Don't Trust the Impostor

by Victorine E. Lieske

  He pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. “Nice house.”

  “It was built in the early nineteen hundreds. I think nineteen-twenty or something like that. My parents love it because it’s got all the charm and intricate woodwork from a home of that age, but it’s been totally updated, so no need to worry about the plumbing or electrical.”

  “I’d love to see the inside.”

  “Come on. I’ll show you.”

  He hopped out of the car and joined her on the sidewalk. She opened a gate and they walked through. Her front door had a stained-glass inlay. She opened the door and entered. “Most people love the grand staircase.”

  It curved up to the second floor, like he’d seen in the movies. “It’s great.”

  She removed his coat and hung it on a hook in the entryway. Then she took him on a tour of the main floor. She showed him the crown molding, the built-in wooden cabinets, and the updated kitchen. Then she turned to him. “Want to see my favorite thing about this house?”

  To be honest, all he wanted to do was extend the time he spent with her. He nodded. “Sure.”

  “Follow me.” She took him up the spiral staircase to the hallway. Then she opened what looked like a cupboard door. Inside was a shaft with a rope on a pulley. “What’s that?”

  She pulled on the rope until a box appeared. It looked like a small elevator. “A dumbwaiter.”

  “Where does it go?”

  “Down to the laundry room. Back when the house was first built, it was used to carry clothes back and forth to the washroom. But we don’t really use it for that.”

  “What do you use it for?”

  She laughed, and he loved the sound of it. “Jess and I would send notes back and forth when we were kids.”

  “An old-fashioned way to text.”

  She laughed again, and he decided to try to get her to do that more often. “It’s really just a curiosity. When we redid the hall bathroom, Dad asked if they could take it out, but I begged him to leave it. I think it’s just so cool.”

  “Let’s try it out.” He held out his hand. “Give me some paper.”

  Destiny got a funny look on her face. “For real?”

  “Why not? Go down to the other side. I’ll send you a note.” He loved the look of delight on her face.

  “Okay.” She went into a bedroom, which he assumed was hers, and came out with a legal pad of paper and a pen. “I’ll be down in a second.”

  He put the pad of paper against the wall and wrote on it.

  Your house is cool. I can see why you like the dumbwaiter. I think it’s fun. By the way, you never answered my last question.

  Destiny’s voice carried up through the shaft. “Okay. I’m ready.”

  He tore off the paper and folded it up, then sent it down by pulling on the rope. When the rope wouldn’t move anymore, he stopped. “Got it!” she yelled up.

  “Okay, now you have to write something back to me.”

  “Already on it.”

  A door opened, and a girl stepped into the hallway. She looked like an older version of Destiny with dark hair. She made a face at him. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Eli. Destiny’s friend.”

  She pointed at him. “The movie guy.” Then she laughed. “Friend. Yeah, right.”

  What was she talking about? Eli felt strange, standing there at the dumbwaiter, being inspected by a girl he didn’t know. “What?”

  “Nothing.” Then she squinted at him. “What are you doing?”

  The ropes inside the dumbwaiter moved and the pulley started to squeak. The girl rolled her eyes. “Oh, no. Don’t tell me she’s downstairs.”

  Eli smirked. “Okay. I won’t tell you.”

  The small elevator appeared and the girl reached in and grabbed the note before Eli could. He was so stunned, no words would come out of his mouth. The girl read the note, laughed again, then tossed it at him. “Yeah. Friends.” She shook her head and went back into her bedroom and shut the door.

  Eli unfolded the note. She’d answered under his original message.

  I’m glad you like the dumbwaiter, but I’m not going to answer your question because it was said in jest. Any question asked in jest is immediately disqualified.

  He wrote her back.

  I jest not. Answer the question. Be honest.

  He sent the note back down to her, a bit nervous that she wouldn’t answer it, and maybe a little more nervous that she would. It took forever for her to send the note back up, but when the ropes started moving, he let out a breath.

