Chapter 12

12

The bag of chips crinkled as she shoved another hand inside it. Her front door opened and closed. She twisted on the couch to see who had walked in without knocking. Poppy, followed by Zinnia. They took a seat on both sides of her, Poppy shoving her hand in the bag to grab a handful.

They both munched as silence filled the room.

She appreciated her sisters’ support, but she wanted to be alone. It had been a long day of travel. She, Aster, and the other band members all left this morning. While she hadn’t expected all of them to leave, they had decided it was time. Stan, while on the suspect list, was permitted to leave town. Their flight had been at eight o’clock, so they had to leave before the sun even rose to the airport. Then a nearly four-hour flight to get home. Another hour stuck in traffic before Aster dropped her off at her apartment. Not to mention the time change. She’d gained two hours, but it didn’t feel like it. She was exhausted. Aster had stayed for a while before she kicked him out, reassuring him she was fine. She would be fine!

He had to go and call the calvary.

“So, you wanna talk about it?” Zinnia asked, grabbing her own handful of chips, munching softly on them.

“No.”

Poppy chewed loudly on her end. On purpose to show she wasn’t walking on eggshells around her. Something Zinnia would do to keep the peace and not send her further down the rabbit hole of despair.

“You’re going to anyway.” Poppy smirked, throwing a chip in her mouth, chomping.

Well, yeah, she would because she knew her sisters wouldn’t leave until she did. She didn’t want to start at the beginning though.

“Aster told you everything.”

They both nodded with Zinnia adding, “Yeah, but his version could be off from yours. He’s seeing it through the eyes of an overprotective brother who loves you. Now dish on your version so we have the full picture.”

Poppy pointed a long finger at Zinnia. “What she said. Spill, woman!”

So Lila did. The wonderful time she had working with Bryce and the other members in the town. How welcome they all made her feel. Until Denise butted in and some looked at her like a home-wrecker. All about the murder and the rumors and suspicion that toiled around town. Who could have killed her? The random glances of desire she swore she saw from Bryce, though how he always remained an utmost professional. Coming home last night to a disgusting present and horrifying threat. The way it made her feel. Scared yet determined not to let it affect her. She hated how it felt like she ran away instead of facing the problem head-on. How Bryce demanded she leave and fired her. To where they were right now sitting on the couch devouring a bag of chips that would add five pounds to her weight by tomorrow.

“That’s shitty. Like, all of it.” Poppy shook her head, rolling her eyes. “Small-town nonsense. You don’t need that in your life.”

Zinnia put a hand on her knee, though it was covered by a blanket. “I think she was starting to like that kind of life.”

Her eyes stayed trained on the bag of chips in her lap as she gave a subtle nod. “For the most part, people liked me. I felt part of a community. I mean, here, it’s too busy. People worried about themselves and that’s it. It was nice.”

“You liked him, uh?” Zinnia murmured, as if she said it too loud Bryce himself would hear it.

She rolled the top of the bag down to close it. “He was a nice man. Kind and thoughtful. Very good at his job. It didn’t hurt that he was handsome.” She stood up and stalked to the kitchen, snapped the chip clip onto the bag, and then tossed it into the pantry. “He was married and I hated that I liked him. I hated Denise for putting awkwardness between us when it wasn’t even true. I hated that he told me to leave like he didn’t give a shit.”

One arm hit her right shoulder, then another one hit on her left, her sisters cocooning her in a double-sided hug.

“You don’t hate things,” Poppy reminded her. “So if you’re using that strong of a word, you like him more than you want to admit.”

“It doesn’t matter. I left and I won’t be going back.”

“It matters,” Zinnia said, resting her head on her shoulder.

Poppy did the same.

The tears released without notice. She cried in her sisters’ arms, letting out all the anger and anguish she’d felt since Bryce blindsided her with his decision. She figured someone would’ve watched her more carefully. Followed her home and around town. Safety in numbers and all that jazz. But she hadn’t seen it coming when he told her to leave. To listen to the killer’s threat. That’s what hurt the most.

When no more tears emptied out of her, she dried her eyes and took the offered spoon from Poppy, who had grabbed the mint chocolate chip from the freezer. The three of them took a seat back on the couch, each scooping ice cream right out of the bin.

