“It sucked that you had to deal with that, going in cold.” She moved her body so that she was a little closer to me. “I feel bad that I...that my shit put you in that position.”
I wasn’t going to make her feel any worse. “Thinking on my feet is what I do. Plus, I didn’t have to ask many questions. Ms. Candidy was more than willing to talk.” I leaned over and dropped a kiss onto her hair. “She’s been in contact with someone who is close to you.”
“You mean my mother.”
She sounded resigned. “I think she’s the main push behind the story. However, it looks like this reporter has been following you for a while. She showed me some photos. I think it was while you were in Denver. I have to say I like you as a blonde much better than your dark period.”
She gave a little shiver. “He had a fixation with my hair. In the transcripts from his interviews, he went on and on about it. I was so creeped out by what he said, I made it brown. I was trying to put some distance between that woman and me.”
“When I stonewalled Ms. Candidy about having direct access to you, she hinted she had proof there was an underlying affair going on between you and the principal.” The meeting had turned ugly at that point. I’d known in my gut she was lying.
“So, his wife is talking again. I hope she waited until the paper offered her money.” She did nothing to hide the bitterness in her tone. “She’s tried to float that story. In a way, I don’t blame her. Who would want to find out that their husband was a monster?”
“You’ve thought a lot about that?”
She burrowed into my side, and I tightened my arm around her. “He was crazy. He was convinced I’d been sending him messages. In one interview, he made a huge deal about me parking where he could see my car from his office window. That was somehow a message. I was teasing him. Here’s the deal: his window overlooked the employee lot. There was no message. He didn’t really register with me except that he was the one who could tell the placement company not to send me to his school. I would greet him, you know, for professional reasons. If he showed up at a get-together, I didn’t freeze him out, but I can sure as hell say I never sought him out either.”
“He wasn’t your type?”
“Like I have a type?” She made a noise deep in her throat. “I wasn’t looking to hook-up with anyone I worked with. I was polite, but I don’t know... I didn’t really want to socialize with my boss.” She shrugged against my body.
“Did you ever get a weird vibe from him?”
“This will sound strange, but he never entered my mind. I think maybe some of that was I knew I had one foot out the door. I was making plans to leave town. The house was going on the market. I already knew what I was keeping and selling.” I could tell that she was hunting for the right words to explain. “I had other, more important things on my mind.”
“The house was going to sell that fast?”
She nodded. “It overlooked a golf course. Neighbors usually had friends who wanted to know before a house in the subdivision hit the market. A couple of times, I got stopped when I was out walking by people asking if I knew of any houses for sale in our neighborhood.”
“So, you sold it quickly?”
“Yeah, after everything that had happened, people were dying to see the house. That seems very strange, since he’d never been inside it, and nothing happened there. But it came down to a bidding war between three parties. My realtor was in heaven. He probably bought a small island with his commission.” She chuckled.
“That much?”
“No, not really, but it seemed like a lot to me. It went for a hundred over the asking price, which I already thought was way too high. Apparently, being able to see a fairway is very important to retirees.” She shook her head. “And since my name was on the title, one guy was determined to own it, which I find really creepy.”
“So you’re set?” I tried to find out without being too pushy.
“Not like you all are.” She rested her head on my chest just below my shoulder. “I’m alone, so I need bank.” She moved her hand to rest on my belly. “I have this job, and Forde overpays me, but I can’t handle big ticket luxuries. I’ll be okay if I stick to my budget.”
“You’ll get there.” I ran my hand up and down her arm. I liked this, holding her while she told me about her life.
“Some days, I feel like I’m making real progress, and then others, I’m scared I’m going to be locked away.” Her voice shook.
“You’re seeing a therapist, right? Is that helping?” I’d heard her mention a time or two that she had appointments. Now, it made sense she was seeing someone for the P.T.S.D.
