Page 59 of Fractured Fate

Taking a long inhale through her nose, she nodded. She was fine. It would be fine. “Okay.”

“Can you call me back when you get there?”

“I’m on my cell. I can take it with me.”

“Okay. Good.”

When she pushed away from the wall and crept across the smooth tiles of the kitchen floor toward the front door, the bathroom door swung open and she screamed, spinning around and holding the knife up in front of her.

Aiden stood in the empty doorway with wide eyes, hand still gripping the knob.

“Oh my god,” she said, choking on the sob she held back the entire phone call. “What is wrong with you?”

She still held the knife in front of her, but with how hard she trembled, it wouldn’t have intimidated anyone.

“—Charlotte? Charlotte! Are you okay?”

She started at the voice, forgetting she had the dispatcher on the line.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m okay,” she said, breathless. She needed to push her heart back into her chest where it tried to burst through her chest cavity; but otherwise, sure, she felt fine.

“What is happening?”

“My idiot friend was in the bathroom. I thought he went home this morning.” Her eyes narrowed, giving a shell-shocked Aiden a pointed look.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m looking at him right now.” She deflated a little, feeling stupid for calling. “I’m so sorry. I don’t need help.” She felt terrible wasting resources and wondered if she’d get in trouble for wasting their time.

“Not necessary. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

A heavy knock sounded at the door, and she spun with a yelp, dropping the knife.

“Athens-Clarke County Police,” said a muffled male voice from the hall.

“The police are here,” Charlotte said to the dispatcher, and Aiden’s brows rose. “That was fast.”

“Open the door. Even with a false alarm, if they are already there, let them know you’re alright. They’ll just check that everything is okay and be on their way.” The man on the line sounded calm and reassuring, so she hoped it meant she wouldn’t be in trouble. “I’m going to hang up now. Take care of yourself, Charlotte.”

She nodded, even though the dispatcher couldn’t see her, and went to the door, pulling it open after disconnecting the call. Two officers waited on the other side, peering over her head.

“I’m so sorry you had to come out. It’s a false alarm.”

The taller man of the two raised a brow.

“Sorry. My friend was in the bathroom.” She motioned to Aiden. “I thought he went home this morning, and…”

She glanced down, registering the tiny sleep shorts and tight tank top. She wrapped her arms around herself, shielding their view of her chest. With her in skimpy pajamas to combat the heat, and her words, they would naturally conclude her friend was here for more lascivious activities. It made her self-conscious.

The tall man tilted his head to look around her, motioning to the floor. “And the knife?”

“I had it in my hand. I told the dispatcher. For protection.”

The shorter of the two squinted his hazel eyes and spoke with a thick Southern drawl. “What’s it doin’ on the floor?”

“I dropped it. The knock scared me.”

“Huh. Mind if we come inside and take a look around? Protocol an’ all.”