Page 145

Willow pointed toward the wall. “Here me out. I watched a movie where this man was supposed to get evicted, but instead of leaving, his crazy ass started living inside the walls. Then he started killing the people who moved into his house!”

“Willow, what the hell does that have to do with me?”

“Girl, think about it! Caspian disappears, nobody knows where he went, and you said this place couldn’t hold a good tenant for more than six months. Now you move into his house, and suddenly he popping up in your bed? Only thing is, I don’t think Caspian wants to kill you or run you off. In your words, he just wanna fuck you.”

I covered my mouth, already laughing. “Willow!”

“I’m serious about him having a hideout place in here. Rich people houses got secret rooms, hidden hallways, panic rooms, wine cellars, dumbwaiters, all kinds of shit nobody knows about. This house is big as hell. Caspian could’ve been back there eating sandwiches while watching us unpack.”

“Willow, do you hear yourself?”

“Did you hear yourself when you woke me out of a yacht dream talking about Caspian showed up in yours and felt real as hell? All I’m saying is, before you start telling everybody you had a supernatural dick appointment, maybe we need to check the basement.”

I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh. “Can I finish?”

She finally cracked a smile before studying me more seriously. “Okay, okay. I’m done. But for real, Lakelyn... talk. Start from the beginning.”

I told her… not every intimate detail, but enough.

Willow listened without interrupting, which was a miracle by itself.

When I finished, she sat quietly for a moment, then she sighed. “Lakelyn...”

I already knew that tone. “Don’t.”

“I’m not judging you.”

“Then don’t look at me like I’m losing my damn mind.”

She reached for my hand. “Sis, I know you’re grieving Caspian’s disappearance, and I know moving into this house has brought back a lot of things you’ve been trying not to think about. You mentioned wanting to get Kaidence somebody to talk to because he said he saw his daddy at school. Well… maybe you need somebody to talk to too.”

I pulled my hand away. “Are you serious?”

“Lakelyn, I’m just saying—”

“I’m not crazy!”

“I didn’t say you were.”

“I know how it sounds, but I know what I felt!” My voice cracked. “Still feel.”

She watched me. “And what exactly do you still feel?”

“My pussy hurts, Willow!” I threw my hands up. “It’s the same damn ache I used to have after Caspian and I had sex!”

She chuckled lightly.

“And it’s not funny.”

Willow slowly settled back against her pillows, then she nodded. “You’re right. It’s not.”

I studied her. “That’s all you got?”

“Yup.”

“So you believe me?”

“Look, sis. I watch way too many scary movies to sit here calling somebody crazy just because they tell me they saw something they can’t explain.”