Page 36 of Affliction
Flipping the visor back up, I think back to the conversation with Maverick in my driveway when he dropped me off. He really meant it when he said he wanted me and didn’t care that we just met. I waited and waited for a hint of deception, but it never came. I’ve been fighting an internal battle all day with myself over the fact that I just met him.
On one hand, I’m extremely nervous to get too close to anyone. He’s also made it clear he isn’t going to stop probing until he finds out what I’m hiding. I tried so hard to seem convincing, but I can tell he sees right through it. I’m playing averydangerous game. What’s going to happen if he is somehow able to figure it all out?
No, don’t think like that. It would be impossible for him to.
On the other hand, his words keep replaying in my head.“I’m not going to waste any time denying the fact that I want you.”Hazel’s words from my first day here also play on repeat.“Go live your life the way you want to live it. For no one else but you.”These words, combined with the fact that I’m so intensely drawn to him and feel safe with him, help me make up my mind. I’ll worry about the potential consequences when andifthey come. For now, I’m going to do what feels right.
Exiting my car, I walk through the side gate into Hazel’s front yard and up the steps to the front door. It opens before I can raise my hand to knock, and I’m greeted by her comforting smile. She steps out onto the porch with her arms outstretched.
“Oh I’m so happy to see you!” She exclaims and wraps me into a warm hug. I breathe her in and her scent immediately comforts me. She smells of fresh, clean laundry and wildflowers. She releases me and holds me at arms length to examine me. “You look so much better than the last time I saw you. You had me worried there.”
I wave her off and smile. “I was just feeling a little run down from picking up extra shifts at the bar. I finally got some much needed sleep last night and I feel much better.” I don’t want to tell her that I’ve not been sleeping because I feel like I’m being watched. It would just cause her to worry more, and I refuse to cause her any stress. That, and I also still have zero proof.
“Good I’m glad you finally got some rest. Let’s get inside, it's getting chilly out here.” Hazel says, wrapping her arm around my shoulders and we step in the house together. She closes the door and walks over to the stove where a pot of chili simmers. The smell permeates the air and my stomach growls.When was the last time I actually ate a meal?I’ve been so busy with work I don’t even know the answer to that question. Probably the last time I was here.
I take a seat at the kitchen island and watch as Hazel stirs the pot before pulling down two bowls from the cabinet. With a ladle, she fills the bowls and sets one in front of me then grabs spoons.
“What would you like to drink?” She asks as she opens the refrigerator.
“Just some water, please.” What I really want is some wine, but that’s probably not the best idea on an empty stomach. She grabs me a water bottle and walks to sit across from me at the island.
“Here you go.” She places a spoon in front of me. “So, how was your day? I was surprised when you texted me saying you had the day off. I thought it was going to be a couple more days before I got to see you again.” Hazel smiles brightly before she brings a spoonful of her chili to her mouth.
“It was great. I worked a few doubles for Ashlynn last week. She said she would pay me back, so I took her up on it today to try to get some rest.” I reply. I take a bite of chili and my eyes roll to the back of my head. I never really liked chili before I had Hazel’s for the first time. Spicy and sweet mix together in a way that makes the otherwise simple meal taste heavenly.
“That’s wonderful. Did you do anything else?” Hazel probes, and I slowly swallow and try to think of what to say to her. I’m not ready to tell her that I met someone, but I also don’t like feeling like I’m lying to her. She’s the only person here who knows me and everything I’ve been through. She’s the only person in my life that I’m not lying to. I settle on giving her a half truth, I’ll tell her about Maverick when some more time has passed.
“I drove out to the mountains today for the first time and took a walk around the base. I can’t believe how beautiful it was.” I say and shovel another spoonful into my mouth.
“It’s about time you get out and do a little exploring. It really is a sight, isn’t it? I hope you feel nice and recharged after that.” She says. I nod andsmile. My thoughts drift off to sage green eyes peering up at me through thick, dark eyelashes from between my thighs.
Three hours later I’m walking up to the front door of my house. It’s a cloudy night, the moon barely able to be seen through the clouds, and I fumble in the dark to find my house key.I really need to get more lights out here.Finding the correct one, I pluck it and just as I’m about to put it in the lock the sound of branches snapping in the trees behind me catches my attention. A chill breaks out all over my body and I slowly turn around.I can’t see shit. I squint through the darkness and will my eyes to adjust. Whatever it was has stopped, the only sound is my heavy breathing echoing throughout my front porch.
