His eyes wandered up and down her body, giving her goosebumps. He took another drag and then moved away from the wall, taking a step closer to her. She wanted to retreat, but her feet were frozen in place. She didn’t move. She didn’t blink. She just stared up at him, waiting for him to speak again.
He stopped right in front of her and leaned forward so that his face was inches from hers. “For you to tell me not to smoke, or to do anything or that matter, now that would be hypocritical. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Well, you certainly have me figured out . . . don’t you?”
“Did I miss something?”
“Does it matter?” Kaylee folded her arms. “It doesn’t sound like you have any interest in who I actually am.”
“Are you telling me I’m wrong?”
“I’m telling you I don’t give a damn what you think.” Kaylee took a step back, putting a little more distance between them. “You don’t know the first thing about me.”
“Then tell me why I’m wrong? Tell me what makes you so special?”
“What makes you so special that you get to judge me without even knowing me?”
“You’re free to judge me as well if you want. Most everyone else does.”
“God . . . what is your problem? I mean, your bad boy persona was cute at first, and I’m sure it works wonders getting girls to put out for you, but I’m already over it. Cute is not an excuse to be a dick.”
She turned around and started to walk away, but she was yanked to a stop when Eric grabbed her by the wrist.
She looked over her shoulder. Locked eyes with him. The fire in his eyes, coupled with the strong grip that he had on her arm, made her wonder if perhaps she should have listened to Mia.
Maybe this guy was bad news.
But those worries were alleviated—somewhat—when Eric let go of her wrist and took a step back. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and cleared his throat while looking down at his feet.
“Sorry,” he said. “I . . . shouldn’t have done that.”
“No . . . you shouldn’t have,” Kaylee agreed. Glaring at him and rubbing her wrist. She glanced back at her house across the street and then at Eric again. He might look genuinely remorseful, but that didn’t mean that he was. “I have to go.”
“Yeah . . . that’s what I figured.”
Kaylee turned around and hurried across the street. She was tempted to look over her shoulder at Eric every step of the way, but she resisted the urge.
Even with the way he acted, there was still a part of her that was drawn to him as if she were a moth and he a flame. A curiosity to dig deeper and find out who Eric really was underneath the facade that he seemed to be putting on.
But would her curiosity only lead to her getting burned?
While walking up the driveway to the front door, she again heard a voice in her head, but it wasn’t her voice, and it wasn’t Mia’s voice either. It was Chelsea’s voice, teasing her for once again falling for the bad boy. She always used to tell Kaylee to stop wasting time with guys like that and just meet somebody nice. Kaylee never listened to her friend’s advice back then.
Maybe it was time to change that.
***
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?”
“And do what, Mom? Sit in the lobby at the dentist’s office all day and read magazines from five years ago? Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
“Actually, I was thinking that maybe you might want to get out and have a look around town. I’ll give you some money. You can get something to eat, maybe see a movie, hang out at the coffee shop, or whatever you want.”
“No, thanks, Mom. I’m not interested.” Kaylee leaned forward against the counter. It wasn’t hard to see what her mom was trying to do here, but Kaylee wanted no part of it.
But would her mom take no for an answer?
Her mother frowned. “Kaylee, you have to get out of this house eventually.”
“Why? Seems like every time I do, something bad happens.”
“So that’s what this is all about then, isn’t it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re upset because of what happened to Claudia, aren’t you?”
“Mom, just don’t . . .”
“It’s perfectly normal for you to be upset about something like that. I would be. Anyone would be. In fact, I would be more concerned if it didn’t bother you. But bad things like that don’t happen every day. You can’t live your whole life in fear.”
“Wow, Mom, that’s great advice. Really. It is. Are we finished here now?”
“For now.” Her mom grabbed her purse off the counter. “But this is not the end of this conversation. When I get home later, we’re going to have a long talk about this and get to the root of all your problems. Because if you’re not willing to talk to me, then I’ll have no choice but to find someone that you will talk to.”
“You mean, like, a shrink?”
“If that’s what it takes.” Her mom left the kitchen on her way to the front door.
Kaylee followed. “I don’t need to talk to a shrink, Mom. I’m fine.”
Her mom didn’t even look back at her as she crossed the foyer to the front door. “If you’re fine then you and I have very different opinions on what fine means.”
“I’m not going to talk to anyone.” Kaylee stood with arms crossed and weight shifted to one foot. “You can’t make me.”
“We’ll see about that.” Her mom opened the door and finally looked at her. “You may not believe me, in fact I’m sure you don’t, but everything I’m doing is because I love you and I want what’s best for you.”
Kaylee rolled her eyes. “If you really want what’s best for me then you shouldn’t have moved me out here. I never wanted to leave. I don’t want to be here.”
“I’ll see you later.” Her mom left the house and shut the door behind her, leaving Kaylee alone in the house without ever getting a response.
