Chapter 20 Stick To The Truth #2
“I’ll keep an eye out for anything,” Karl said. “I just wanted to see if Meredith was fine. She might be scared here alone. I could offer to stay on her couch or have her at my place.”
Over his dead body.
Ford coughed in his hand. “I’m out of here. You know where I am if you need anything.”
Ford tossed the toolbox in the back of Clay’s truck.
“Clay,” Meredith yelled before he could inform this guy that he could take care of the situation.
The urgency in her voice had him dashing back in. She was holding her bare foot in her hand, blood dripping on the floor while she hopped on her other foot.
“Seriously. You came down with bare feet?”
“You said you were going to clean it up. You obviously didn’t do a good job of it.”
One damn tiny piece of glass managed to be in the hallway and she stepped on it.
He wanted to say of all the damn luck, but he realized that without bad luck, Meredith would have none.
“Sit down,” he ordered. “Right there on the floor.”
“What if I sit in another piece and cut my butt cheek?”
She was testing him. Like it’d happen over her jeans.
He moved toward her in two strides, had her in his arms and deposited her on the couch. When he turned, Karl was standing in the doorway watching it.
“I’ve got it. We’re good.”
He got up and shut the door in the guy’s face.
“That was rude.”
“So is how much your neighbor watches you. If it wasn’t for the fact that he provided Ford proof of where he was today before he was even asked, then I’d be wondering about him.”
“He’s harmless. Just lonely.”
That didn’t warrant a reply either.
“Do you have a first aid kit anywhere?”
“In my bathroom upstairs.”
“Stay put,” he said.
He took the stairs two at a time, found it in the closet and then pulled it out and returned.
She had her leg bent, her foot almost up to her face.
Damn, she was flexible!
“I can’t see anything,” she said.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and turned the flashlight on to look. He ran his thumb around and felt nothing.
“Does that hurt?” he asked when she flinched.
“No. It tickles.”
“Then there isn’t any more glass in there.”
He stood up and went to the kitchen to wet a paper towel and get soap on it, then cleaned her foot, his thumb holding her arch while he wiped the spot by her big toe that had a nick on it. Wasn’t much more than a scratch even though it bled a lot.
He put ointment on it and then a Band Aid from the kit, shut the container and set it next to her.
She was staring at the wood on the window. Her living room darker now without that added light.
She let out a breath. “This bites.”
“You can’t stay here tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
“Because why? No one has been in here. I’ve got locks on the doors. Other than my peace of mind, I should be fine.”
He had to admit she was much stronger than he’d thought she’d be.
“Fine isn’t good enough,” he said. “Is there anyone you can stay with other than your neighbor?”
She laughed. “You should hear how strained your voice is right now.”
“Don’t push me, Meredith.”
“I could call my parents, but they know nothing that is going on.”
“Nothing at all? Not one thing regarding your ex?”
She shook her head. “I wasn’t in the mood for a lecture on my behavior. They would have thought I started it, even if they believed I was justified.”
“You can’t change what is done.”
“I know. I’ll let them know what is going on but not tonight. I don’t want to bother any of my friends either.”
“Then you’re staying with me.”
“What?” she squeaked.
“I’ve got a spare room, don’t worry. Let’s get you a change of clothes. We’ll figure out the rest tomorrow night.”
She stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Since when did you become my keeper?”
“Since the moment you stepped foot back on my property and started to bait me. Want to argue some more? I’m going to win, so you might as well accept it now. The sooner we get back to my place, the sooner we can eat.”
Her nose lifted and lowered a few times, her eyes narrowing.
It was almost as if her brain was going through phases before it could get to the final decision. He didn’t want to say it was fascinating to watch someone’s face go through cycles of mental processing.
“You’re cooking,” she said.
“Hope you like grilled cheese.”
“I spend most of my time around five-year-olds. I’d be in big trouble if I didn’t.”
He followed her up the stairs. She grabbed some clothes to put in a bag for the night and tomorrow, then locked her place up and left.
He noticed that Karl was watching Meredith pull out; then Clay left right after her in his truck.
“How could she do this to me?” Karl said when he slammed the door to his bedroom.
He wanted to slam the front door but then might get noticed by those outside so he controlled it until he was alone.
Friend? That’s what she said the guy was?
No. Didn’t look it to him.
He’d seen that look in Meredith’s eyes before, pointed at any man but him.
Deep breath in and out. It was new yet. Probably just a rebound. And the guy was rude. Meredith wouldn’t go for that for long. Might just be a passing thing. One of those opposites attract things that he’d always heard about.
No reason to panic. He still had the upper hand. He knew her better, longer, and she always came back to him.
That was a sure sign of victory in his eyes. This time, he was the one who was going to win the girl in the end.
He walked over to his laptop and pulled up the footage, but didn’t see her anywhere in view. Maybe he should have installed more cameras, but he needed to keep his image of her pure in his mind, so viewing her anywhere else would ruin it for them both.
If she wanted to soil herself with other men, he’d let her get it out of her system now. Then he’d cleanse her the right way when she was his.