Slowly reaching behind me, my fingers graze the Ruger still sitting on the small of my back. Tentatively, I pull the gun out of my jeans and pull it to my front, my eyes continuously scanning the yard. With one hand firmly on the grip and keys in the other, I shift back around to unlock the door. The lock clicks and as I push the door open, branches begin snapping behind me rapidly, almost as if something is running. My heart sinks and I burst through the door then slam it closed behind me. Quickly I lock the knob and deadbolt, then check it again to make sure they’re locked. Pushing my back against the door, I slide down it and drop to the floor. My breathing is rapid and heavy, my heart threatening to leap out of my throat. I squeeze my eyes shut and count backwards from ten.Ten, nine, eight, seven…
My breaths start to become more even and I open my eyes slowly. The only light inside the house is the soft glow above the stove. I remain seated for a few more moments before I slowly stand and slide my weapon backinto place against my back. Goosebumps raise all across my skin and my ears begin to ring. Steeling my nerves, I step away from the door and move toward the front windows in the living room. Dropping to a squat, I reach my hand to move my curtains to the side and peek through the blinds. I hold my breath as my eyes scan the front porch and driveway in front of me.Nothing.At least not that I can see. Standing up, I release a breath then walk back to the kitchen where I decide to make myself a hot tea to try to calm my nerves.
I pull down the box of Honey Lavender Stress Relief tea as the teapot on the stove heats up. Placing my palms flat on the counter, I hang my head. All the relaxation I felt earlier today was yanked out from under me in a matter of seconds. My shoulders feel as if I have an elephant perched on top of them and my head is beginning to throb. Pushing my hair out of my face, I stand to find some pain killers and the teapot begins to whistle, causing me to jump. The sound does nothing to help my anxious state, and I quickly remove it from the burner then drop three painkillers into my hand. Pulling down a separate glass from the cabinets, I flip the faucet on to fill it. Throwing the pills back in my mouth, I chug the glass of water.
Slamming the glass down on the counter, I turn to get some milk from the refrigerator then pour the steaming water from the kettle into the mug and plop the tea bag in. Waiting a few minutes for the tea to steep, I wash out the glass I just used and dry it, then put it back in the cabinet. Pouring a splash of milk into the tea, I put the carton back into the refrigerator. Grabbing the tea filled mug, I step over to the front door to ensure I locked it one last time. I double check the windows and when I’m satisfied I walk down to my bedroom. Bringing the mug to my lips, I take a large sip. The liquid slides down my throat and immediately warms my insides, helping lift the metaphorical elephant off my shoulders slightly.
Stopping in front of my nightstand, I place the mug on top of it and grab the remote to turn the television on. The glow illuminates the space of my bedroom as I flip to find the next episode of my show.I will not let the events from when I arrived home deter my plans of relaxing in bed with the two brothers on the show before I go to sleep. I find the next episode and place the remote on the bed before turning to grab my mug and step into the bathroom. I showered earlier before I went to Hazel’s house but right now a hot bubble bath with my tea is exactly what I need to rid the nerves. I turn the faucet to the right temperature and begin filling the tub. I pull my hair into a haphazard messy bun on the top of my head then pull the gun off my back and place it on the counter.
Once the tub is full and the bubbles almost overflow, I discard my clothes and step into the steaming water. Reaching over the tub, I pull my phone out of my jeans and scroll through my playlist. Some music with the bath should do just the trick at helping me relax a little more.Lonely is the Museby Halsey softly plays and I close my eyes, sinking lower into the water. My mind drifts again to green eyes and inky black hair.
My eyes snap open and a shiver runs through me. The water has turned ice cold and the music on my phone has changed.But that isn’t what has my breathing staggered and my hairs standing on end again. Over the music I can hear it. Softclick click clickingechoes through my quiet bedroom. I stand to pull a towel off the hook and cautiously exit the tub. I reach for my Ruger and cock back the slide to chamber a round. Adjusting my grip, I place my finger next to the trigger as I take slow, quiet steps out of the bathroom and toward the french doors across from me. The sound continues as I step closer. The clicks become louder and my breathingincreases. Nausea crashes into me like a tsunami and I swallow the softball sized lump in my throat. Everything in my body is screaming at me telling me to run, but I refuse. This ends now. I will not be made to feel scared or uncomfortable in my own home any more. I’ll be damned if someone thinks they’re going to take my safe space away from me.
Over my dead body.
Just as my feet land in front of the doors, the clicking immediately stops. My eyes widen and my harsh breathing echoes in the silence of the room.No fucking way. There is no way that I imagined that. But how did it just…stop?Holding my breath, I release one hand from my weapon and slowly unlock the door. I fling the door open and a rush of cold air slams into me and I’m greeted by an empty porch. Owls and crickets are the only sounds in the yard. I stand frozen in place for a moment.
No no no no no. It was right here. Someone was just right here, trying to get into my house. There was someone here. I know there was. I heard it. I’m not losing it. I’m not losing it. I’m…not…
My body begins to vibrate with panic and rage as I scan the area. I feel like I’m going insane, I know what I heard. But there isnothingthere. Tears build behind my eyes and I feel my face heat.Lost in Echoesby Caskets echoes from the bathroom and I let out an enraged, guttural scream over the porch and into the silence of the late night air. Tears flood my eyes as I slam the door shut and lock it.
Chapter twenty
Age Twenty-one
