gulp.
Glancing back up, I say, “I’m confused. Who the hell are you?”
“You know my name, but I’m a PI and friends with Carter. Let me finish and then you will be caught up to speed.”
Rolling my hands in the air at him, I say, “By all means, carry on. Who’s little old me to stop you from telling me what you know?”
What seems like hours go by as I listen to everything Jack is telling me. I currently don’t know which way is up, and it’s not due to the drinks I’ve downed. Well, it could be. Seth texted midway through our evening to say he had to stay late at work and needed a rain check. Great, I’m stuck with my PI and still confused as ever, I think.
“So let me get this straight: you’re the reason I feel like someone is always watching me and you report back to douche face on my whereabouts? Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, I did, you forgot to warn me. You let me get involved, but sit here and pretend you were only protecting me. I call bullshit. I’m done here and you get the bill,” I say as I stand to walk away, but the room is all wobbly. Shit, I can’t drive and I’m not asking douche nozzle number two for help.
“Tabitha, let me take you home or at least call a cab.”
Turning around, I point my finger in his face. “No, you do not get to help me tonight. You need to not follow me, or else. I don’t need you looking after me, or him. I’ll deal with that later, when I can think.”
When I reach the night air, I’m thankful a taxi is already waiting in the parking lot. I’m not going to question how or who. I just know I’ll arrive home safe and sound.
Carter
Tossing my jacket on the back of the chair in my home office, I pick up the briefcase from the floor and set it on top of the desk.
If I didn’t have to leave after this, I’d pour myself a stiff drink. For some reason, I feel I need to have a clear head tonight.
Comfortable, I dial in the combination and flip the lid open. Papers, so many papers, pictures, and a mess that I have no idea what I’m digging into.
The first thing I grab to start my pile are the images. The very first one catches my attention. It’s Bethany and my father. The odd thing about it is you can see me off in the background. By the way I’m dressed, it’s graduation day. This places me at eighteen and her at seventeen. My father’s caressing the side of her face and she’s looking up at him.
Sick is what I feel, with a mixture of confusion. Setting it to the side, I proceed to go through the rest of them. They’re all pictures of her and him, and a few of my cousin, Jasper. One picture shows my father touching her stomach in a manner that I would.
Livid with everyone in my fucked up life, I grab the briefcase and set out towards my parents’ home. This is a place I never visit, but in this case, it’s a well-deserved trip.
I don’t knock as I enter the home I was raised in. A house full of lies, is what this is, I think as I glance around at the walls. They are full of family pictures from the years I was actually a part of it.
Hearing my father’s voice from the study, I march towards it and swing the door open.
“If you don’t want whoever is on the other end of that to hear me, I suggest you hang up now.”
“Let me call you back, dear. I have some business to attend to,” he says to the person on the other end of the receiver. “Have a seat, Carter.” He directs me to a chair in front of him.
“I’ll stand,” I say, placing the briefcase on his desk.
“You don’t need to show me those. I know what’s in the briefcase. Have a seat and let me explain.”
“Oh, you will be explaining. I want everything before I leave here,” I say, deciding to sit down and get comfortable for what the explanation is for ruining my life.
Chapter Ten
Tabitha
LIVID IS WHAT I AM , STILL . What right does Carter have to try to protect me? Maybe before he crushed me, but not now. He has crossed the line of me being calm and
Glancing back up, I say, “I’m confused. Who the hell are you?”
“You know my name, but I’m a PI and friends with Carter. Let me finish and then you will be caught up to speed.”
Rolling my hands in the air at him, I say, “By all means, carry on. Who’s little old me to stop you from telling me what you know?”
What seems like hours go by as I listen to everything Jack is telling me. I currently don’t know which way is up, and it’s not due to the drinks I’ve downed. Well, it could be. Seth texted midway through our evening to say he had to stay late at work and needed a rain check. Great, I’m stuck with my PI and still confused as ever, I think.
“So let me get this straight: you’re the reason I feel like someone is always watching me and you report back to douche face on my whereabouts? Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, I did, you forgot to warn me. You let me get involved, but sit here and pretend you were only protecting me. I call bullshit. I’m done here and you get the bill,” I say as I stand to walk away, but the room is all wobbly. Shit, I can’t drive and I’m not asking douche nozzle number two for help.
“Tabitha, let me take you home or at least call a cab.”
Turning around, I point my finger in his face. “No, you do not get to help me tonight. You need to not follow me, or else. I don’t need you looking after me, or him. I’ll deal with that later, when I can think.”
When I reach the night air, I’m thankful a taxi is already waiting in the parking lot. I’m not going to question how or who. I just know I’ll arrive home safe and sound.
Carter
Tossing my jacket on the back of the chair in my home office, I pick up the briefcase from the floor and set it on top of the desk.
If I didn’t have to leave after this, I’d pour myself a stiff drink. For some reason, I feel I need to have a clear head tonight.
Comfortable, I dial in the combination and flip the lid open. Papers, so many papers, pictures, and a mess that I have no idea what I’m digging into.
The first thing I grab to start my pile are the images. The very first one catches my attention. It’s Bethany and my father. The odd thing about it is you can see me off in the background. By the way I’m dressed, it’s graduation day. This places me at eighteen and her at seventeen. My father’s caressing the side of her face and she’s looking up at him.
Sick is what I feel, with a mixture of confusion. Setting it to the side, I proceed to go through the rest of them. They’re all pictures of her and him, and a few of my cousin, Jasper. One picture shows my father touching her stomach in a manner that I would.
Livid with everyone in my fucked up life, I grab the briefcase and set out towards my parents’ home. This is a place I never visit, but in this case, it’s a well-deserved trip.
I don’t knock as I enter the home I was raised in. A house full of lies, is what this is, I think as I glance around at the walls. They are full of family pictures from the years I was actually a part of it.
Hearing my father’s voice from the study, I march towards it and swing the door open.
“If you don’t want whoever is on the other end of that to hear me, I suggest you hang up now.”
“Let me call you back, dear. I have some business to attend to,” he says to the person on the other end of the receiver. “Have a seat, Carter.” He directs me to a chair in front of him.
“I’ll stand,” I say, placing the briefcase on his desk.
“You don’t need to show me those. I know what’s in the briefcase. Have a seat and let me explain.”
“Oh, you will be explaining. I want everything before I leave here,” I say, deciding to sit down and get comfortable for what the explanation is for ruining my life.
Chapter Ten
Tabitha
LIVID IS WHAT I AM , STILL . What right does Carter have to try to protect me? Maybe before he crushed me, but not now. He has crossed the line of me being calm and
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