Page 122 of Insidious Heart
“Nothing too bad, just that countdown or whatever on TV.”
“Prince loves that stuff. Looks forward to Halloween all year just so he has an excuse to watchBeetlejuicetwenty-four hours a day.”
I giggle. “I know. I keep waiting for him to ask for his own copy ofThe Handbook for the Recently Deceasedfor Christmas.”
“Don’t tell him, but we finally got him one.” Rochelle smirks as she starts putting slices of pizza on paper plates. “He’s going to lose his mind when he opens it.”
“Where’s Cal? I didn’t think you two would be back so early.” And honestly, I’m not ready for the boys to go home yet.
She sighs then huffs, “He’s still out looking for Beau. Cal probably won’t be back until morning but he sent me home to get a shower and real food.” I lift a brow as she laughs. “Ok, so pizza isn’t necessarily real food but it beats the crap we’ve been eating on the road. And I just wanted to see the three of you, so I chose quick and easy, and there weren’t many options since it’s almost 9:30 p.m.”
“True.” I chew my cheek a little. “So you’re taking them home after they eat, or…”
“We’re staying.” Rochelle gives me a warm smile, one full of understanding. “Cal insisted the boys and I stay until he finds Beau. And I don’t like the idea of you being here all alone in this house.”
Thank god.
Having Rochelle and the boys here with me is exactly what I need, and it is so much better than sticking a bunch of stupid patches on guard duty. It’ll actually be kind of nice having them here, a little bubble of temporary comfort while I go back to pretending things aren’t incredibly fucked up.
And even though I really want to see him, maybe Rochelle and the boys will be enough to keep Victor away while I decide what to do about things. In love with him or not, accepting that he wasn’t using me or still doubting him, it’s not exactly like the two of us can continue carrying on whatever this is in complete secrecy within the four walls of my bedroom.
Especially now that I’ve gotten a brief taste of what things could be like if I was normal, ifwewere normal.
It ended shitty, but being out in public briefly with Victor while a bunch of women I wish I could be friends with cheered us on was really nice.
“Ok,” Rochelle says as she looks over the spread on the island. “Hawaiian, supreme, all the meat, or extra cheese? What sounds good, princess?”
I cringe a little at the nickname before attempting to maybe kill two birds with one stone. “I’m not very hungry.” Which is true. “We’ve been snacking since I made grilled cheese around five.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” I nod and chew the inside of my cheek. “I was actually… I thought maybe I’d go sit on the porch for a little bit since you’re home?”
She frowns. “The boys weren’t giving you a hard time, were they? I’ll go say something to them, they know not to—”
“No, no,” I blurt as Rochelle sets down the plate and starts to round the counter. “No, it’s nothing like that. King and Prince are always so good for me and tonight was no different. I just, well, it’s really nice out and it won’t stay like that for long…”
“Oh,” she drawls. “Want to sit and enjoy thepeace and quietfor a change?”
I just nod.
Rochelle knows how busy the house usually is, how rowdy the patches get even when they’re on watch, and she knows better than most that my nights are never peaceful unless Beau is gone. Unfortunately, I’m lying again because I plan to go out there for two specific reasons.
If she lets mesit on the porchwithout checking up on me or demanding I go back inside, I’ll confirm that while my father is gone I might have a little more freedom than usual. And if that’s the case, then I can sneak over to the abandoned house and finally talk to my ghost because knowing he’s that close without actually seeing him is going to drive me crazy.
I don’t know if we’ll have the talk I know we need to have, but I have to see Victor while he’s here or else I know I’ll regret not doing it more than the way I left things between us.
“Go ahead, Stevie. Sit until your heart’s content.” Rochelle gives me a soft smile. “Make sure to take a jacket though, and come in before it gets too cold. I’ll keep the boys occupied so you can have your alone time.”
With my chest filling with warmth, I nod my thanks and quickly leave the kitchen and head down the hall, sneaking past the living room then slipping on my moccasins and jacket before quietly walking outside.
I take a deep breath, drawing in a lungful of the crisp fall air. My eyes close briefly as I listen to the sounds of nothing but a few animals scurrying around in the dark.
No rumble of motorcycles.
No screaming father ready to lecture me.
Nothing but the soothing sounds of a peaceful autumn night.
