Chapter 23 - Constantine #2
“Sounds good.” Enzo wraps an arm across my shoulders and pulls me close to him.
“A lot of cash is stashed at my place, but I have some in my bank account. I’ll clear that out, too.
” He looks down at me and kisses my head.
“Where would you like to go? Have you dreamed of a particular city or town you’d like to live in? ”
“Not really. While living with Steve and my mom, I just wanted to get out of there. I didn’t care where I went. After they died, I just went through the motions of living. I never really had big dreams, goals, or a purpose until I met Emma.”
“The first person you… helped?”
“Yeah.” I glance up at him. “You pick.”
“I’ve always wanted to live somewhere warm and sunny. What about California?” he asks.
“I’ll go wherever you do, even if it’s to Antarctica.”
Enzo chuckles as he turns to face me, then he lifts me off my toes. “I adore you, but no. Not there.” He sets me down and forks our fingers together as we walk back to his car. “Time to head to your place.”
It’s my turn to sneak out of the house the next morning before we make our trip to California. I already packed up all I wanted last night, but there’s one more thing I have to do first.
I’m back inside my home and turn on the stove. After placing a pan on the flame to warm it, I add oil over high heat.
Once it gets hot, I place a roll of paper towels nearby and leave the house to head to the store and get some eggs, since I forgot to buy them. After thirty minutes, I return home, and smoke is billowing out of the house already.
My stomach does that excited fluttering that happens more and more since I’ve known Enzo. The house is old, dry, and worn. It shouldn’t take long to burn down.
I get out of the car and walk inside with my eggs. There are flames quickly spreading in the kitchen. I leave the eggs on the counter, along with the receipt, both still in the plastic bag, as I pull out an old fire extinguisher from the dilapidated storage shed in the backyard, taking my time.
I use the extinguisher here and there, but it’s of no use. The fire is now out of control, so I step outside and wait a bit before calling the fire department.
It needs to look like an accident. This isn’t about the insurance money. I want to see this place fucking burn to the ground. I have Enzo now. We’re about to start a new life in a new place. I hate everything about this house.
As I watch the flames lick along the walls inside through the windows, all the horrible memories burn along with them. I imagine Steve and my mom are inside, being burned alive, even though the state buried them somewhere.
I don’t need to fake my tears. They’re tears of anger and happiness. It was a house of horrors—so much pain. I sniff and wipe my eyes. But now I’m on to better things—a better life. I’m loved and cared about. I don’t care if Enzo hasn’t told me the words yet. I know he does. He called me precious.
Enough time has been wasted. I pull my phone out of my coat and call 9-1-1, explaining my emergency. When I hang up, I see a text from Enzo.
Enny: Where are you?????
Me: At my house. I was grabbing some stuff I forgot, but
I got hungry, so I wanted to make breakfast.
Me: I realized I didn’t have eggs, so I ran to the store to grab
some. I forgot about the oil cooking on the stove.
Me: The house is burning down. I just called the fire
department.
Enny: Wtf??? Why? Okay, I’m coming to get you.
Enny: Are you okay?
I smile at my phone and caress it with my fingertips before I text back.
Me: Yeah, I’m okay.
I hate that I lied to him, but I need more proof that the fire wasn’t intentional.
By the time the fire department arrives, Enzo is right behind them. He parks a block away, and as the firefighters hook up their hose to the fire hydrant, Enzo is rushing at me, looking nearly panicked. When he reaches me, he lifts me into his arms.
“God, are you okay?” he asks again.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m sorry.”
He takes my face in his protective hands and looks deeply into my eyes. “You scared the hell out of me. Don’t ever do that again.”
“Okay.”
Enzo pulls me into a hug again, this time tighter. “Have I not told you that you’re precious to me? I love you, and I never want to lose you.”
My body stiffens, and I gasp for air. Did he really tell me those words? Does he really love me? I didn’t just imagine it, right?
I pull away to see if I heard him correctly. He smiles softly at me. “Yeah, baby… Little Bird. I’m kind of questioning my sanity right now with how quickly I’ve fallen down this chaotic rabbit hole, but I do. I realized that while driving to you.”
I hug him again and rest my face on his chest with a huge smile that’s so big, it almost hurts. “I love you, too. So much…”
While we’re expressing our love, there are police, EMS, and firefighters watching the exchange, which is exactly what I want. It’s what I planned for. Not the love part. That’s an added bonus.
When we’re headed to California, I’ll tell him the truth: that I’d set up the whole thing.
For now, a bit of my past has been erased.
There’s a piece of me that’s been instantly healed.
I never realized how oppressive it was living there, even when they were dead.
I didn’t know the extent of it until I watched the house turn to ash.
It’s too far gone for the firefighters to put out, but they try.
Even better? I’m loved for the first time in my twenty-seven years.
My life is perfect. The only disappointing thing to come out of this is that we never got the chance to have fun in the gym as I had imagined.
But it’s a small thing. We’ll hopefully have years to find all sorts of places to have our fun.
“It’s done,” I say to Enzo as I rest my head on his shoulder. “It’s over.”