Page 9 of Heidi Lucy Loses Her Mind
I swallow. “The front door was open,” I say. Then I gesture to Noodles. “The dog bolted in. So…it’s not really breaking and entering. Just entering. Technically.”
This is bad. I am not a criminal, and I do not have time for jail.
The man swears. “That’s the second time this week. The latch is broken.”
“I know we don’t know each other, and that I’m in your place without being invited,” I say, trying to calm my racing heart, “but could youpleasetake off the mask? It’s really freaking me out. You look like the guy in that movie.Friday the 13th.”
“Mmm,” the man says, his voice musing now. “No. That one was a hockey mask.”
I frown, thinking.
“Oh,” he says, snapping his fingers. “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
“Yes,” I say with a nod. “That’s it.” Then I turn my gaze to the stupid black Poodle who’s sniffing around the clawed feet of the bathtub. “Noodles,” I say. “I am going to cut you up into tiny little pieces and then sauté you and feed you to your doggy friends if you do not come to methis instant.”
The man in the tub snorts. “Better listen to her, Noodles,” he says, looking at the dog. “She seems sadistic.”
“Sadistic?” I say, my jaw dropping. “I’m not—it isn’t—” I break off, pointing to the mask still covering his face. “You’re the one wearing a mask.”
“It’s a Korean sheet mask,” he says defensively. “It’s moisturizing. And hey—what I do in the privacy of my own bathroom is none of your business. I don’t need to explain myself to you.” Then he reaches up, peels the mask off, and points to the bathroom door. “Get out of my house, and take your dog with you.”
For the first time, I can see what the man looks like—blond hair down to his shoulders, scruff a few shades darker, and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. I swallow. Blink. Clear my throat.
I’ve seen this man before.
Soren Mackenzie.
TheSoren Mackenzie.
Crappity crappity crap.
“Noodles,” I snap, forcing my gaze to the dog as I feel my cheeks heating. “Comeon.”
Noodles just stares at me.
Taunting.
Like sheknows.
She knows exactly how much trouble she’s caused, and she’s relishing it.
I squint my eyes until all I can see of the room is a series of fuzzy outlines, and then begin inching toward the Poodle, who’s still standing at the foot of the tub. “I’m not looking,” I say quickly to Soren Mackenzie. “I just need to get the dog.”
“Fine,” he says, his voice gruff. “Get it and get out.” He pauses for a moment, then adds, “What happened to you?”
“Huh?” I say, my eyes popping open. “Oh,” I say when I see him frowning at my scraped arms and knees. “Uh, I fell.” It sounds better thanI fought the sidewalk, and the sidewalk won.
His frown deepens as he eyes the scrapes and cuts. “Probably gonna get tetanus if you don’t clean those out.”
“That seems unlikely.”
He ignores me, pointing instead to one of the cabinets. “There’s a first aid kit under there”—he clears his throat—“if you want it.”
“Uh, yeah,” I say faintly. “Thanks.”
What even is happening right now?
I am inSoren Mackenzie’stownhome. Though I knew he was a local at one point—the town library always has an endcap display dedicated to him—I didn’t know he’d moved back. But here he is.
