The sinking feeling of knowing exactly what she means settles over me like a wet blanket. From an outsider’s perspective, I don’t view Eden or her baby as any type of dead weight, even though she clearly views herself that way.
“But after a few minutes, Sterling found us, busted down the door and everything. He started beating Michael upbefore Duke took me out to the truck and told me to stay put and wait.”
Her eyes are wide and intensely focused on my face. I nod, encouraging her to go on.
“I haven’t told anyone about this,” she whispers, glancing around nervously again.
My heart pounds in my ears. “What happened next?”
She licks her lips and chews on her thumbnail before finally continuing on with the story. “I don’t even know how to explain it. They were in there for another fifteen minutes before Sterling came out with blood all over him. Then we drove around the block and picked up Duke, who looked just as bad. I never asked what happened, but I haven’t heard from Michael since. My sister-in-law Harley told me that he’d been reported missing, but no one has any idea what could have happened to him.”
Her green eyes are boring into me, clearing gauging my reaction. I blow out an exhale, leaning back against the booth. The waitress returns, dropping off our burgers and fried pickles with a side of ranch. The scent of the greasy food makes my mouth water.
“Anything else you need, girls?”
“Nope. This looks great.”
She smacks her gum and leaves us alone. Eden clasps her hands in front of herself and bows her head. I follow suit.
“Dear Lord, please bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies. And keep my baby and Sterling safe, along with Dawson and Dutton. Amen.”
I smile at the prayer before opening my eyes and dipping a fried pickle in the ranch.
“So, let’s say they did. Where would they have hidden the body?”
She shakes her head. “No idea. We went back to Sterling’s house and watched a movie. Maybe Duke went back that night for it?”
I shudder when I picture Duke dragging a bloody dead man out into a random field to bury him.Is he actually capable of something that brutal?
As long as I’ve known him, he’s been the flirty playboy who bull rides, dances at the bar on Friday nights, and fucks like it’s his only purpose in life. Cold-blooded murder, even of a jackass like Eden’s ex, seems far-fetched.
But I don’t think Eden is a liar. And I also don’t think she has an overly active imagination. She seems pretty levelheaded.
“What else did Harley say?”
She pulls out her phone and taps on the screen. “I have the text right here.” She hands the device over to me.
Harley
I’m so glad you’re not sick anymore. Oh, by the way, I hate to bring up this jerkface at all, but I just thought you should know that Michael has gone missing. His grandma posted on social media about how no one has seen him in months. They’re asking for prayers. Yeah, good luck getting people to pray for that prick. Isn’t that weird?
I read over the text several times before clicking on the link attached to it. It brings up a post, detailing how long it’s been since Michael has been gone and that his last-known whereabouts were in Virginia.
“Virginia? Isn’t that where you and Sterling were living before he was deployed?”
She nods slowly, like that’s the whole point.
“So, Michael somehow found you there, went to demand you take him back or whatever bullshit, and then after Sterling and Duke beat him up, he hasn’t been seen since.”
“Yeah. Pretty much. You’re the only person I’ve told this to, by the way. My family is already freaked out by the pregnancy and me eloping with a stranger. I can’t tell them this.”
I nod, wrapping both hands around the huge burger. “You can trust me. I won’t tell anyone.”
My attention is dragged away by a newcomer entering the café. My heart rate triples when I see who it is.
The shoulder-length brunette hair belongs to Matt’s sister. She’s gotten blond highlights since I last saw her.
The hateful glare on her face makes my neck feel hot. Honestly, she disliked me since before the divorce. I’m sure she uses it as an excuse now, but she’s never been nice.
