“Yes, thank God.” My ex’s imprisonment is the only retribution I have, even though he ended up there for bigger things than what he did to me.
“Anyway, Baby girl, I’m gonna love you and leave you. I have a hair appointment in an hour.” She chuckles. “You should see my hair. I look like a mad wet hen.”
“I’m sure you don’t look that bad.”
“Oh, I do. And you know how Rob likes to laugh at me when I can’t get my hair right.”
Because she’s a perfectionist. “Alright, Aunt Bess. Have fun.”
“There’s nothing else you need to tell me, is there?”
Oh, like how I can’t go back to my apartment because a bunch of perverts stole my underwear, and I’m shacking up with Levi? “No. There’s nothing more.”
I close my eyes, hating the outright lie.
“Alright, my love. Speak later. And let’s arrange something. That man needs to come over for dinner.” She makes it sound as if we live down the road.
"Dinner?"
“We have to meet him. Make sure he’s good enough for our girl.”
I roll my eyes. “He’s a billionaire.”
“And you are my angel.”
Again, my heart warms. “Thank you.”
“Love you, sweet girl.”
“Love you, too.”
We hang up, and I let my hand holding the phone fall to my lap. My eyes find the window, and I gaze out at the beautiful view of the sea. A person could lose themselves in that view.
I look away and stand, dragging in a breath.
The clock on the wall tells me it’s eight.
I have to speak to Levi before he leaves. I would have gone out before, but it was too early to disturb him.
I tuck my phone into my jeans pocket and leave the room.
The landing is quiet, and morning light spills through the huge windows, lighting up the dark wood floors and pale walls.
During the day, the house feels less intimidating somehow. Or maybe that’s because this is my third visit.
My bare feet sink into the runner as I walk toward the staircase. I’m hoping Levi is downstairs. I don’t want to go looking for him in his room. If he’s not up yet, I’ll wait in the living room.
I descend slowly, my fingers trailing over the smooth black railing. It feels grounding in a strange way.
The second I reach the bottom floor, I hear movement nearby—cabinet doors opening, the clink of dishes, soft shuffling coming from the kitchen.
Oh, good. He’s up.
I pause at the foot of the stairs, trying to figure out what I’m going to say to him. Especially after the weirdness between us.
I don’t want to seem rude when I tell him I can’t stay here, and I definitely don’t want to make the tension between us worse.
I move again and round the corner into the kitchen but stop in the doorway when I find a woman standing by the marble island who definitely isn’t Levi.
