Page 46 of Beautiful Monster

As I work, I keep thinking about how it felt to have her in my bed. Our bodies never touched in the night, but I woke up a couple times just to admire her calm breathing next to me in the darkness.

Then, I start to think about how long she’ll stay. How long do I want her to stay? How long until it becomes impossible to deny myself? Somewhere deep down I hope the desire goes away, and I just become used to her being around, but I’m not holding out hope for that.

The old Alexander Caldwell lived for weekends and late nights. Now, with her here, I want nothing more than pizza and movies on the couch like it’s the equivalent to a new club opening and having VIP access.

Lost in thought, I stop when I hear the patio door open and close hurriedly. Then her feet pound quickly against the wood floors.

Rushing down the stairs, I find her standing near the glass door. “What’s wrong?”

Then I notice her mother crossing the yard and approaching the house.

“Do you want me to handle it?” I ask, touching her softly on the back of the arm.

She only shrugs. I understand that it’s her mother, and her feelings are complicated. She doesn’t want me to solve her problems for her, she just wants me there when she does.

I gently nudge Sunny into the kitchen and out of view of the patio door. She hovers nearby, chewing on the inside of her lip. Her mother walks straight up to the patio door and knocks. Her eyes have that same swollen shape like she’d been crying.

When I open the door, Sunny steps closer, stationed by my side as if she’s unafraid.

“What can I do for you?” I ask without inviting her in.

The woman bites her lip, glancing back and forth from me to her daughter.

“Thursday is Sunny’s twentieth birthday. We want to have a party at the house. I just want⁠—”

I turn my head and look at the girl standing next to me. I’ll let her lead in the response.

She stays silent, shrugging her shoulders timidly. I notice Sunny’s silence now. It’s deafening. And I know exactly who brings it out in her. I think about the laughter in my bed last night. The playful arguments about all of my boxes. The curious questions about my work.

Reaching out, I touch her arm.

“Say what you want to say, rain cloud.”

“I’ll think about it,” she murmurs. I nod at her with a subtle wink. I’m proud of her for speaking up.

My harsh glare focuses back on her mother after Sunny answers, but she doesn’t look at me.

“Are you okay?” she asks her.

Without any emotion on her face, Sunny answers, “I’m fine. Better.”

“I’m so sorry, Sun. I just…”

“I don’t care.”

That’s my girl.

She grows quiet for a moment. “Since your dad left, you know⁠—”

“I said I don’t care. The party sounds fun. I’ll be here until then.”

With that she turns and disappears inside the house, leaving her mother without another word. I glance at the woman with an emotionless glare.

“Is she safe here?” she whispers. I only roll my eyes. The nerve of this woman.

“She’s not going back to that house,” I declare as I close the door in her face, leaving no room for argument or questions.

CHAPTER 17