Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Steve allows that information to sink in. He’s coming to the same conclusion. “I suggest you have a serious talk with the police.”
I fucking knew it.
“I’m gonna do that. After I have one with the neighbor.” I stick my hand out. “Thanks again for meeting me.”
“Sure thing, Ben. I suggest you don’t sit on this information long. Someone who has it in them to do this has the potential to do a lot worse.”
I leave him and walk across the lawn to the neighbor’s house. I cautiously glance through the bay window and make my way up the front steps. The last thing I want is to be anywhere near this chick, but I need answers, and the only way I’m getting them is from the source.
I ring the bell, then step back and wait. A beat passes. Nothing. I look toward the driveway. Her car’s here. Peering through the bay window again, I knock. “Hello?”
She’s home. The question is, why isn’t she answering? I lift my fist to knock again when the door finally opens. “Ben! What a wonderful surprise.”
Yeah, just dandy. “Hey, I was just over at the Jacobs’ house—”
“The who?” Her brows furrow.
“The Jacobs’. Makayla’s father’s house?”
“Oh! Okay, sure. What’s up?”
“I was hoping you could fill in some gaps for me. Some things aren’t lining up, and I thought I’d come to you and ask since you were there.”
Her shoulders tighten, but she quickly adjusts, relaxing them again. “I honestly wasn’t there when the fire started. Like I told Makayla, I left when she fell asleep.”
“Yeah, I got that. But I wanna know more about the candle.”
It’s quick, but there’s a twitch in the crease of her brows. A tenseness in her smile. “I know. I should’ve told you about the candle. I was so worried for Makayla, it slipped my mind. I’m not trying to hide anything. I came out and said right away I thought I may have nudged the knob on the stove. You’re not. . . insinuating I did it on purpose, are you?”
That’s exactly what I’m insinuating. “I’m just trying to build a timeline. I don’t remember you having a candle. . . or anything, for that matter, in your hands the night you came over.”
“It was in my purse.”
“I don’t recall you having a purse with—”
“Ben, honestly. I’m not really liking where this is going. I’ve been pretty upfront about everything. Ask Makayla. We just talked about it today. And she believes me. To be honest, I’m not sure why you’re investing so much time in this when she’s not even going to be around much longer.”
My jaw tightens. I inhale a slow breath. “What are you talking about?” Did she just threaten her life? I swear, if she tries anything again, I’ll tear her to shreds.
“Just that if she plans on going back to her husband, all this work you’re trying to do is for nothing.”
My frown deepens. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Her expression softens. She reaches out to me, then drops her hand. “Oh, I’m sorry. You didn’t know?”
“Know what, Jenny?”
She steps from foot to foot. “It’s just. . . she told me today she’s been in contact with her ex. He’s been fighting to get her back. Sending flowers. Late-night calls. He wants her to come home. They were married for three years, ya know? It’s hard not to try to work things out.” She reaches for my arm again, but this time, I back away. “I’m sorry. I thought she would have said something.”
She plans on leaving? Was us being together all bullshit? I’m thinking long-term and marriage, and she’s been planning to go back to her cheating ass ex?
“Maybe you and I can grab some drinks sometime. After she leaves. I think you and I—”
“We’re not done here.” But I can’t stand here another second. I step off her front step and storm back to my Jeep.
“Ben!” she calls out. I barely stop and turn. “I want to help. Let me know if there’s anything I can do. Call my insurance. If you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you too.” Her sickly-sweet smile turns my stomach. I don’t reply. With nothing but anger fueling me, I can’t be trusted with what will roll off my tongue.
The drive home is a blur. Jenny’s words play on repeat in my head, intensifying my fury. She’s been lying to me. This whole time. Playing a victim when she’s the fucking problem. I’ve been investing in something I want so damn bad while she’s been preparing to leave.
“Fuck!” I slam my fists against my steering wheel. I need to calm down. I don’t trust Jenny to begin with; why would I trust what she just told me is true? She could be provoking me.
I scrub a hands down my face. There’s no way Mak would do this. We—we’re on the same page. I know it. There’s no way she would blindside me like this. Unless this was her plan all along. One final game: make me fall in love with her.