Chapter Two
“Ok, I’ll see you tomorrow night,” Fin smiled winningly from the doorway. He was cocky and a know it all and I just needed him to take two more steps back so I could slam the door in his face and lock it.
“Looking forward to it,” I lied with little effort to conceal the lie. I wasnotlooking forward to it. In fact, I wasdreadingit.
How had I gotten to this place in my life?
Fin looked down at me for a few more sEconds, those sharp eyes of his assessing me in a way I was completely uncomfortable with. Guys had checked me out before; I wasn’t immune or ignorant to that. But this was nothing like that; this was so much more intense. And I couldn’t even be certain what he was doing was actually physical. It felt like something so much more, like he could see me on this metaphysical level and read my aura or something.
“Ok…. I’ll see you tomorrow, remember?” I pushed against the door, nudging it against the flip flop that was still in my way. “That means goodnight.”
He laughed at my rudeness, his expression slipping from narrowed calculation to happy amusement. “You’re right,” he finally said and took a step back. “Goodnight El-“
I didn’t wait for him to finish, I slammed the door and made quick work of the locks: first deadbolt, sEcond deadbolt, chain, handle lock, big breath.
Holy smokes, what did I get myself into? I fell backwards against the door and then slid to the floor on my butt. I pulled my knees to my chest and then rested my forehead against them.
I knew Tara was a bad seed. Iknewit! But I wanted to believe the best of her. And I could never have imagined she would do something this shady. I mean, this was like…. criminal activity kind of bad!
I had doubts about her the first time I met her, but I was desperate for a roommate and she seemed…. nice. So I ignored that she was twenty-five minutes late to our first meeting, that her clothes smelled like the cheapest kind of weed and that her dread-locked hair was dyed a disgustingly pale pink. I mean, if I would have taken all that into consideration that would have been profiling! And profiling was rude and judgmental and other bad things. But maybe…. probably…. roommates should always profile potential roommates; especially ones with secret addictions that have no problems serving them up on silver platters to gorgeous but extra scary bookies.
Was Fin a bookie?
What exactly was a bookie?
I should call the cops. I mean, sherobbedme! That was bad. And then she stole my identity!
That was even worse.
Ugh, my parents were going tokillme!
Panic slid like ice through my veins, slushing the blood and raising goose bumps down the lengths of my arms. I shot to my feet and sprinted through my small apartment taking stock of everything still here.
I ripped open my kitchen cabinets and noted the small amount of Goodwill dishes and sEcond hand pots and pans left behind. Those were her contributions to the shared living, not mine. And they definitely weren’t worth anything. The living room was empty, the TV, couch, end tables and love seat all disappeared. The only evidence remaining that there had even been furniture in that room were the indents in the carpet and the places next to the wall where the couch was that needed vacuuming. The bathroom was about half and half, the huge metal cornflower blue flower I picked up from the craft store on sale, that brought the soap dispenser and shower curtain together ascetically, was missing, but my shower curtain and the soap remained. Her bedroom was completely empty except for the remaining trash littered across her filthy floor.
And then there was my room.
My hand trembled as I grabbed the door handle and turned. I closed my eyes, sucked in a deep breath and opened the door. A gush of orange blossom and ginger, my favorite Yankee Candle scent, greeted me and fortified me with enough courage to open my eyes.
One at a time….
I released the breath I’d been holding with a shaky laugh. My room seemed to be left alone. My bed was still perfectly made, no creases or wrinkles, my desk with my computer hadn’t been touched or removed, my closet door was open but I could see the clothes as they should be. Ok, she hadn’t stooped to this level of thievery. She left my room alone.
At least there was that.
If only I could pawn my own things and come up with seven thousand dollars. That would make things a little easier.
But they weren’t worth that much money. Or even close to half that much money!
I walked over to my bed and sank down on the edge. My life was a mess right now and it was so frustrating, but mostly embarrassing. Fin Hunter walking into the middle of it was like the final straw of sanity. I had to go to the police. And then I would have to tell my parents. And then my brothers would find out.
And then my entire life would end.
And after it all I would be right back where I started, living with my parents and under lock and key from my over protective brothers.
I was not going back to that place.
Not ever.