“So what’s next?” Poppy asked.

“Whatever assignment my boss gives me. Because like I told Bryce, it was a job and I’ll move on.”

The next morning, when she went into work to relay the latest news, she left a few minutes later.

Fired. Again!

This time it couldn’t be misinterpreted. Her boss literally used the words ‘you’re fired.’ He blamed her for the fiasco as if she killed the woman. As if she sent herself a threatening note. Whatever. She hadn’t enjoyed the job as she had some of the other ones she had. While she had enjoyed her time in Sleighville, it would’ve come to an end at some point. She would’ve been thrown on another assignment and done it because she had to make a living somehow.

Aster showed up later that evening, Chinese food in hand. She didn’t confess about her job until they were halfway through their meal.

“Can I say I’m happy about that?”

She rolled her eyes. “I wish you wouldn’t.”

“I didn’t want you going back to that town anyway.”

“Well, I have no reason to now. How about you? Will you ever go back?”

Aster tossed around some noodles in the container, shrugging, not meeting her eyes. “Probably not.”

“What about Juliet?”

“We had a nice time. She knew when I left it was over. I mean, she knew when it started it wasn’t anything serious. She didn’t seem heartbroken or anything.”

Lila threw broccoli at him. “She’s not going to show you that emotion. You don’t know how she feels.”

Aster chuckled as he picked up the piece of broccoli that hit him in the chest and popped it into his mouth. “Look, neither of us are going back there. Agreed? That town is worth more trouble than we need.”

She couldn’t disagree with that. Trouble was the last thing she wanted. Having a target on her back wasn’t fun. Although Aster slept in the living room, she had a fitful night the last night. Tossing and turning, worrying about who might try to break in.

Even back home now she had trouble sleeping last night. Logically, she knew the killer wouldn’t follow her all the way to California. They issued a warning and she followed through on the demand. There was no need to follow her. It didn’t mean scenarios and her wild imagination didn’t run away from her.

“What’s the next job you’re hitting up?”

She giggle-snorted, tossing her shoulders up in a careless gesture. “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll have to go down the list of what I’ve done so far and pick something new. Why be boring and repeat something?”

“That’s the spirit.” He pointed at her plate. “You gonna eat that egg roll?”

She picked it up, taking a huge bite. “Yes. Paws off.”

From there, laughter rang around the table and the conversation moved on to more lighthearted matters.

Just as her life would move on. Because she wasn’t one to dwell on the past. Bryce made his choice. She would live with it and forget the tiny blip that Sleighville was in her past.

It had been a full week since he’d last seen Lila. Seven miserable days. Bryce had gotten used to seeing her every day. Her laughter. The tiny quirks she had while working. Even when she wasn’t working. She’d gotten under his skin and then some. He wanted her back so damn badly.

Of course, the sheriff was no closer to finding Denise’s killer, so that made it very dangerous for Lila to return. Her safety meant more than his desire to see her.

She was safe and he had to live with that.

He fiddled with his phone, taking a sip of beer. He’d gotten into a bad habit of stopping at Frost’s Pub and Grill after work the last few days. One beer, sometimes two, and then he left. But still. It was something he should break. What kind of message did it send the townsfolk the mayor was having so many drinks after work?

But at this point—his wife being murdered—did it matter what the town thought of him anymore?

He’d always been so worried about his image. How people perceived him. Did they like him or hate him? It was one of the reasons he stayed with Denise for so long. Portraying a happy marriage was better than dealing with the fallout of a divorce. Now he was left with much worse.

“Hey, stranger.” Melody slid onto a stool next to him at the bar.

Funny how he’d been coming the last few days and people didn’t bother him much. It’s as if they knew he needed some time to himself. Have a beer, muse in his own thoughts, and leave.

Melody didn’t hold that same belief. He wouldn’t be rude, even though he didn’t want to chat with anyone. Since their last interaction, they hadn’t seen each other. He wasn’t too sad about that.

“Hi.”

