Summer comes to a stop at the barn door, hands on her hips.I keep on walking, because I know it’s the smart thing to do.“See you later.”
I feel Summer’s eyes on my back.I’ve felt eyes on me all day.Has something changed in my expression?Is there something about my exterior that’s hinting at the internal shitshow I’m dealing with?
Of course not, and I’ll make sure it stays that way.
Summer’s right.Emma looks like she’s been to hell and back.But I noticed this morning that she was squeaky clean and soft looking, even her fingernails.And her scent was soft and feminine.That tells me that being covered in dust and dirt isn’t the norm for her.I hope she enjoyed the shower.
I wanted to kiss her this morning.I almost did.
Holy shit what am I doing?
I think about how pretty she is, with that beautiful dark hair, knowing eyes, and the sweet way she touches her cheek when she’s uncertain.It’s like she’s trying to hide herself, keep out of sight.
I wonder why she’s like that.
I also wonder what she’s doing now, and whether she’s finding everything she needs.Wait—did I say she could clean my bedroom?Was that on the list of rules?I don’t remember, but I’m not sure that I want her in my bedroom.
Actually, I do want her in my bedroom.That’s why she shouldn’t go in there.
CHAPTER 13
Finn
Shit, what if she’s stealing the silver?It’s probably a good thing I don’t have any.
I find that I’m jogging more than walking toward my house.And then my jog turns into a run, and when I burst through the front door, my heart is pounding.
I stop in my tracks and put my hand on my chest to feel the thud.My normal resting heartrate is forty-eight beats a minute.I can hold my breath underwater for four minutes.I’ve run fifteen ultra marathons, and I’m one of just twenty people who’ve ever finished the infamous Barkley race.
My heart doesn’t pound from a short jog across the Yosemite Ranch compound.
Until now.
My heart begins to slow, but then I cross the foyer, get a look at the living room, and I feel my blood pressure rise.The room is different.A bit empty.A lot empty.Wait, did she steal some of the furniture?
What has she done?
I take a few more steps inside.She’s changed my whole living room!A quick scan reassures me that all the furniture is here.The rug is here.The television is still on the wall.
But the remote controls are lined up on the end table.I’ve never seen them there.And there definitely are missing things, but I can’t quite pinpoint what was here when I left this morning.
What has she done to the other rooms?
I go into my office and breathe a sigh of relief.Everything’s exactly the way I left it.I open my desk drawers to find that the wad of one-hundred-dollar bills I keep there for emergencies hasn’t been moved, and neither has the bottle ofClase Azultequila I keep for even bigger emergencies.
I check the garage.My Jeep and SUV are still there, but the laundry room isalljacked up.Where are the piles of dirty clothes on the floor?The washers and the dryers are running at the same time, and it’s an unnerving sound.I’m not used to it.I don’t like it.
The kitchen!
I screech to a halt and go perfectly still, my whole body on alert.I was right.Emma has stolen all our dishes.Where’s all the shit that was on the counters?What’s missing?I’m disoriented.And what’s that sound?
I look down to see both dishwashers running, their lights flashing like the dash of Declan’s Bell Long Ranger helicopter.This is justwrong.It smells weird in here too, something like fresh citrus.
My eyes go to the refrigerator.Oh,hellno.I take a few steps, grab the handle, and prepare myself.I throw it open.I immediately slam it shut.
This is an act of aggression.This is not going to work.
The last time the house looked like this was the day we moved in.What’s does Emma think she’s doing?Wait.I know exactly what she’s doing—she’s disrupting our way of life.She’s disrespecting our traditions!
