Chapter 9

9

E LIZABETH

I feel relieved when I enter my place, remove my boots, and lock the door before heading straight to the kitchen.

I place my Viking hat and fake sword on the table, grab a bottle of water from the fridge, and sink into a chair, my stare blank.

“Fuck me,” I slowly murmur before gulping down some water.

‘Why do you care so much?’ the voice in my head murmurs. ‘Besides, you don’t even know what they know. They’ve never pestered you with questions about it.’

Yeah. Well, I beg to different. James kind of wants to know if I’m messing with his business partner.

And Rain?

Hmm. Rain… What can I say?

She knows David intimately. And I don’t care how far in the past their story goes. And that they moved on and their lives are much different today.

She might still be a little curious about me in connection to him.

‘They didn’t talk.’

‘And you know that how?’ I respond.

The voice in my head makes a dismissive gesture.

‘Come on. Nobody cares that you and Mr. Moore hit the sheets once in a while.’

It’s not about that, and she knows it, but I agree. They have better things to do than be concerned with me.

David and I are not their business.

However, what David does is important when it comes to James’ real business.

With that being said, if they haven’t said anything to me, I won’t make a fool of myself by going around and trying to explain myself to people.

The question is… Should I tell David about this or not?

And speaking of that.

I glance at my phone and ponder my next move for a moment before picking it up and sending David a message.

He needs ten more minutes––he says.

My first instinct is to go shower. And then I remember he wants me to wear this costume when I strip for him.

All right.

‘Get to work, baby girl,’ the voice in my head jokes.

‘Shut up,’ I retort, smiling.

‘You gotta work for the money,’ she teases, and I pull out of my chair, laughing to myself.

And since she said that, let’s go check the money.

I walk across the house and check the back door first to make sure it’s locked before returning to the bedroom.

A thought pops up in my head.

Shit, I never thought about that.

I have so much money in this box, yet it’s never crossed my mind the man who rushed by my house that night might be a burglar.

Oh, fuck.

Not good.

Not good at all.

I retrieve the box from under the bed and set it next to me on the covers before running a quick search on my phone.

‘That’s quite an afterthought,’ the voice inside my head points out, and I couldn’t agree more.

I’m checking the crime rates in the neighborhood. As if that can change a thing.

Maybe the space under my bed is not the best hiding spot for my treasure.

Maybe I need a secure location outside my place.

Like a bank safe deposit box?

Ugh.

See, I knew that having money would come with all sorts of problems.

‘First world problems,’ the voice murmurs.

‘You could make yourself helpful and come up with an idea.’

‘Spend it.’

I get a panic attack only by thinking about it.

‘Invest it.’

Invest it… Hmm. Didn’t he say he could help me with that?

‘He did say a lot, but so far, he’s your long distance sex buddy, and things don’t seem to change anytime soon.’

Again, she’s right.

I take off the lid and reach inside the box before pulling out Rain’s book.

It’s so pretty, and now it’s crammed with one hundred bills. Ironic and metaphoric at the same time.

Maybe I should give it all back.

‘That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You can do better than that,’ the voice inside my head argues.

Sighing, I put it all back and slide the box under the bed. I’ve surely moved this box around the house a lot these past few weeks. I had it in the closet, under the sink––only spent a few days there since I was afraid it might get wet––and under the bed.

It’s practical to have it here, although Chloe almost gave me a heart attack when she picked it up and showed up with it in the kitchen.

Anyway… I won’t solve this problem tonight.

I run to the kitchen and collect my Viking hat before going back to the bedroom.

Just in time to notice David’s message.

David: I’m ready.

My heart beats faster. I'm ready, too.

ELIZABETH

Friday

On campus

Today must be my lucky day.

I slide my stuff into my backpack and get ready to leave the lecture hall when my phone flashes a message from Chloe.

Chloe: Sorry. The party has been canceled.

I shouldn’t be tempted to do a happy dance, but I'm kind of doing it inwardly.

There must be a reason behind this change, and I'd love to hear more about it, but I can't do it now.

Holding my phone in one hand, I type a message and send it to her.

Me: Things all right?

She doesn’t answer.

I hope they are.

Eventually, her reply arrives.

