stepped out of the doorway into mine, gripping the top of
the doorjamb. “Throw in a backrub and I might just ask you to marry me.”
I
rolled my eyes and gave him a shove, forcing him out of the doorway. “Right.
I’ll believe you’re ready to settle down when I see the ring.”
He
slipped away with a quiet chuckle and I began gathering up dirty clothes. I
took them out to the laundry room and started stuffing the washer. James
appeared with a few things of his own that I shoved in with mine. I tossed in
some soap and slammed the lid down, hitting the button to start the cycle. “Now
let’s go see what I can rustle up in the kitchen.”
I
hadn’t been shopping in almost two weeks, so options were limited, but I found
chicken breasts in the freezer and some pasta and a jar of sauce in the
cupboard. “Chicken alfredo it is,” I declared, and looked over at James.
“You
won’t hear me complain about anything you want to make. You cook it, I’ll eat
it.”
He
moved into the living room and claimed the TV while I whipped up our dinner.
The rest of the night was pretty quiet. We ate and watched sitcoms while I
worked my way through the mountain of laundry, even getting it folded and some
of it put away.
James
ducked his head inside my open door when I was putting away socks. “So, what’s
the verdict? Do you have gremlins or a possessed dryer, or did you find your
things?”
“Don’t
know yet. Haven’t found what I was looking for, but I’ve still got another load
or two to sort through, and I need to put those piles away.” I waved my hand at
the stacks of clothing that covered the chair and small desk in my room from the
last time I did laundry. “My money’s on gremlins though.”
“Well,
I’m going to turn in. I didn’t make it to a gym today, so I’m going to try to
hit one first thing in the morning. Then my dad needs help around the property,
so I’ll be out there most of the day.”
“Okay.
There’s a gym just a couple blocks from the shop. My friend Will is a trainer
there. I’ve never been in, because me and gyms don’t get along, what with all
that sweating, but I think it’s a good place. You should check it out. I’m sure
they do weekly passes or something for while you’re in town.”
“Okay,
I might hit it up. Thanks.”
His
head disappeared and I heard him shut himself inside the bathroom. I finished
putting away the stack in my arms, disappointed that my favorite shirt, one of
the many missing items, hadn’t turned up. I got it at the Ashes and Embers concert
Emily took me to a couple years ago. We got to meet the band and I had them
sign it with one of those fancy fabric Sharpies. I was going to be pissed if it
didn’t turn up eventually.
The
bathroom door opened and James popped his head in one more time to say
goodnight. I grabbed my pajamas and headed for the shower. By the time I
dragged myself back out and took a few extra minutes to blow-dry my hair so I
wouldn’t wake up looking like something from an eighties hair band, the house
was dark and quiet.
I
didn’t know if James already had, but to be safe, I did a quick sweep of all
the doors and windows making sure everything was locked up tight before
crawling into bed and chasing after that elusive sleep. It was a while before
my mind quieted enough for me to find it. That damn card they found on Laney
kept taunting me.
The
sick freak had put it in her hand. But why? Was he fucking with everyone, or
was he trying to tell us he had Emily? Or used to have her.
No.
I
refused to believe that she wasn’t still alive.
If
this guy had her, then he was keeping her alive for something. There was
something about Emily. She was different from the other girls and it had to
mean something important.
Or
maybe that was why he hadn’t dumped her. He didn’t want her found.
No.
I
couldn’t think like that. I wouldn’t give up on her. She was out there. I
shuddered to think of what might be happening to her at
the doorjamb. “Throw in a backrub and I might just ask you to marry me.”
I
rolled my eyes and gave him a shove, forcing him out of the doorway. “Right.
I’ll believe you’re ready to settle down when I see the ring.”
He
slipped away with a quiet chuckle and I began gathering up dirty clothes. I
took them out to the laundry room and started stuffing the washer. James
appeared with a few things of his own that I shoved in with mine. I tossed in
some soap and slammed the lid down, hitting the button to start the cycle. “Now
let’s go see what I can rustle up in the kitchen.”
I
hadn’t been shopping in almost two weeks, so options were limited, but I found
chicken breasts in the freezer and some pasta and a jar of sauce in the
cupboard. “Chicken alfredo it is,” I declared, and looked over at James.
“You
won’t hear me complain about anything you want to make. You cook it, I’ll eat
it.”
He
moved into the living room and claimed the TV while I whipped up our dinner.
The rest of the night was pretty quiet. We ate and watched sitcoms while I
worked my way through the mountain of laundry, even getting it folded and some
of it put away.
James
ducked his head inside my open door when I was putting away socks. “So, what’s
the verdict? Do you have gremlins or a possessed dryer, or did you find your
things?”
“Don’t
know yet. Haven’t found what I was looking for, but I’ve still got another load
or two to sort through, and I need to put those piles away.” I waved my hand at
the stacks of clothing that covered the chair and small desk in my room from the
last time I did laundry. “My money’s on gremlins though.”
“Well,
I’m going to turn in. I didn’t make it to a gym today, so I’m going to try to
hit one first thing in the morning. Then my dad needs help around the property,
so I’ll be out there most of the day.”
“Okay.
There’s a gym just a couple blocks from the shop. My friend Will is a trainer
there. I’ve never been in, because me and gyms don’t get along, what with all
that sweating, but I think it’s a good place. You should check it out. I’m sure
they do weekly passes or something for while you’re in town.”
“Okay,
I might hit it up. Thanks.”
His
head disappeared and I heard him shut himself inside the bathroom. I finished
putting away the stack in my arms, disappointed that my favorite shirt, one of
the many missing items, hadn’t turned up. I got it at the Ashes and Embers concert
Emily took me to a couple years ago. We got to meet the band and I had them
sign it with one of those fancy fabric Sharpies. I was going to be pissed if it
didn’t turn up eventually.
The
bathroom door opened and James popped his head in one more time to say
goodnight. I grabbed my pajamas and headed for the shower. By the time I
dragged myself back out and took a few extra minutes to blow-dry my hair so I
wouldn’t wake up looking like something from an eighties hair band, the house
was dark and quiet.
I
didn’t know if James already had, but to be safe, I did a quick sweep of all
the doors and windows making sure everything was locked up tight before
crawling into bed and chasing after that elusive sleep. It was a while before
my mind quieted enough for me to find it. That damn card they found on Laney
kept taunting me.
The
sick freak had put it in her hand. But why? Was he fucking with everyone, or
was he trying to tell us he had Emily? Or used to have her.
No.
I
refused to believe that she wasn’t still alive.
If
this guy had her, then he was keeping her alive for something. There was
something about Emily. She was different from the other girls and it had to
mean something important.
Or
maybe that was why he hadn’t dumped her. He didn’t want her found.
No.
I
couldn’t think like that. I wouldn’t give up on her. She was out there. I
shuddered to think of what might be happening to her at
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