Chapter 18
Iwasn’t completely better by the time he went back to work, but I told him not to worry. I could walk up and down the stairs and keep food down, though I still felt weak. After a near fight, he finally left for his shift yesterday.
I’ll admit, I haven’t slept very well since. He told me to sleep in his bed, and that we’d reevaluate the arrangement when he was off.
To keep myself busy and not thinking about sleeping with him, I’ve been going through our parents’ room.
I made sure to ask Keo if it was alright first, texting him this morning to confirm.
That’s also when I saw his late-night messages from when he rushed home, making sure I wasn’t dead.
Or whatever worst-case scenario he’d imagined.
Keo
What? Lol
Ayden, what did you mean?
Missed call from: Keo
Answer the phone. Are you alright?
Was that code for something?
Missed call from: Keo
This isn’t funny.
Please be alright. I’m coming home.
God, he was so worried, and when I tell you my heart needed that, it really did.
Hey, is it alright that I start clearing out our parents’ room?
Keo
Yeah, but don’t exert yourself. You should go for a walk.
Is that an order?
You need fresh air. I guarantee you’ll feel better.
So yes, it is.
Yes, sir
You should’ve heard my sigh
We are doing drills. I’ll text you later, sunshine.
Sunshine?
He didn’t respond after that, and honestly, it was probably for the better. I’m not entirely sure why him calling me that made my stomach ignite. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I’m choosing to lean into the former.
At least it isn’t princess…
I spent most of the morning sorting and boxing things up in the master bedroom. Not going to lie… I broke down. Going through the photos, putting them away, had me hyperventilating.
It only took Clover’s meows to calm me down and bring me back.
Leilani and my dad were taken too soon. They still had half their lives ahead of them, and being surrounded by their things reminded me I can’t take for granted a single second that my heart still beats.
I’m going to find the courage to tell Keoni about Michael, and the real reasons I never came. I’ve seen how he’s treated me these last two weeks, and I know he won’t judge me. All he wants is for me to be honest and explain myself.
My dad would remind me of the courage I already have.
“I love you, Ayden. Just know you have a home here, no matter what.”
After crying into Clover’s gray, fluffy fur, I did as Keo had told me to and went for a walk.
It feels wonderful to get out; I haven’t since I first started feeling sick. Without the ability to just jump in a car, get on a subway system, or easily flag down a taxi to go somewhere, it’s been challenging.
That, and I’ve felt perpetually exhausted. Granted, not as much since Keo told me about the thirty-day thing, but still. It’s why I haven’t gone out.
Now that it’s September, the air carries a chill, the breeze no longer warm.
I’m in jeans and an oversized sweater that definitely isn’t mine. It had been hanging in Keoni’s closet looking lonely—who was I to deny it some company?
I can’t help but laugh at myself out loud.
Walking south, I reach the soft curve in the road that leads to the southern cabin. Last I saw, it was still mid-renovation.
To be honest, I’ve been itching to meet the neighbors of Sapphire Valley. Since I’m here so often, I wonder if they are too. From what Travis said, it sounded like his girlfriend’s friend lived here year-round.
I weave in and out of the trees, drifting back to the road, until the sound of giggling makes me slip into the thicket. I’m not trying to sneak up on anyone, but I don’t want to startle them either—especially since it sounds like two girls talking.
“Are you sure?”
I take the small distance toward the log, single-story, cabin. It’s about twenty feet ahead, and standing just in front of the porch, are two women.
Holy shit.
I’m pansexual—or at least that’s how I’ve classified myself—and that blonde is a bombshell.
My god. So is the woman with warm brown skin wearing a hijab beside her.
I can only see her side profile, but still.
Her headscarf is wrapped to mimic how hair would be pulled off to the side. It’s really cool.
The Barbie-looking one puts her hands on her hips and turns to look at the other girl.
“Evelyn?”
The girl turns her head slightly, tilting her ear in my direction. There’s no way she could have heard me.
Alright, she definitely heard me. The speed at which she pulls a knife from somewhere and throws it at me is unbelievable. It slams into the tree inches from my face, causing me to let out a startled shout and push off away from it.
Shuffling feet catch me off guard even more. The moment I take my eyes off the death dagger, I see light-brown eyes mere inches from mine.
Oh shit.
“Evelyn!”
I put my hands out just as she tackles me! Holy fucking shit! Her leg wraps around my neck, and I barely manage to slip an arm under it so it doesn’t crush my throat.
Before I know it, I’m flat on my back, staring up at the lush canopy of trees above.
I’m certain I landed on a large rock—something is digging hard into my hip.
Rushing feet accompany my wheeze. I immediately try to pry the death grip her thighs have on me, but I’m still feeling the aftereffects of this cold I haven’t fully recovered from, so my fight is incredibly weak.
“Oh my god!” The blonde is above me, and I think she’s just as shocked as I am.
“Stop…” I cough out. “I come in p-peace!”
“Who are you?”
I sputter out, “Wildhart—” For a moment, I actually think she’s going to kill me, or at a minimum, cause me to pass out. “N-Neighbor.”
I haven’t been able to take a proper breath, and just as my eyes start to roll back, the blonde shoves the crazy girl off me.
“Evelyn, get off and let’s talk with him.”
She gracefully shifts from kneeling to standing above me. My eyes are bugged out as I grab at my throat, struggling to swallow.