  The note appeared and he grabbed it. Two words stared at him.

  It depends.

  He scribbled his response.

  On what?

  When her note came back, he could hardly get to it fast enough.

  Are we alone, or in the crowded hallway at school? How long have we known each other? Have we gone on a date? If so, how many? How long has it been since I broke up with Jack?

  He wanted to answer every single one of them, but not on the paper. He set the notebook and pen in the dumbwaiter but didn’t pull the ropes. He crept down the stairs and through the kitchen to the laundry room. He came in behind her. She stared into the shaft, waiting for him.

  “We’re alone,” he said.

  “Oh!” Destiny turned around, slamming the door to the dumbwaiter. Her hair caught on her lips and she brushed it away.

  He walked toward her. “We’ve known each other for over two weeks. Yes, we’ve been on a date. We went out for ice cream. If you count the movie we watched together, we’ve been on two dates.”

  “Eli—”

  “Wait. I’m not done.” He took another step forward and placed a hand on the wall behind her. “It’s been zero seconds since you texted Jack and told him you were through with him.”

  Destiny stared up at him and swallowed. “Are you done now?”

  He leaned in. She backed up a fraction of an inch, but the door to the dumbwaiter stopped her. “Yes,” he said, looking at her lips. Electricity buzzed between them. “I’m done.”

  “Is that mean? To text a breakup?”

  That’s not what he expected her to say, but her words sent hope and desire crashing through him. “I don’t think so, but if you’re worried about it, you could call him.”

  Destiny stood silent for a moment. He wanted her to take out her phone and call Jerk-Face. He wanted her to end it right now. Then he would be free to make her his. But she didn’t reach for her phone. Instead, she placed her hand on his chest and gently pushed him back. “We were talking hypothetically, right?”

  He wasn’t. He was talking about kissing her. Right now. But he couldn’t. Not while she was still Jack’s girl. He took a step back. “I guess.” Disappointment laced his words.

  “Then let’s talk reality again. You have to answer my question.”

  “Why I asked you to come teach me how to dance?”

  She nodded.

  “I think you know the answer.”

  Her gaze flicked over him. “Tell me anyway.”

  “Because I wanted to spend more time with you.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and took her hand in his, as if they were dancing. “Like this.” He started moving to a silent rhythm.

  She didn’t resist his impromptu slow dance. She moved in time with him, as if she could hear the same imaginary music. “There’s a real dance coming up.”

  “I know. But you’ll be going with someone else.” Why did that make his heart so heavy? He barely knew her. And yet, he felt like he’d known her forever.

  “Unless I break it off.”

  A thrill raced through him. He raised an eyebrow. “Will you?”

  “I don’t know. I need to talk to him. Face to face.”

  “Pretty hard to do. He’s avoiding you.” Eli pulled her even closer, loving the way she felt in his arms.

  Destiny placed her cheek on his shoulder. “I know,” she said, her voice so low, it was almost a whisper. The sadness threaded thr
ough her words made his throat constrict.

  “He’s no good for you,” he whispered.

  “He was. In the beginning.”

  His hand splayed across her lower back. She felt so fragile, like a China doll. “Everything is always good in the beginning.”

  She closed her eyes and snuggled into him. “Then I guess I need an endless supply of beginnings.”

  He pressed his lips on the top of her head, breathing in the coconut smell of her hair. “Good idea.”

  “I shouldn’t be doing this with you,” she said quietly.

  Guilt surged in him. He shouldn’t be doing this either. He should never have told Jack yes. He hated playing with her emotions. Then a crazy thought popped into his head. Tell her. Everything.

  He entertained the notion. He could confess everything, how Jack approached him and how he needed the money, so he agreed. Then, how he felt bad but how he liked her and wanted to be with her. Maybe she would dump Jack then. But it could go the other way. She could get mad at him.

