8. Remi
Chapter 8
Remi
I step out onto the back deck and breathe in the fresh morning air, the anticipation of moving into Piers’ home bubbling through me. I worked my rear end off finishing those two websites a day early so I could concentrate on packing my belongings. Today is about freedom, about squeezing every drop of good out of life. And the next chapter is about to unfold with Piers.
After a quick shower, I grab my phone, looking for Piers’ daily early morning text. Sure enough, his message flashes across the screen.
Piers
Good morning, beautiful. I can’t wait to wake up with you in my arms.
Me
You don’t have to wait long.
Piers
Good. I miss you.
Me
You saw me about six hours ago.
Piers
Six hours too long.
Me
Love you
Piers
Love you, too. I’ll see you after work.
I send him a thumbs-up emoji followed by a pink heart and toss my phone aside before diving into packing with renewed enthusiasm. The morning light streams through the window, but there’s no sunshine bright enough to overshadow the excitement of finally moving in with Piers. I can’t shake the giddiness from my chest, imagining lazy mornings and shared evenings.
As I heft open another box from the stack, Winston comes barreling in like a tiny tornado. The mischievous ball of energy zips past me and heads straight for the pile of socks I stacked on my bed.
“Winston, no!” I shout through a laugh, diving after him, but he’s already got one of my favorite pairs in his mouth. He dances around the room, tail wagging, clearly loving the chase. He drops the socks and jumps up on the bed, knocking off two piles of t-shirts I just carefully folded.
Winston’s antics are his subtle way of demonstrating his boredom, and I decide to toss the packing aside for a bit to run off some of his boundless energy. “Alright, buddy. You win. Let’s go for a walk.”
I grab his leash from the hall closet, and the moment the little dog sees it, he practically vibrates with excitement. His excited dancing makes it hard to hook the leash on his collar, but I finally manage it.
Uncle Jasper steps out of his bedroom and leans over to give Winston a pat. “Are you taking the little man out for a stroll?”
I smile down at the little dog, shaking my head. “He woke up ready to play. The little stinker already stole my favorite pair of socks and completely unfolded all the t-shirts I folded to pack.”
“Ouch.” Uncle Jasper winces. “At least he didn’t destroy anything.”
“That’s true,” I agree and reach for my light sweater since the weather is a little cool today.
“Enjoy your walk,” Uncle Jasper calls as we bound outside. The cool morning air and bright sun hit us both with an invigorating blast.
I’m in a world of my own, mentally making lists of everything I need to do when a pickup rolls slowly to the side of the road beside us. As it rolls to a stop, I get a little snippet of Déjà vu, remembering the first day I met Piers. The sensation quickly dissipates as a sinking feeling overtakes me.
The new employee who gave me an unsettling look over lunch a few days ago leans out the window wearing a creepily wide grin that causes the hair on the back of my neck to stand up straight.
“Well, hello.” His overfriendly voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me. The way he leers makes my skin crawl, and I’m already searching for an escape plan.
“Hi,” I reply, forcing out a smile, and trying to stay cool despite my bristling instincts.
“Nice dog,” he sneers, eyeing Winston before his gaze slides back to me. “I’ve got to drop off some tools at Piers’ place. You want a ride back? The walk looks long.”
Winston lets out a low growl, eyes narrowed, and I feel the tension prickling through the air. “No, thanks,” I say, my voice steady but edged with alarm. “We’re going to walk a little longer.”
“C’mon, it’s not a big deal. You don’t want to walk all that way alone.”
There’s something in the way he opens the door and sets one foot on the pavement. Something predatory in his behavior raises all the red flags in my head. “I’m fine, really, but thank you.”
I can’t ignore the warning signs flashing in my mind or the unease churning in my stomach like a bad burrito. Winston’s growl deepens slightly as he stands between us, baring his teeth at the man.
“Why don’t you just get in? I could give you a lift. It’ll be fast,” he insists, ignoring Winston and closing the distance.
I tighten my grip on Winston’s leash, stepping back instinctively. “I said no,” I enunciate, trying to keep my tone polite but firm.
The guy’s smile falters just a fraction, but I can see the annoyance creeping into his posture. “What’s the rush? Are you scared or something?”
“No, I just don’t want to chat with you,” I reply, my confidence rising even as my instincts scream to get away. I turn to walk, ready to leave this encounter behind.
But he doesn’t move, blocking my path, that smile morphing into something threatening. “Hey, don’t walk away from me. I’m just trying to talk to you.”
Winston growls louder, and my heart races. “Please leave me alone.”
For a moment, everything freezes, but then the world turns to black.