“Are you alright?” The nice one kneels down as I begin to sit up. Her lime-green eyes meet mine before glancing up at the other girl. “You’ve put him into a state of shock.”
“That’s… an understatement.” I blow out a ragged breath. “I’ll be okay, I think.”
After helping me up, the blonde begins to dust me off.
“Why were you sneaking around?” Evelyn asks aggressively.
“I literally showed up two seconds before you attacked me.”
“It was more like forty-five…”
The other girl sighs with a hint of exacerbation. “My name is Calista.” The smile she directs at me eases any worry about her thinking I’m some pervert sneaking up on them.
“Ayden. It’s nice to meet you.” I reach up to rub my neck, wincing at how tender it feels. I hope it doesn’t bruise—I really don’t want to have to explain it to Keo. He’d probably freak out on the girl who’s still eyeing me with indecision.
Or… at least, I hope he would.
“Wildhart, huh?” Calista says with a beaming smile. “I live over in Sanderson Pine.”
My eyes widen. “Really?”
She nods.
I’m not sure why, but I’m relieved it’s her and not the other girl who lives there. She seems genuinely nice, whereas Evelyn… well.
I dare a glance at her. She inches slightly closer to the blonde, her gaze narrowing on me. She’s really pretty—light freckles across her warm brown nose, long lashes that look natural, and a subtle winged liner. None of it takes away from the fact that she looks angry.
“I’ve been meaning to come meet you, actually.” I turn my attention back to Calista. “I moved in over a month ago, but I think I met your friend, Genevieve’s, boyfriend.”
The look of sadness crosses her eyes, before she shakes her head. “Oh yeah? What a small world… How?”
“He is our attorney for my parents’ will.”
“Oh no,” she whispers while looking at the other woman, then back to me. “I’m so sorry.”
I offer her a smile. “It’s alright. Look—” I turn to Evelyn and sigh. “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you two. I was just going for a walk to get out of the cabin. I’ve been cooped up since getting a cold and just needed fresh air.”
“Yeah, not an attack. Did you learn that while deployed? That was… impressive.”
I nod. “Extremely.”
That has the corner of the girl’s lip jump, as if she’s fighting the smile attempting to crawl from some far, forgotten place. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“Eve, darling.” A deep, sultry voice comes from the direction of the cabin. When I look, I can’t help but wonder if this place is a breeding ground for beautiful people.
Because, once again, holy shit.
The man that approaches us is tall; more so than Keoni. His narrow eyes, short, silky black hair that frames his face, and chiseled jawline has me practically drooling.
He looks like a K-Pop idol I fawned over in college.
“I reacted the same way…” Calista murmurs softly. “Even if I’m happily in a relationship.”
Evelyn groans. “Yes, Levi, honey.” Well, that sounded extremely distasteful.
He approaches, one hand tucked into his suit pants pocket, his matching jacket slung back behind it. “Ah, Calista. It’s a pleasure to see you again.” His eyes then travel to mine, and it’s like he understands the power his swagger has because he quirks a smile. “And, another friend?”
“Neighbor,” Evelyn corrects. “I thought you were doing something.”
He ignores her and reaches his hand out toward me. “Levi Black, and you are?”
I take it not to be rude. His grip is strong. Jesus. “Ayden Pierce. I live in Wildhart with my…” I lick my lips and fumble while finishing my sentence, “Stepbrother.”
Stupid. What the fuck? Couldn’t say friend, could I?
Not entirely sure what look Calista is giving me, but I swiftly turn back to Levi, who has a smile on his lips.
“It’s a pleasure. You must excuse my rudeness.
” He releases my hand and looks to Calista, before turning to Evelyn.
“I must steal my wife. We have dinner plans, and she needs to get ready.”
“Fuck off.”
My mouth drops open.
“Such a pleasure.” He doesn’t seem offended, at least by his tone. “She’s just a bit upset over a… disagreement of our last job together.”
“Disagreement?”
Oh boy.
I steal another glance at Calista, who is laughing nervously and taking a step back. I follow her cue.
“You literally didn’t listen to me and nearly lost us the contract! We were hit with a warning!”
“I’m not the one that was trying to show off, darling.”
I’m not going to pretend to understand what’s going on. “Well, this has been an eventful meeting.” I look at the blonde who is giving me a sympathetic smile. “Would it be alright if I come by sometime? To Sanderson.”
She beams. “Of course! I’ll let my boyfriend know not to attack you on sight.”
Again, I’m rendered shocked. She sounds so serious… but she’s not, right?
She gives me a playful wink.
“Come on, wife,” Levi says. I peek over to him as he reaches his hand to the small of Evelyn’s back. “You don’t want to come off as crazy now, do you?”
I’m not sure how I know it, but his tone toward her isn’t patronizing. He’s playful, and it’s strange how I can just feel that. This isn’t like how Michael treated me, though it does trigger a bit of anxiety for the girl.
Except… she did attack me—for really no reason.
So maybe she is crazy.
“Crazy for accepting this… partnership.”
I really don’t want to question anything that is happening, even if that statement is very weird.
“Alright. It was lovely meeting you, Mr. and Mrs. Black.” I shift to look at Calista who giggles. “See you soon?”
She nods. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
“See ya, Wildhart,” Evelyn groans.
“Lovely to meet you, Ayden.” Levi nods his head and I simply just turn and walk away. This was the strangest thing to happen, and I’m not sure how to process it.
At least Calista seems normal.