  He debated for a moment, then he found himself saying, “It’s only a dance.”

  “Feels like more.”

  “Then end it with Jack.” He hadn’t expected those words to come out as forcefully as they had, but he couldn’t take them back. He meant them with every fiber of his being. He wanted her to be with him. He held his breath, waiting for what she would say.

  She pulled back and looked up at him. “Okay,” she whispered.

  Chapter 9

  Destiny’s heart raced. Had she just said she was going to break it off with Jack? For real? She stared up at Eli, her body filled with anticipation.

  Eli’s muscles tensed. “When?”

  Destiny licked her lips, her head feeling mushy. What was she doing? She liked Eli. A lot. But was she ready to break things off with Jack just because Eli made her stomach flutter? And yet, being in Eli’s arms felt amazing. She’d danced with Jack several times and had never felt anything like this. She was so confused.

  Eli didn’t seem to like that she hadn’t answered. “Do it now.”

  Olivia walked into the room and Destiny jumped back, feeling guilty for being caught so close to Eli. Olivia smirked and folded her arms. “There you two are.”

  Destiny tried to speak normally. “Olivia, this is Eli, a friend from school. This is my sister.”

  Eli nodded at her. “We’ve met.”

  “Really?”

  “Upstairs.” Eli grinned. “But she didn’t tell me her name.”

  “I came to tell you Mom texted me. They’re coming home in a half-hour. So, you’d better finish making out before they get here.” Olivia turned on her heel and left the room.

  Eli’s grin widened. “Well, we’d better finish making out, then.”

  She turned from him. “Shut up,” she said under her breath. “You should go.” He chuckled behind her as they walked through the house. She led him to the entryway where his coat hung. She turned to him.

  “Thanks for cheering me up tonight. I was upset about Jack...” She didn’t want to finish that sentence. She felt guilty for all the flirting she’d done with Eli.

  He shrugged into his coat, then took a step toward her. “Call me. Tomorrow. After you break things off.”

  Destiny nodded, unsure of what she would say if she opened her mouth. Her brain wasn’t working right, and she was so confused about Jack and Eli.

  He ran a finger down the side of her cheek. He looked like he wanted to say something else, but then changed his mind. He walked out of her house, leaving her to stand there and stare at the empty space where he’d been.

  Her face tingled where he’d touched her. She felt like the dumbest person in the world. Why was she waiting to talk to Jack in person? He’d blown her off so many times in the last two weeks. He didn’t even deserve another chance.

  What she was feeling with Eli was real. And amazing. She totally could be kissing him good night right now, if she’d just called Jack and let him know it was over.

  Destiny opened her front door, nerves racing through her. She was going to do it. She was going to tell Eli she’d break it off right now.

  She slipped quietly outside. The last thing she needed was to have Olivia come looking for her. She saw Eli by his car. “Wait,” she called to him.

  He turned around. The lamp in the front yard shed light on his features. He looked like one of those old-time movie stars, handsome with high cheek bones. He waited for her to approach him. “What do you need?”

  She should have been cold, but she wasn’t. The thought of kissing Eli sent a wave of warmth through her. “You.”

  He took her hand, his touch light. Timid. “Call him.”

  She let go of his hand and took out her phone. Her fingers quivered as she pressed Jack’s name. He answered on the third ring. “Hello?”

  “Jack?”

  “Hi, Destiny.”

  She paused, suddenly wavering. “What happened tonight?”

  “Oh, sorry. I had something come up.”

  “I know. You said that. What was it?”

  A girl’s voice came through the line. “Who are you talking to, Jack?”

  Anger surged in Destiny’s chest. She was such a fool. “Are you with a girl?”

  “No, babe. That’s no one.”

  She gritted her teeth. “That’s it. We are through. Don’t call me. Don’t text me. I don’t want to see you again.” She hung up on him, her anger making her shake.

