My shift wears on till finally Smith says fuck it and closes at eleven.
Even as I drive home all I can think is unfortunate April. Who would want her dead?
I have to go the long way because Hickory Bridge Road is blocked off. Some type of accident or something. It’s not the first time. That ridiculous bridge is dangerous. In the summer there’s a festival and base jumpers come from all over to go off it. A few years ago, one of them had a parachute malfunction and fell to their death. People have been trying for years to get them to put up railings and block it off.
A shiver passes over me as I park outside of my building. I stare up at my dark apartment wishing for the first time in a long time that I didn’t live alone. Should have taken Yara up on her offer to get me a dog or a cat. At least then someone would be waiting on me when I get home. I hurry inside my apartment kicking my shoes off. I move toward my bedroom pulling my shirt over my head eager to change into my pajamas and forget the cruel world for a while.
I’m two steps from turning on the light when an arm snakes around my waist and a hand clamps over my mouth. “Miss me, baby?”
My eyes bulge and my stomach does a pitch like I just went down a big dip on a roller coaster.
The hand loosens and I’m turned around slowly until I come face to face with Fisher. His long hair is gone, but he has some facial scruff.
A million emotions move through me, and I’m taken right back to the last time I saw him driving away from this very apartment. Back to when he was mine and I loved him. Loved him so much it hurt.
“What are you…” I don’t get any other words out before his mouth is on mine. Hot and needy just like old times. For a moment I forget how deeply this man hurt me. How broken he left me.
His tongue presses against the seam of my lips and I don’t deny him entrance. I kiss him as hot tears burn the backs of my eyelids. His thumbs move in swiping them away as quickly as they fall.
I pull away stunned and pissed off at the same time.
“You missed me.” He licks my salty tears from his thumb. “You don’t write. You never take my calls. Worried me that I was going to come home and find someone else sleeping in my bed.”
“When did you…” my thoughts move to April. The word rat carved into her forehead. Her throat slit. A crime of passion. I take a step back.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there someone else?”
I shake my head. This can’t be happening. “Did you…?”
I don’t get to ask him if he killed April because my sister comes barging into my apartment. “Sis, you here? There’s been an accident.” Her gaze lands on Fisher standing in the doorway of my bedroom. “Holy fuck. When did you get out?”