“Well, I haven’t heard from her in a few days, so I’m hoping she’s left.” It was probably wishful thinking, but she could hope.
“I’ll let you know if I see her around here.”
“Thank you.” The line started to cut in and out just as the doorbell rang. “Oh, pizza’s here. And I think I’m losing signal with the storm.”
“Okay. I can’t wait to hear how disgusting it is. Chat—”
The call cut out.
At least she’d gotten a good twenty-minute conversation with her best friend first.
She rose from the couch and grabbed some cash from her purse. When she opened the front door, a tall, wet, bleach-blond shaggy-haired teenager stood in front of her.
She smiled at him. “Hi.”
“I have a pepperoni pizza for an Aspen.”
“That’s me.” She handed him the cash, and he gave her the pizza.
He turned to look at something over his shoulder before turning back to Aspen. “Do you know there’s a guy in his car on the street watching your house?”
Her back straightened and she looked over his shoulder. “There is?” That was kind of creepy.
“Yeah. Want me to talk to him? See who he is?”
“Oh, no, you…please don’t—”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind.” He turned and walked toward the car before she could stop him.
She called for him to come back, but her voice was drowned out by the rain.
Dammit. What if the guy was dangerous?
She watched the kid move toward the car, nerves running down her spine. If the personwasdangerous, she had no idea what she would actually do. There was no phone service, and shedidn’t have a weapon. But she couldn’t just walk away. The kid was only a teenager.
It was too dark to see the make or model of the car. Hell, if someone asked her the color, all she’d say is that it was dark…maybe black or navy blue? And there was no way she could see the person inside.
Her heartbeat sped up as the kid drew closer to the vehicle.
He was only a couple feet away when the headlights turned on and the car sped away.
Water splashed the kid, and he flipped the car off before heading back to his own.
A slight chill ran over her skin as Aspen closed the door, making sure it was locked. Who was the person in the car? And were they really watching her?
No. The kid must have been confused. It was probably just someone waiting out the storm.
She moved back into the house and closed the curtains before sitting on the couch. Trying to take her mind off it, she scrolled through Netflix, picking a random movie she’d never heard of before opening the pizza box. A romantic comedy and pizza…exactly what she needed.
She took one bite of the pepperoni pizza and involuntarily made a face.
Good God, itwasas bad as everyone said. The dough was soggy but also burnt, the tomato sauce was flavorless, and the cheese…it tasted kind of off, but also, kind of tangy.
Gross.
Burt must bereallynice for people to keep this place in business.
She took two more bites, because maybe it would get better…
