Page 40 of Sinister Red
I scowl as I reach for another bottle of wine. “Lewis loves me. We are engaged after all.”
“That doesn’t mean shit.” She scoffs. “You can marry someone without one single ounce of love shared between the two of you. Just look at Mitch’s mom and dad. They’ve been together since college and I don’t think the two of them have ever loved each other, and I’m pretty convinced the only time they had sex was when they made him and Mo. Marriage does not mean love and a happily ever after, Sofie, and I want both of those things for you.”
I know she does, and while I appreciate her concerns, I’m irritated as shit with my best friend for voicing them constantly. “I have them, Harlow. I’m going to marry a man who loves me, one that will give me a happily ever after, and then you’ll—” The hair on the back of my neck stands on end and a chill sweeps down my spine.
“I’ll what?”
Ignoring Harlow and her snappy response, I glance left toward the cash registers to find nothing but a teenage girl engrossed in her phone behind one of the counters. I look to my right and barely catch the backside of a man as he turns the corner, but no one else is there. I’m totally alone in the aisle and have no reason to feel like I’m being watched.
Too bad I still do.
I’ve had the feeling all day actually, from the time I left work this morning.
My hours at Sabine General are a little all over the map lately because this time of year can get busier than usual, and unfortunately for me that means my skills are required more often. I got a call around one in the morning about a three-car pile up that happened right off the exit of the only highway access point in town. The first driver hit some black ice and lost control, tried to brake, but crashed into the barrier. The second slammed into him seconds before the third fishtailed while trying to avoid them, rolled his truck, then crashed into them anyway. Two of the victims were DOA, and by the time I punched out this morning, three more of the seven people involved had passed through my office, which is not a good thing.
Needless to say, when I left the hospital, I was exhausted and ready to get the hell out of there, but, like always, the second I stepped outside and was nailed with the crisp winter air, I got a second wind. Even though I needed a nap, I used the energy boost to my advantage and ran a few errands, including a stop by the realtor who’s currently trying to help Lewis and I find a house that isn’t on my dad’s property, and when she said she may have a few for us, I was thrilled.
Coming back to Sabine Woods after so many years was never part of my plan, not long term anyway, but when Dad got hurt I had to. So, I came home, nursed my father back to health—he was shot in the arm and it was accidental, and his fault to be honest because Roland Berk should never handle firearms, even when he’s removing them from the rigor mortis filled hand of a dead man—and slowly but surely, he convinced me to stay. I don’t know why, or how, I just know that looking at him and how happy he was that I was home made it impossible for me to go back to Denver.
And now, after convincing my fiancé we should stay, and finding him a job through the hospital as well, Lewis and I are looking to plant some roots of our own. Which is why I took the listings our realtor gave me and decided to surprise him with those, as well as a fancy dinner to enjoy while we look them over.
So, I’ve been running around all morning trying to get everything done, grabbed lunch with my father, and now I’m here shopping for what I’ll need to make Lewis’s favorite dinner tonight, then I’ll rush home and catch a nap before he gets home around seven. And at every single stop I’ve made, I have had the same feeling of being watched.
Leaving the hospital, the realtor, literally everywhere I’ve been today, and I’m starting to get nervous about it.
“Sofie?” Harlow asks, the worry in her tone clear. “Sof, babe, what’s—“
“Sorry.” I shake my head and check the aisle again. “Sorry, yeah, I don’t remember what I was saying, but I have to go. I need to check out and get home so I can sleep a little before Lewis gets off work.”
I go to hang up, my eyes wandering back to where that man turned the corner, but Harlow stops me. “Sofie, wait.”
“I really have to go, Har.”
“Yeah, ok, but… are we still fighting? I don’t like to end the call when you’re mad at me.”
With a small smile, I shake my head. “I’m not mad at you. We’re done fighting for now.”
“For now?” She sighs in relief. “Good to know we can pick this back up whenever we want.”
“And I have no doubt we will. You haven’t kept your mouth shut about my life choices ever since we were four and you pointed out the way my dress kept flying up when I’d go down the slide at the park.”
Harlow giggles. “Hey, I was just having your back. Didn’t want all those stinky boys to see your Wonder Woman underoos.”
“Sure, yeah, that was it.”
“It was! I had your back then, and I still do now. That’s the only reason I say anything, Sof. I just want you to be happy and I have a hard time biting my tongue when I know you’re not.”
I don’t give her the satisfaction of knowing she’s right. Harlow doesn’t need it, and I don’t want to deal with the conversation that would happen afterwards. Instead, I just smile a little wider and say, “I love you, Harlow.”
“Love you too, babe. Call me later, ok?”
“I will. Bye, bitch.” I hang up and slide my phone into the pocket of my coat, check over my basket one more time to make sure I didn’t forget anything, then head to the checkout.
“Did you find everything ok?” the young girl chirps as her bright blue eyes shine.
I nod and unload my haul. “I did, thanks.”
“Your boyfriend went outside already.”