Being alone was normally the way that she preferred it, but she wasn’t so sure right now. She didn’t really want to be alone, there just wasn’t anyone that she wanted to spend time with.
The only person she wanted to be with was gone.
Frustrated with both her mom and herself, Kaylee locked the door before turning on her heel and storming across the foyer and back to the kitchen. The bowl of cereal that she was going to eat for breakfast was on the counter. Her little argument with her mom had interrupted her breakfast before it even began, and all that left her with was a bowl of soggy flakes and no appetite.
Kaylee snatched the bowl off the counter and then dumped its contents in the sink. She was on her way upstairs to take a shower when the doorbell stopped her in her tracks. Figuring it had to be her mom forgetting her keys.
It wouldn’t be the first time it happened.
She left the kitchen, and went to the front door. She unlocked it without looking through the peephole to see who was on the other side. But when she opened the door and saw it wasn’t her mother, she suddenly wished that she had.
11
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” Kaylee asked. Part of her tempted to slam the door shut without even waiting to hear a response, but she kept her cool and allowed the unexpected—and uninvited—arrival to at least offer an explanation for why he was here.
“I just saw your mom leave,” Eric said. He stood with his hands in his pockets, forgoing the leather jacket in exchange for a gray t-shirt and blue jeans.
“Were you waiting for her to leave?”
“Yeah . . .” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
“And why’s that? I don’t want to sound like I’m judging you or anything, but you do know how creepy that sounds, right?”
“Yeah. I know. Listen, about last night, I know I was a jerk.”
“A jerk? And the understatement of the year award goes to . . .”
“Alright, alright, so I was a big jerk, but that’s actually t
he reason why I’m here. To apologize.”
“Wow, that’s a big step for you.” Kaylee folded her arms. “I think I almost believe you.”
“Come on, give me a break. I’m tying here. Can’t you at least give me credit for that? You might not believe it, but underneath this bad boy persona as you like to call it, I’m actually kind of nervous right now.”
“You? Nervous?”
“Yeah. I don’t just apologize to anyone, you know. You should feel pretty special right now.”
“I should feel special? Really?”
“No question. So I might not deserve it, but all I’m asking is that you give me another chance.”
“A fresh start?”
“Yeah. A fresh start. So what do you say? I promise I won’t act like such an ass this time.”
Kaylee smiled, but she didn’t provide him with an answer right away. She already knew what her answer was going to be, but she preferred to wait and make him sweat a little first.
“So . . . are you just going to leave me hanging here then?”
“No,” Kaylee shook her head. “I think a fresh start sounds like a good idea.”
It was Eric’s turn to smile. “Great. I’m really glad to hear you say that.”
“And why’s that?”
He shrugged “Just can’t stand being disliked I guess.”
“Something tells me that’s not true.”
“Okay, so maybe I just can’t stand being disliked by certain people. Like I said, you should feel special.”
Kaylee’s smile broadened and she looked down at her feet to hide blushing cheeks. She really hoped that he hadn’t noticed, and if he had, then she really hoped that he wouldn’t say anything.
Fortunately, he either didn’t notice or at least pretended that he hadn’t. “So what are you doing today?”
“I don’t know.” Kaylee met his gaze again. “Pretty much the same thing that I do every day I guess.”
“Alright. And what’s that?”
She smirked. “Not a damn thing.”
He chuckled. “Well you’re certainly living it up in paradise, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea.”
“So, since you’ve got nothing to do, how about doing something with me today?”
“What would we do?”
“I don’t know yet. Why don’t you just say yes and find out?”
Kaylee bit her lip and tucked her hair behind her ear. “And when would we hang out?”
“How about right now?”
“Now?” Kaylee looked down at the clothes she was wearing and then back up at Eric. “Um, not sure if you’ve noticed or not, but I’m still in my pajamas.”
“So?”
“So I’m not going anywhere until I’ve had a shower.”
“Go take a shower then. I’ll wait inside for you.”
“I don’t think so. You’re cute, but you’re not that cute.”
He grinned. “Alright. How about you come by my house then? When you’re ready of course.”
Chewing her bottom lip, she repeated her earlier technique by taking longer than necessary to answer despite already knowing what she was going to say. She didn’t want to sound overeager.
“Alright,” she said at last. “I’m up for it.”
“Great. I’ll see you soon then. Just come on over as soon as you’re ready.”
“Okay.”
Eric took a few steps back and then turned around and started to walk away, slowing only briefly to look over his shoulder at her and wave.
She waved back before she shut the door and then leaned her back against it. As hard as the last few months had been, and as uncomfortable as she was in this new house, it was a relief to have a distraction from all of that and do something more normal and familiar—a date with a cute guy.
It was a date, wasn’t it?
