Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
She tries to smile, but it doesn’t quite stick. Her phone buzzes and she turns it over to check the screen. Then she swallows, gives me a smile, and changes the subject. Which is fair. We both have our sore spots worth respecting. “What do you normally do on a Friday afternoon? Have a glass of wine?”
“We can do that,” I respond.
“And we need snacks.”
“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.” I head into the kitchen to find the necessary supplies. Cheese and crackers and a bottle of white wine from the back of the cupboard. A shame I didn’t think to put it in the fridge earlier. But this is exactly why we have ice cubes. “We should use Grandma’s vintage wineglasses.”
Grace follows me, leaning her shoulder against the doorframe. She seems uncomfortable again. I hope we get past this stage soon so we can relax around one another.
I hold up one of the glasses. “Check it out. Stem so thick and heavy you could honestly clobber someone over the head with it.”
“That’s not a wineglass, it’s a weapon,” she says in awe.
“Right?”
“They’re gorgeous. Mom was just so pissed she left you everything.”
“Yeah.” I sigh. “I asked if there was anything she wanted to remember her by, but…”
“It is what it is.” Grace shrugs. “Why don’t we invite hot neighbor over for a drink?”
“He’s at work.”
“You know his movements?”
“No. I mean, not really. But he’s a chef, so…”
Her smile turns lascivious. “That’s a damn shame he isn’t around.”
“Yeah.”
“I was thinking he’d be perfect for a rebound hookup. What with me only being in town for a while and him living right next door.”
“Always good to save on gas. So environmentally friendly, too.”
“You don’t really care, do you?” she asks. “I know I was teasing you earlier, but if you two are just friends I could really do with the dopamine.”
She sure changed her mind quickly. The truth is, I mind to an alarming degree. Thoughts regarding someone else touching Noah make me want to scream and scratch stuff. Just go full-on harpy. But that’s my bad luck. I’m saved from having to respond by the dog. He starts barking a moment before someone knocks on the front door. The little dude dislikes visitors, apparently. How nice that my new canine companion (temporary or otherwise) and I have things in common.
Grace gives me a bright smile. “I’ll get it.”
“Wait a minute.” I follow her back into the lounge room, pick my phone up off the cluttered coffee table, and open the security camera app. “Just let me check…”
Meanwhile, she’s walking toward the door with her hand outstretched. She slides back the chain and turns the deadbolt.
And there on my phone screen is a collection of people. One of whom has a big-ass camera held up to their face. What fuckery is this?
“Grace,” I say. “Stop!”
But she doesn’t. It’s like it happens in slow motion. She looks back at me over her shoulder with a perfectly blank face while her hand turns the knob. The door swings open and shit. There they are. One of the podcasters from the new documentary with a cameraman and sound guy. All standing squished together on my front step.
Over on his bed, the dog jumps to attention and starts barking his head off. It’s a heck of a noise.
“Sidney, we just have a couple of questions for you.” The podcaster’s friendly smile is all sharp teeth. “You didn’t respond to our email or other attempts to contact you. This is your chance to tell your version of events. Surely you can see that’s important?”
Grace stands with her back to the wall. Leaving a clear path between me and them.
“Let’s sit down and have a conversation,” the asshole yells to be heard over all the noise.
“Get off my property.” I cover the space between us in an instant and attempt to shut the door. Of course, he tries to stop me. “Move your foot.”
“Hasn’t Ryan suffered long enough? It’s time for you to be honest about what really happened. How you were really involved in Briana’s murder!”
With my hands hard against the back of the door, I kick at his big-ass sneaker with my bare foot. It takes one, two, three attempts to dislodge the asshole. But then the door finally slams shut. I turn the deadbolt and take a deep breath. And then another, because what a clusterfuck.
Grace stands nearby. Her mouth moves; however, no words come out. Like she doesn’t know what to say.
I don’t have that problem. “Why didn’t you stop?”
“Sorry,” she blurts out.
More banging on the door. Footsteps shuffle outside. The dog stands at my feet growling. He is not impressed with these shenanigans. Which makes two of us.
My heart hammers inside my chest. It’s just the adrenaline pumping through me. They didn’t get in or hear anything of interest from me. Everything is okay. However, they do now have fresh footage of me for their show.