Chapter 1
Christine
“I’mjustgoingtobecome a nun,” I whispered harshly. Banging my hand on the car, I winced at the impact. The leather wheel groaned in protest as I pushed myself out of the deep bucket seat.
The car I parked beside was a beautiful, black, freshly waxed Maserati. We did have neighbors with beautiful cars, but I didn’t know why it was parked outside my house. Mom didn’t have friends come over, and my dad certainly wasn’t home. He never was.
I wanted it to be over, this pain in my stomach. I wanted to just scream it all out and just be done with the agony and betrayal.Hedidn’t deserve my pain. Hedidn’t deserve any of it. He wasn’t worth it; no guy ever was, and no other guy would ever make me feel this way.
My keys were slung recklessly in my hand, trying to find the correct key. I hadn’t been home in six months. The Christmas lights were gone, and the crisp cool weather had faded now, bringing the bright sun of summer. My old plank wood swing swung in the breeze, beckoning me home.
I would swing on that swing all summer. The other kids in the neighborhood had beautiful swing sets, tall, massive in size, with slides, tunnels, and monkey bars. My dad either didn’t have time to build one, or he didn’t want to waste the money.
I went with the former. Being an airline pilot made you leave a lot. A lot of new adventures away from home. Surely that was more interesting than playing with his kid and continuing to romance his wife.
Men.
He’s probably buried balls deep in some slutty flight attendant.
I had just finished my senior year of college. Mom couldn’t come to graduation, which was unlike her. She was there for every single one of my tennis matches, art club meetings, and debate competitions when I was in high school. When I told her the date six months ago about walking across the big stage, something she was never able to do in her life, she was more than excited. Hell, she even went and bought one of those expensive cameras that she will maybe use once or twice and put it in a box somewhere.
Then she called me the day before saying she couldn’t make it and that I should come home soon after my trip with my boyfriend. Little did she know, I was never going to take that vacation.
My teeth ground together. I shouldn’t be upset that Mom couldn’t make it; she has done everything to be a part of my life, unlike Dad. It’s just that this stung a little more than I would have liked, and it was all because of a douchebag I like to call my ex-boyfriend.
The keys rattled again; a familiar furry face pushed back the silky white curtain at the front window. My white cat, Christopher, meowed, his paw pressing against the glass. “Here, kitty, kitty.” I stepped through the door. I rubbed my fingers together to act like I had a treat. He was no fool. He knew there was nothing and sat on his big fluffy butt until I pet him from his special perch.
“You are so spoiled,” I murmured. The house was dark for the time of day it was. Curtains were drawn, low-level lamps with red silk fabric on top of them.
Oh, god, I’m reliving my nightmare.
Balling up one fist and having the other wipe away the tears that I would not waste on a piece of trash, I heard my mom’s tender voice calling.
“Chrissy? Is that you?”
No… please, no.
“Yes, it’s me. I came home early,” my voice trailed, still staring at the door. I was nose to nose with it, feeling the heat of my breath fall back on my face. There was no way I was going to turn around. If I didn’t see it, then I didn’t know anything.
The mysterious car out front, the dimmed lights, and the red silk fabric on the lamps already painted the perfect picture. Mom was finally getting laid after years of being married to the sperm donor and in his house. Revenge is sweet.
But that doesn’t mean I want to be around it.
“Honey, it’s all right. Turn around.” I shook my head, my messy blonde bun beginning to fall at my shoulders.
“I’m good. I’ll come back later.” Reaching for the doorknob, Mom’s warm hand pulled it away and pulled me to her.
“I’m so glad you are home. This makes things so much easier, faster.” Hugging her, my eyes dart around the room, not seeing anything but darkness.
“Mom?” She hummed, still enjoying our embrace. Mom was a hugger; she lacked any physical touch for so long that she always hugged me for way too long. Many would find it awkward, but I had grown accustomed. “Why is it all dark?”
I laughed at myself. Of course I knew why it was dark.She’s doing the hanky panky with Mr. Maserati out front. God, I hope he doesn’t break her heart.
“I want you to meet someone,” she whispered.
“He’s dressed, right?” I slapped my hand over my mouth at the terrible back talk, but Mom only giggled. She freaking giggled.Oh, she’s got it bad.
“I want you to meet Justin.” She held out her hand into the darkness. The light streaming from the other side of the house blacked out his image until he came closer. His hand reached out to Mom’s until the light from the window where my cat sat shined on his face.