***
After she was showered and dressed—in a denim skirt and a top with horizontal green and yellow stripes that Chelsea always used to say looked cute on her—Kaylee left the house and started across the street towards Eric’s house.
She had barely taken two steps off the sidewalk and on to the street when a familiar voice called out her name from behind. She stopped and looked over her shoulder. Saw Mia walking down the sidewalk towards her.
“Hey, where are you going?” Mia asked as she closed to within a few yards.
“Oh, uh, just going for a walk,” Kaylee lied. After Mia already warned her to stay away from Eric, she couldn’t imagine Mia being happy to know that she was going on a date with him.
“Oh, me too. We can walk together.”
Well . . . that backfired. Kaylee frowned, trying to think of a way to get out of this without admitting the truth. Unfortunately, her mind was drawing a blank.
And Mia, who was already starting to walk away, noticed that she wasn’t following.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Aren’t you coming?”
“I, uh . . .” Kaylee sighed, accepting that the truth had to come out. “I’m not actually going on a walk.”
“Okay. So where are you going then?”
“Well . . .” Her eyes wandered over to Eric’s house.
“Kaylee.” Mia crossed her arms over her chest as the corners of her lips turned down. “I meant it when I said you don’t want anything to do with him.”
“I know, but I’ve talked to him a few times, and honestly he’s not that bad.”
“Not that bad? Seriously? He’s a total freak. If you’re desperate to meet a guy, I’d be happy to set you up with someone. I know tons of great guys that would kill to be with someone like you.”
“I’m not desperate to meet a guy.” Kaylee made no attempt to hide the annoyance in her voice. “I’m just going over to his house to hang out. That’s it.”
“Yeah. Right. You might think that, but do you honestly believe that’s all Eric wants from you?”
Kaylee frowned, but refrained from answering Mia’s rhetorical question. While it was true that she didn’t know for sure what Eric’s intentions were, it was obvious that they were mutually attracted to each other, so what was the big deal? It wasn’t like she was ready to jump in bed with him the moment she stepped foot in his house, although the thought had crossed her mind. She was looking for a distraction, and that would certainly be a distraction.
“I know Eric a lot better than you do,” Mia went on. “He can be charming at times, but don’t be fooled. It’s all an act. He’s really a creep.”
“How do you know that? Did you go out with him?”
“Me? Hell no. That would never happen. But Emma did.”
“You mean Emma Henderson?”
“That’s right. They went out sophomore year before she caught him cheating on her and dumped him. But from what I heard, he never really got over her. He just wouldn’t leave her alone. Texting, calling, and even following her. Pretty freaky if you ask me.”
Kaylee refused to meet Mia’s gaze. She wasn’t sure what to say. This had to be a mistake. Sure, Eric might not be the warmest guy in the world, or the kind of guy she’d want to bring home to meet her mom—and maybe that was part of why she was interested in him—but she had a hard time seeing him as a crazy stalker.
She just didn’t buy it.
“So I wouldn’t go over there if I were you,” Mia continued. “Come hang out with me instead. Forget the walk. I’m meeting up with some friends afterwards. You should totally come with.”
“Thanks, but I told Eric I would meet him, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
“Kaylee, I really don’t think that’s a good idea. He’s not—”
“I know,” Kaylee cut her off. “And I appreciate you looking out for me, but you don’t have to worry. I can take care of myself.”
“Whatever.” Mia shrugged. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She started to walk away again, but stopped after a few yards and turned around. “Oh, and Kaylee?”
“What?”
Feeling like there was nothing left to be said, Kaylee turned and started to head across the street towards Eric’s house again. The excitement that she felt about having a day to forget about her problems and just be normal again was now tainted by Mia’s comments. And those comments led to a question that she just couldn’t stop thinking about.
Why didn’t Eric mention that he went out with Emma? Did he just not think to mention it or did he not tell her deliberately? And if it was the latter, then what else was he hiding from her?
12
KAYLEE TOOK A STEP BACK after ringing the doorbell and then stood on the doorstep, twisting her hair around her finger while waiting for someone to come to the door.
She didn’t have to wait long. The door was soon opened, but it wasn’t Eric who appeared.
Instead, it was an older man who looked like he should be teaching geometry classes. Tall and lean, his head sat on the end of a lengthy neck, and the thick mustache underneath his long nose reminded her of a caterpillar. Beady eyes grew a little larger when he saw her.
“Hello.” The man pushed his glasses up higher on his nose. “Can I help you with something?”
“Um,” Kaylee looked down and shuffled her feet, “is Eric here?”
“He is. Mind if I know who’s asking to see my grandson?”
Kaylee opened her mouth and was about to introduce herself when suddenly Eric appeared, stepping out from behind his grandfather and leaning against the doorframe. He smiled when he saw her.
The Killer Next Door: A Murder Mystery Page 7