls all day, every day. It’s been a week,” she whined.
“Eight days, actually,” I said teasingly.
“Okay, longer than a week.” Heaven turned so she could lie flat on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. “My boss was cool about yesterday, but I have to go back to work tomorrow.” She turned her head toward me, peeking around the table leg. “If I don’t, they will fire me.”
“I’ve probably lost my job already,” I admitted. “Dee told me she understood, but I could tell she didn’t mean it. I mean, it’s not that hard to find someone to take my place.”
“Whatever.” Heaven looked at the ceiling again. “You’re a great barista. Not just anyone can walk in off the street and do that.”
That was Heaven for you, always propping up someone else’s self-esteem when she was the first to be hard on herself.
“Thank you,” I told her. “Even if it’s not true.”
“It is,” she insisted, glaring at me.
I laughed. “I’m kidding. But seriously.”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Heaven said. “It’s been an amazing week, despite the circumstances of why we’re here.”
“Have you talked to your sister?”
“Yeah. She called this morning, said the coast was clear. I told her I’d be there as soon as I could. She asked where I was. Told her we were staying with a friend.”
“She’s just worried.” Heaven’s sister was overprotective of her. It was nice to see, considering I had no one who was worried about me anymore. My own parents lived fifteen minutes from Dante’s, but they’d long ago disowned me. I had let them, honestly. They’d never understood me. Not the real me.
“Yeah, probably. She’ll get over it.”
“I told Isaac I loved him,” I said, eyes on the checkerboard in front of me.
Heaven popped up, her eyes wide. “Oh, my God. Do you?”
I laughed. “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.”
Her smile was sheepish. “I knew that. Wow. That’s… Please tell me it’s great.”
“It is.” My smile was so wide my cheeks hurt. “He said he loves me, too.”
Heaven’s mouth dropped open. “What does that mean?”
We stared at each other, then both burst into a fit of laughter.
“You know what I mean,” she rasped between giggles. “I know what it means, but … what does it mean?”
More laughter.
I heard footsteps on the stairs, glanced back over my shoulder to see Ian. He was watching us closely. “What’s so funny?”
“Just girl stuff,” Heaven said before spurting into more giggles.
Of course, they were contagious, and I ended up flopping over onto my side.
“What brings you this way?” Heaven asked when she’d sobered somewhat.
Ian’s eyes darkened. “I actually came to tell you that Isaac said he could take you to your sister’s. Whenever you’re ready.”
She popped up so quickly I inhaled. “Really?”
Wow. I honestly hadn’t realized she’d been that eager to leave.
“Aye.”
I glanced at Ian. Admittedly, that Irish thing did it for me in so many ways.
Heaven’s eyes shot to me. “It’s okay, right? That I’m leaving?”
I pushed to my feet. “Of course it is. I know you need to get back to work. Just remember, you can’t go home until they tell you the coast is clear.”