“I go for two hours to a private session on Tuesdays, and then to group on Thursdays. Overall, I’m improving, but…” She shifted against me but didn’t pull away. “I still have to be careful. I know my triggers, but sometimes an attack will hit me out of nowhere.”
We were quiet for a few minutes. “Looks like you’ve managed to get food.” She’d already admitted she used a service.
“Thank God for the internet,” she muttered.
When she didn’t say anything more, I glanced down at her face. She’d fallen asleep. Smiling, I stretched my legs out, dropped my head against the back of the sofa, and closed my eyes. Listening to Billie’s deep breaths was calming.
I opened my eyes forty minutes later which wasn’t like me. I didn’t like to sit still, and I never fell back asleep. Billie was still out, and her arm had shifted from my belly, and was now under her cheek against my chest.
I watched her sleep. She looked younger. I’d always sensed she was a little tense, but now I realized she never relaxed. I liked it that she could be like this with me. She’d told me we were in the friend’s zone, and I’d agreed. However now, I wondered if I could have more with her.
Chapter Eighteen
Billie
I was tired, and the time was only eight PM. I’d been checking it on the microwave clock for the last half hour. Would it be rude to excuse myself so early and fall into bed? The day had been non-stop, and I felt like a zombie.
When I’d woken for the second time that morning, I lay on Tye’s chest. My heart had raced because it felt intimate, scary, and...right. Escaping from that feeling, I’d immediately headed to the shower, trying to wash away any thoughts that weren’t purely platonic. After dressing in jeans and a waffle-knit top, I’d made breakfast. We set out to buy boxes which Tye insisted on paying for. While we were out Jerry had dropped off more clothes for him. Apparently, he planned to stay another night. Back at my place, we started packing my books. Then the Alessi family showed up with lunch, and Zoe and I packed up most of my clothes in my bedroom. Then we moved to the kitchen while the guys tore apart my living room. Olivia seemed to enjoy watching the action from her portable playpen.
Forde had arranged for the moving truck to come tomorrow. How he could make that happen so quickly, and on a weekend, I didn’t even want to know. With the Alessis’ help, we made a trip downtown to my new place and filled my closets and bathroom. The group of helpers, that now included Forde and Rick, placed the boxes in the appropriate rooms while Layla, Zoe, and I stuck sticky notes on the walls to designate where my furniture should go. Lucy slept through most of this, while Olivia was bundled to her mom’s chest enjoying the action.
We now sat at Forde and Layla’s dining room table amongst the empty bowls of Layla’s chili and all the fixings. I tried to yawn discreetly behind my hand.
“Did everything go all right when you told your landlord you were leaving?” Layla asked.
Tye beat me to the answer. “Can’t notify management until Tuesday,”
I added, “They were closed for the holiday.”
“Oh, which one is it?” Tony raised one eyebrow.
“Does it matter?” Rick’s white teeth seemed to glow against his chocolate skin.
“Columbus Day,” Zoe said. “Then its Halloween, and after that…” She paused. “Tye, what’s happening
with your big do?”
I glanced at Tye. “What big do?”
Layla took over, “New Year’s Eve. Tye throws this huge party. Last year, we weren’t in town so I couldn’t go, but the pictures looked amazing.”
“It’s fancy, so you’ll have to get all dressed up.” Zoe’s face lit with excitement. “That means shopping.”
“That’s going to be expensive,” Tony groused, but he was wearing a smile.
“I hadn’t thought about that.” Layla looked down at her body. “Why does it have to be formal? Couldn’t you make it casual or a pajama party?”
Tye was having a formal party? Tye? The king of shorts and T-shirts. The guy who tried to lose coat and tie as soon as his calendar cleared? I looked at him expectantly. I wanted to hear more about this.
Tye shrugged. “It’s formal because it’s for charity, and it seems that people give more when they’re dressed up in tuxes and gowns.” He leaned back in his chair. “I rent out the Easterly estate, which is in Zionsville. I’ve done it for the last four years. The money goes to three different charities. It’s a good way to give back and thank people all at one time.”