  Jack was seeing someone else. Probably had been for weeks now. She couldn’t believe how blind she’d been. Why had she taken him back? She should have listened to Jessica.

  Eli shifted his weight. “I’m sorry.”

  She shoved her phone in her back pocket. “What are you sorry for? He’s the jerk who was cheating on me, and I was too stupid to see it.” She blinked back tears. She was such an idiot. Why was she crying? She’d taken Jack’s abuse too long. It was good they were through.

  Eli pulled her into his arms. He didn’t say anything. He just held her. She snuggled into his warm chest and closed her eyes, letting the tears slide down her cheeks.

  “He’s no good for you,” Eli said.

  She looked up at him. “I know.”

  Eli brushed the pad of his thumb over her cheek, catching a tear. The sensation of his skin on hers made her heart race. “Thank you for being there for me tonight.”

  “You already said that.”

  “I know. I’m stalling.”

  His lips quirked up into a smile. “Why are you stalling?”

  “The truth?”

  His hand pressed against the small of her back. “Yes.”

  “Because I’m hoping you’ll kiss me.”

  He leaned forward until he was almost touching her. “I don’t know that that’s a good idea now.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re hurting. I don’t want to be that guy that takes advantage.” His voice sounded raw. Hoarse. “Don’t get me wrong. I want to kiss you. But not like this.”

  Disappointment darted through her. But she appreciated how thoughtful he was being. “Okay.”

  “Let’s go out tomorrow. Anywhere you’d like.” He nuzzled her neck. “And I get three more questions.”

  She would have agreed to anything at the moment. “All right.”

  “Where do you want me to take you?”

  “My favorite place to go this time of year.” She smiled at him. “The pumpkin patch.”

  He tried to hide a smile, but it looked like he lost. “You want to go pick out pumpkins?”

  She nodded. “And then we can carve them.”

  “Sounds like a date to me.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll pick you up at ten.”

  Her insides pooled into mush as he gave her one last hug. Then he let go and got into his car.

  She watched him drive away, his taillights disappearing down the street. Her insides hummed as she walked back inside her house. Her sister stood at the wind
ow. “Just friends, huh?”

  “Shut up.”

  Olivia folded her arms. “What about Jack?”

  “I broke up with him.”

  Olivia made a face. “When?”

  Destiny suddenly felt tired and didn’t want to talk to her sister anymore. She took off her shoes and motioned to the door. “Just now. Outside.”

  “Oh. That’s what you were doing.”

  Maybe if she turned the conversation around, Olivia would leave her alone. “Have you talked to Mom and Dad yet?”

  She broke eye contact. “No.”

  “Probably should do that. Soon.” Destiny shrugged and left Olivia standing at the window. She sprinted up the stairs and went into her bedroom, her emotions all over the place.

  Jack was out of her life for good. She hated him. He was everything Jessica had said and more. Why had she been such a fool? She felt both stupid and angry at herself. But she shoved all thoughts of Jack away. Because as much as she hated what Jack had done, she was glad it was over because there was something going on between her and Eli, and now she was free to explore it.

  She took off her makeup and dressed for bed. As she climbed under the covers, her phone sounded. A text message from Eli.

  Sleep well. See you in the morning.

  Her heart fluttered as she answered back.

  You, too.

  She bit her lip and tried not to smile but was severely unsuccessful. She pulled out her nightstand drawer and grabbed the book she’d picked up from the library after school. Animal Farm. She opened it and started reading.

  Chapter 10

  Eli pulled into Destiny’s driveway. To say he was excited about this date would be an understatement. He couldn’t wait to spend more time with Destiny.

  His phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. Crap, it was Jack. He quickly answered, making sure Destiny hadn’t come out of her house yet. “Hello?”

  “Hey, you did it.” Jack laughed on the other end of the line. “Was she with you when she called last night?”

  Just hearing Jack’s voice made Eli mad. A throbbing started in his temples. He stared at Destiny’s front door. “Yeah.”