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“Four. It’s been four years, not five.” I correct her. I’m not sure why it’s important but it fucking is. “Did you also know she bought the Murder House?”
“Okay, calling it that is extremely creepy and not cool. And yes, I knew.”
“And you still let her go through with buying it?!”
“Ben, she’s a grown-ass woman. It’s not like I could stop her.”
“Someone should have because she is way too…”
Te interrupts me, “Shit, she’s calling. I’ll talk to you later, bro. Stay safe.”
And just like that she’s gone, taking my avenue to vent with her. I can’t even check in on Rory because I don’t have her number to call her, and I doubt my sister is going to give it to me. Maybe there’s another way. It would be underhanded and sneaky as shit and if Te finds out she will kick my ass so hard. But…it seems the two girls have tied my hands.
I’m going to mom.
Chapter Three
Rory
I sing as loud as I can knowing no one will be able to hear me. I love it. I love everything about this place. The old wood, the big wide windows, the curving staircase, the secret little nooks and rooms that lay hidden until found all make me happier than I think I have ever been. Today I am painting the kitchen.
“Hello?”
Who…? That can’t be who I think it is. Surely, I am hallucinating because of last night’s brush with my past.
“Rory?”
Damn! “In the kitchen.”
I brace myself for the gut punch that always comes when I see him. When he steps into the room I want to shout at him. He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn't be trying to drag me back into crushing so hard on him that it’s kept me from being with any other man like my foolish heart believes it is waiting on a soulmate. Waiting on him.
“Bennet, hi. Do you want something to drink?”
He comes right up to the ladder I am standing on and my hands start to tremble around the paintbrush I’m holding. Too freaking close for my comfort. I lay the brush in the paint tray and turn so I can step down.
“How long have you been up on that thing?”
“How long?” That’s not really what I thought he would say. He seems kind of pissed today so maybe he didn’t have a good night. Poor baby, said in my best sarcastic voice.
“Did you even hear me pull up?” He finally backs up giving me much-needed space. He walks over to my phone and turns the music off.
I am so lost. The kitchen is at the back of the house, of course I didn’t hear him pull up.
“And what would happen if I was someone who wanted to hurt you? You wouldn’t have even known I was here because your music is too damned loud.”
“What is wrong with you? I don’t have neighbors to complain about how loud my music is and you aren’t someone who means to hurt me. What are you even talking about? You aren’t making any sense.”
“I’m not making any sense! I’m not making sense! Really! You could’ve been fucking killed and you wouldn’t even know what hit you because you are being stupid leaving your door open so just anyone can come into your house and rape and kill you.”
What the fuck?!
“And don’t even get me started about the fucking ladder. It’s like you want to kill yourself.”
“Bennet!” I say it loud enough to have him halting in his angry pacing. He turns to look at me. “Get out!”
“What?” He looks like I might have just slapped him.
“Get out. I don’t need you to criticize everything I do, Bennet. I’m not a little girl who you can boss around. I don’t need you to take care of me, damn it.” I push on his chest, but he doesn’t move at all. God, his chest is so fucking thick. “It was great to see you last night, but I don’t need you to treat me like a little girl.”
