Page 18 of The Betrayal

“Get dressed, I’ll drive you home.”

And that’s when everything hits me, flooring me in seconds.

Lucy drives me home and I am internally grateful. She’s pretty. Wavy blonde hair, the perfect little nose, beautiful freckles and killer lips that she proudly tells everyone are filled. She has the perfect pout.

She stays quiet and I know she is dying to ask me about the evening but I’m not ready to say anything yet. She is a little older than me, around twenty-seven, I think. More like Reese’s age, my dad’s friend’s wife. I was the youngest. Then Connie. Only by a couple of months, I think. My mind drifts to my dad and I know how angry he would be if he found out just what my life was like now.

He would be so disappointed. And then seeing him disappointed would disappoint me. Yeah, it would. It would really disappoint me.

My stomach knots when we pull up outside Keaton’s. I’m wearing an old, oversized sweatshirt with gym leggings. It’s all I had shoved in the back of my locker. My hair was still wet and it’s natural wave was beginning to show itself.

“Want me to come in?” Lucy offers as she puts the car into park.

“No, thanks.” I grimace as I open the door and step onto the sidewalk. “I’ll call you tomorrow okay?”

I don’t wait around for her to answer. Nerves cripple me as I climb the steps to Keaton’s, fishing around in my bag for my front door keys. Twisting my neck to look over my shoulder, Lucy is still sitting there, I would like to say she was waiting to see if I get in safely, but I can see her texting on her phone. Probably Keaton. Who am I kidding, it’ll definitely be Keaton.

I turn a pretty shade of green.

Jealousy does not suit me, especially when the person I am jealous over doesn’t even see me like that.

Sighing, I push the front door open, and I am met with darkness.

He isn’t home yet and I’m not sure if I am sad or relieved.

Softly closing the door, I press my back against it and close my eyes. My mind becomes a lot quieter, and my heartbeat slows to a steady beat. I step forward, tossing my keys into the bowl on the side table when Keaton rushes through the door, his eyes wide and pinned to me.

“Oh, Ari,” he looks confused, his thick brows pinch and form a deep V and I want to run my fingers over his fine lines to smudge them away into nothing.

“Hi,” I breathe, my fingers locked together. Dread consumes me.

“I wasn’t expecting you… I…” he looks at the closed door behind him before his eyes are back on me. His full lips open and close repeatedly but nothing comes out.

“I had a work thing,” I roll my lips, sort of answering the lingering question that is no doubt hanging on the tip of his tongue.

“I didn’t think you were working tonight.”

“Something came up,” I swallow the bile that is thickening at the back of my throat, “how about you?” I ask, my blue eyes volleying back and forth between his, but he breaks contact when his phone begins ringing.

“I had a private client across town,” he sighs, clearing his throat and walks past me without saying another word.

A private client?

CHAPTER SIX

KEATON

I see the car pull away and furrow my brows, I didn’t recognize it. Climbing the steps up to my house, I unlock the door and knock it open with my foot when I see Arizona standing there. Damp hair, wide eyes and waiting like a lost little girl.

“Oh, Ari,” confusion laces my tone and my eyes pinch as I take in her appearance. An old, oversized sweatshirt that is far too big for her delicate frame and worn-out leggings.

“Hi,” her voice is barely audible as she locks her fingers together in front of her, and I’m ashamed to admit that I let my eyes linger a little longer as I stare into her crystal blue eyes.

“I wasn’t expecting you… I…” I turn to look at the closed door, who dropped her off? Was she okay? My mouth parts and closes. I mean, she didn’t seem okay but after the day I have had, I don’t have it in me to even ask.

“I had a work thing,” she rubs her lips together, and it’s as if she is trying to guess what is going on through my head.

“I didn’t think you were working tonight,” I squeeze out as I drop my keys in the bowl, and I feel my body tense.