He laughed.
She still got her jab in there. He’d take it over glitter any day and give her the time that she needed.
36
CONDEMNING HER ACTIONS
The knock on her back door was the last thing that Meredith wanted to deal with that afternoon.
She threw her dishtowel down on the sink and went to the back door where Karl was waving at her, a massive grin on his face.
She’d spent most of her day slamming things around the house as she did them. Even broke a glass in the sink and had to clean it up. How she did it without cutting her finger might have been a miracle.
She was so stupid to tell Clay she loved him.
Even more of an idiot to actuallyfall in love withhim!
She didn’t even know how it happened.
One minute he’s snarling at her, the next she’s asking him to take her to bed. What kind of voodoo power is that?!
“Hi, Karl. What can I do for you?” she asked, her friendly voice forced.
“I wanted to check on you,” Karl said. “You know, I haven’t seen you since everything happened days ago. I wasn’t sure where you’ve been.”
“I’m good.” Her hand was on the door and ready to shut it.
“I brought you your favorite latte.” He pulled the tray out from behind his back that he was hiding.
There were two cups on it. She didn’t want to socialize, but he’d obviously gone out of his way to get it and he’d been helpful to her lately.
She sighed. “Thanks,” she said. “Why don’t you come in and have a seat?”
He moved past her into the kitchen, then to her little table off of it and had a seat. She pulled out a chair and sat while he removed her cup and set it in front of her.
“Are you sure everything is okay? You seem a little off.”
She couldn’t understand why he’d say that. Though her voice might be forced, he wouldn’t know that. It wasn’t the first time she’d talked to Karl this way when she didn’t want to be interrupted.
She picked up her pumpkin latte and took a healthy sip. It hit the spot and was worth the interruption of her pity party.
“Everything is good. Just a lot on my mind and a crazy week.”
“I know,” Karl said. “How terrible that had to be for you. Thankfully, I saw that horrible man on your porch and reported it for the police to get here in time. You could have come and stayed with me.”
There was no use telling Karl that his call hadn’t gotten Richie caught but the camera that Clay had installed did. Without that camera, she would have gone to the door to see what the noise was and let that man into her home.
“I was upstairs locked in my room,” she said. “But I appreciate you helping.”
Karl looked at her. “Your eyes are sad. Having problems with your new boyfriend?”
She shrugged and tried to pretend his look wasn’t a hopeful one. It seemed like everything she thought or did was wrong in her life.
“Nothing new. Like everything else in life, people go at different paces.”
Karl frowned. “It’s only been a few weeks, right?”
“More like a month and a half.”