Chloe: Yes. Everything’s fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

Yes.

I would kiss her if she were here.

We’ll talk tomorrow. Or when I come back.

By then, I could tell her about my trip and fake interview, and this issue would no longer be an issue.

I shrug my jacket on, sling the strap of my backpack over my shoulder, and rush outside. I’m the last student to leave the room.

The front of the building is busy with students making plans for tonight.

A bright sun kisses the ground. Colorful leaves adorn the lawn, and the benches are occupied.

People linger, and I don’t blame them.

I would do that, too, but I need to go home and get ready.

I actually started to get lucky last night.

David was in a good mood, and I liked to believe it had to do with the fact that we would see each other today.

Talking to him shifted my mood for the better.

And I felt the same.

In less than twenty-four hours, we’d be together, touching each other and feeling the warmth of our bodies against one another.

I wanted him to be close to me, and it showed. I was filled with lust for him. I was playful and naughty, and my inspiration was abundant.

I stripped and touched myself for him, forgetting about all the other little things that marred my life.

The driver is set to pick me up at two in the afternoon today, so I better snap out of my contemplative state and head home.

I do just that, spinning around unexpectedly when I crush straight into a man’s chest.

At first, I struggle to place him.

“Keith…?”

Man, I haven’t seen this guy in a while. Since that night in the club. It feels like it’s been a decade.

“Liz?”

His eyes move over my face, a knowing smile on his lips. I find it odd, and the moment quickly gets awkward.

“Are you done for the day?” I ask, moving my eyes away from him for a second.

I find his stare in the same place when I shift my eyes back to him.

“Yes. You?”

“I’m heading home.”

“Do you need a ride?’

“Um, no. I’m good.”

“I saw you taking the bus a few times,” he says, and I have this weird feeling that his questions feel like little traps.

“That must’ve been a while ago,” I say. “It’s strange. I’ve never seen you around,” I counteract. “How do you know I was taking the bus?”

“You probably didn’t notice me.”

Not only did I not notice him. He vanished that night, and I never heard from him again.

Strange man.

And I remember how lulled I was, and I even thought he was a good guy. Maybe he is. But I still have this overwhelming feeling that something’s not right about him.

His gaze slides to my backpack, and I tighten my fist around the strap.

“Do you need help with that?”

“I’m good. Besides, you have one to carry yourself,” I say, pointing to his backpack. “All right. I need to go now. It was nice seeing you,” I add in haste.

“Same here,” he says as I’m already pulling away from him.

That smile is back on his lips. Like he knows something I don’t know.

I had the same feeling when I talked to James last night. That he knew something I didn’t know. And no, I didn’t tell David about it.

I may bring it up tonight.

The thing is, I didn’t get weird vibes from James like I get from Keith and his stupid smiles.

I make a beeline for the sidewalk, zipping across the lawn like my pants have caught on fire. I’m tempted to look back but crush that impulse.

Despite that, I still feel Keith’s stare on my back.

I step on the sidewalk and walk quickly to the shopping center where I parked my car when I look back.

He’s no longer there.

Good.

I practically run to the parking lot and frantically search for my car. There are so many cars that I get lost for a moment.

Finally, I spot it and slide into the driver’s seat.

I feel much better when I turn on the ignition and steer my ride away, but as I glance in the rearview mirror, that anxious feeling swiftly returns.

A car peels off the parking lot and slowly traces me.

It could be anyone, frankly.

People are shopping today. It’s Friday, and Halloween is tonight. So yeah, it could be anyone.

That doesn’t mean I’m calmer than before.

I veer left. The car, which is dark like mine, follows me. I spend more time peering in the back mirror than looking at the road in front of me.

The glare from the sun makes it difficult to see who is behind the steering wheel in that car.

But… I can make out the silhouette of a man. He wears sunglasses. Go figure.

Of course I can’t see his face.

Swerving to the other lane, I try to lose him.

I zip through an intersection just before the lights turn red, and he slows down, makes a right, and I finally leave him behind.

A long sigh leaves my chest.

It can still be a coincidence, and me becoming paranoid about these things doesn’t help, but the voice inside my head is of a different opinion, shaking her head dismissively.

No. It’s not that.

That’s what I thought.