“We could only stay two hours last year,” Zoe said, “but there were Colts and Pacers players there, plus the items in the auction were crazy.”
“I’ve got a party planning company that handles everything. I write a check, put some names on the guest list, and show up.” Tye tried to play off his generosity like it didn’t mean a lot.
“What he’s not telling you, Billie,” Forde said, his eyebrows lowering, “is that because there isn’t any publicity, it’s the hottest party in town. People want to be invited, so they have no problem paying the outrageous price for a ticket, and businesses want to sell to that crowd, so they fight to donate items.”
“The money goes to support programs for kids, so who’s gonna complain?” Rick said.
“You complain plenty,” Tye told the guy.
“Only to keep you honest. I mean, two large? For that price you should have Jay-Z and some strippers.” Rick laughed.
“Trying to keep it classy, brother.” Tye smiled then he turned his attention to me. “So, you’ll need to find something spectacular to wear. I don’t want to be the pretty one in all of the photos.” He finished by winking at me.
“Don’t I need to make the guest list first?” I was mentally moving my money around to afford this invitation.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be my plus one,” Tye said. “Just remember, I warned you about the photos.”
I noticed that Layla and Zoe were giving me wide-eyed looks. I’d have to find out what that was all about later.
Tye stood. “I need to measure the space if you still want to use that bookcase in your reading room. Then we’ll go,” he said, aiming a look around the room. “I’ve seen you yawn three times.”
I stood too and started to clear the table.
Layla tried to shoo me away. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I most certainly do.”
Zoe was helping also. “You boys go do work or whatever to finish up. Leave us to do this.”
Tony laughed. “That means they want to talk about us.”
“Yeah, but my way sounds more polite.” Zoe paused with her hands full to give her husband her cheek to kiss.
In the kitchen, my two friends cornered me. “So what was that all about?” Layla was standing so close we almost touched.
“You said Tye slept on the couch,” Zoe said, her gaze accusing.
I turned to her first. “He did.” Then I turned to Layla. “You’re not making any sense.”
“Okay, let me break it down.” Layla ignored my sliding step to the right so that I wasn’t trapped against the counter. “First, Tye spent the night at your place. He took the entire day off from work to help out, and he’s planning to stay again tonight—”
“Just until I settle in—” I interrupted.
She ignored me as though I hadn’t said a word. “And now, he just said you’re his date for his party.” She gave me a bug-eyed look to press her point.
I held up my hands. “Hold on, you’re way off on all of this.” I shook my head. “If he meant that I’m his date for his big party, it’s because I’m a friend. That’s all.”
“Wrong,” Zoe sang out like a game show host.
I ignored her. “He got roped into my mess when Forde sicced that reporter on him. He’s just being nice. You all are.”
“You’re not getting it,” Zoe said, sounding frustrated.
“There’s nothing to get.” I could feel my cheeks heat.
“Tell her, Lay,” Zoe said, turning to her friend.
Layla studied me for a few seconds.
I tried not to fidget.
“Nope. Let’s play it her way.” Layla smiled mischievously. “So, when it all comes crashing down on her, it’ll be more fun.”
Zoe giggled and watched me, too. “I don’t think she’ll be a runner like you. She seems more like a fighter.”
“Running was fun, especially when he caught me.” Layla’s smile turned dreamy for a moment, then she refocused on me. “I think you’re right about the fighter thing. Do you throw things when you get mad? Watching Tye duck flying objects would be fun.”
They were enjoying this. I tried to give them my meanest look, and then I stood taller, “I’m in therapy. I don’t throw things. I work through my feelings after examining them.” I tried to sound superior.
“Yeah, yeah. Tony tries to do that, too. We yell and then we fuck.” Zoe shrugged with a very self-satisfied look on her face.
“TMI,” I told her.