“I’d ask how you’re doing, but I know that’s a ridiculous question.” She turned away from him when Anson approached. “I’ll have a glass of Chardonnay, Anson. Thank you.” He walked away to retrieve her drink, and her attention went right back to him. “I haven’t seen you since…Denise passed away. I’m sorry for your loss.”

Passed away?

That was an interesting way to put it. He supposed murder sounded too harsh. It was what had transpired though. Why dodge the truth?

“I’m sorry for yours as well. I know you two were like sisters.” Now he felt like a huge asshole. “I should’ve reached out sooner, Melody. I’m so sorry I didn’t.”

He hadn’t even gone to the funeral. Her parents hadn’t been kind in their words when he saw them at the precinct one time. He figured they wouldn’t want him there, so he didn’t go. Griffin and Juliet didn’t make him or even try to convince him. Some people probably thought it odd, but it was to the point he didn’t give a shit what anyone thought anymore. Life had derailed so much he wasn’t even sure how to get it back on track.

She and Denise had known each other since they were five years old. Best friends on the first day of school. Losing her—and so violently—couldn’t have been easy.

She put a hand on his thigh, smiling. “Thank you, Bryce. I understand though. You’ve been through so much. Don’t worry about it.”

He didn’t like the feel of her hand on his thigh. It lingered until he shifted and she got the message to remove it.

For the longest time Denise had tried to get Griffin and Melody together, even knowing Griffin had no feelings whatsoever for her. Melody never took it personally, not that he’d been aware of anyway. She’d always been in his life because Denise had wanted her there.

And now…

It wouldn’t bother him if he never saw her again.

He downed the rest of his beer and stood up, grabbing his wallet to throw some bills on the counter for Anson. The man himself reappeared, setting down Melody’s drink in front of her. He grabbed the cash, nodding in appreciation toward Bryce.

“I have to go. It was nice seeing you, Melody.”

Her smile brightened, then she took a sip of wine. “It’s always a joy to see you too, Bryce. We should have dinner sometime.”

“Yeah. I’ll be swamped the next few weeks preparing for St. Patrick’s Day.” That was his polite way of declining. Having dinner with her was the last thing he ever wanted to do.

And he would be very busy. That wasn’t a lie.

Too much to do to erase the memory of a brutal murder out of everyone’s minds. Though he didn’t voice that. Not to mention, he had to do it on his own now that Lila was gone.

“I haven’t seen Lila around. Where did she wander off to? Isn’t she helping?”

He forced a weak smile to hide his real feelings on the matter. “She had to get back to California on another matter. I’ll see you around, Melody.”

Her goodbye trailed behind him as he walked away before she could get it all out. But if he didn’t leave, he’d fall apart in front of her.

Thinking about Lila crushed his heart. Pulverized it into tiny little bits where he feared it would never be back to normal again. Such a short time, but she had weaved her way into his heart and soul with ease.

He missed her like crazy.

When he got home, he crashed on the couch, pulling out his phone, fiddling with it again. The urge to call her was strong. Every time he had his phone in his hand, he wanted to do just that. Call her. Text her. Anything to know how she was doing. Yet, he never did.

He needed his own space, so the same day Lila had left, he moved into the cottage where she’d been staying. Juliet had not minded that he left her house. Griffin didn’t care he stayed in the cottage, even though it could’ve been used for renters. They knew he couldn’t go back to his own house, despite it being available for him. The crime scene crew had done its thing. The mess in the living room had been cleaned up, thanks to Griffin. But to go back there…even for clothes…he still couldn’t do it. He imagined his suitcase still sat by the front door.

Now that he was in the same domain Lila had been, he saw her everywhere. Curled up on the couch with her little toes sticking out from under the blanket. A cup of coffee in her hand as she sat at the table in the kitchen. Looking full of rage as she stood by the door in her bedroom, wanting to murder him for making her leave. That was the image he saw the most.

The hurt in her eyes.

The hatred…

She said she didn’t hate him, but the eyes never lied.

He tossed his phone on the coffee table, listening to it as it clattered and nearly flew off the edge.

He had so much work to do concerning the next big event in town and he didn’t even care if it went well. All he cared about was how Lila was doing, and he couldn’t even call to ask her.

She wouldn’t pick up anyway.