“Best prepare, girly. ’Cause your time is coming,” Layla warned.
“Whatever,” I threw over my shoulder as I escaped. I stopped abruptly and turned around. “My friend Ramsay, she’s a personal fashion consultant—not that she has to work—but that’s how she makes her money. She finds amazing clothes for her clients. I bet she could find us dresses for Tye’s party. Clothes that nobody around here has ever seen.” I noticed that the ladies looked both intrigued and excited.
“You think she’d do that?” Zoe questioned.
“I’m going to be really hard to fit,” Layla said, pinching her side. “This baby weight isn’t going to come off easily.”
Zoe shrugged. “Why lose it when you know you’re going to get pregnant again?”
I suppressed a grin. “I’ll email her tonight. She’ll probably want to do a cyber-meeting with us, and she’ll need measurements.” I’d overheard her on calls with her clients when she stayed with me in Denver.
“She’s good?” Zoe asked.
I nodded. “Really good, but expensive. So get out your checkbooks, because it’s going to cost you to look amazing.”
“I’m in,” Layla blurted. “I don’t like spending the money, but I’d like to look good for Forde.”
I loved my friend and how open she was about her feelings for her husband. “She’ll make it happen.”
“Well, I can’t be the frumpy one.” Zoe rolled her eyes. “Sign me up, too. Just don’t tell Tony. He still gets a little prickly about my money.”
“No prices, I promise.” I held my hand up like I was making an oath. The others did the same, and then we started to giggle.
In the distance, we heard the guys return.
Tye stuck his head in the kitchen. “Time to go.”
Chapter Nineteen
Tye
I jerked awake. Uncertain what woke me, I was on my feet, listening hard and looking around. There, I heard it—a thump. Stealthily, I moved toward the hallway, waiting to hear it again.
I started down the hall, stopping at Billie’s door. Glancing inside, I noted the bed was illuminated by the amber glow of the nightlight, and it was empty.
Thump.
The sound was coming from the other side of her bed. I moved quickly. “Billie?” I found her sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, her arms holding h
er knees to her chest.
I dropped to my knees beside her.
Her eyes were closed, and she was breathing heavily.
“Babe,” I said quietly. I didn’t want to scare her, and I wasn’t sure she even knew I was there. “Honey, it’s Tye.”
She opened her eyes, and tears streamed down her cheeks. “Can’t stop,” she panted the words.
“What can I do?” I was scared. I’d never seen anyone like this. “Billie, tell me what to do.”
She stared straight ahead and thumped her head against the wall again. I wanted to put my hand behind her, to shield her skull, but I wasn’t sure if I should touch her.
“The smell,” she sniffed loudly. “I can’t get rid of the smell.” She closed her eyes again.
I sampled the air and didn’t sense anything. “What do you smell?” I kept my voice calm.
“Rubber.” She panted several times then opened her eyes. “I smell those sheets.” A sob escaped. “I know they’re not here, but I can’t stop.”
“I can light a candle, right? That’ll help.” I got to my feet and headed to the living room where I had seen a scented candle. Luckily, she had a lighter beside it. We hadn’t packed it because she’d said that it was almost used up. I jogged back to her and set the candle down on her nightstand to her right. “See, honey? I’m lighting a candle. It says cinnamon sugar. That’s good, right?” God, I hope it helped.
She made a noise which I took as an affirmative.
Again, I dropped back to my knees beside her.
“I can’t let go of my legs, or I’ll rub my face raw, trying to get rid of the smell.” She hiccupped and closed her eyes again.
Christ, she’d been through this before. “Just focus on the candle. I can smell it already. Can you?” I watched her as she sniffed a few times.
“Better.”
Her voice was still tense. After a few minutes, I noted that she wasn’t gripping her legs as tightly. She began to shiver.
I grabbed the comforter off of her bed and crawled next to her, covering her as best I could. Then I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her to my chest. She was dripping with sweat, yet her skin was so cold.
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