Total pages in book: 213
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
“What is it?” She’s wary but curious. That’s the Chloe I know.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the vial I prepared before coming here and roll it between my fingers. “It’s something to make you sleep.”
“Drugs?” she scoffs and shakes her head at me, letting out a sarcastic laugh like I’ve gone mad.
“It’s something you could get at any pharmacy,” I offer her, letting a smile slip onto my lips.
That’s not completely true. A friend gave it to me to see if there’d be any interest for it on the streets, but people in this city want harder drugs. Drugs to help them forget, to escape, even if just for a short time. I thought it could help Chloe though.
She’s a good girl, but she needs this. The sweets will knock her out and give her the rest she so desperately needs. I would know.
“You’re a bad liar,” she says, and the irony doesn’t escape me.
“I’ll put a few drops in your tea,” I tell her as I walk past her, brushing my arm against hers and feeling that familiar combination of heat and want seep into my blood. Her quick intake of air is all I need to keep moving forward, walking to her kitchen before I hear her take even a single step.
I go right to where I know she keeps her mugs and tea as I hear her walking toward the kitchen.
“I don’t drink tea at night,” she tells me, and I know she’s lying again. Glancing at the box in my hands, I show her the label then pull out what I know is her favorite mug. She picked it up at a used bookstore last year. If she’s not working or home, she’s always at that bookstore.
“Decaffeinated tea then?” She only crosses her arms aggressively again and leans against the small table in the kitchen. “I’m getting tired of you lying to me tonight,” I add with my back to her as I fill the mug with water and put it into the microwave.
When I turn to her, the hum of the microwave filling the room along with the tension between us, she meets my gaze with a hardened expression.
“How many years will go by this time? You know, before you barge into my life, then pretend I don’t exist the next day?” She sounds bitter, but I know it’s fake.
I cluck my tongue, keeping my eyes on her face instead of her chest. But with her arms crossed like that, she’s not helping me. “Would you really want me to make this a habit?” I ask her, not realizing how much I actually care what her answer is until silence is all I’m given.
I already know the answer; I shouldn’t have asked the question.
“What do you want from me, Sebastian? It wasn’t to ask if I’d heard about some asshole getting mugged.”
“It was.” I wouldn’t have come to see her if I didn’t think I really had to be here. I don’t like what she does to me. How she takes over every sense of reason and consumes my thoughts long after we’ve parted ways.
“The cops are going to question you about his death. I need you to tell them you don’t want to talk about it. Because otherwise, you’ll look guilty.” The microwave goes off and I go back to making her tea when she starts to answer me.
“I didn’t do it. I--”
“I know you didn’t. But you look like you’re lying when anyone brings up anything that has to do with your mother. Which is why it could be pinned on you.”
With the bag of tea steeping, I stiffen at my own words. A sick feeling stirs in the pit of my stomach. I know what it’s like when someone brings up shit you don’t want to hear. How all of a sudden, you feel a coldness and pain all over like it’s taken over everything inside of you.
I reach for the sugar on the counter and stir some into her tea. She doesn’t object or ask how I knew she would want it. The spoon clinks gently against the ceramic and Chloe still hasn’t responded, but when I turn to her, her eyes are glossy with unshed tears. I feel like a prick.
“This doesn’t have anything to do with that,” she says, although she barely gets out the words.
“That’s not what the police think. Two bodies were found right after they caught the guy who killed your mom. You don’t need to watch the news to know what the cops are thinking.”
She starts to object, but I stop her and say, “Just tell me you won’t talk to them.” Grabbing the vial, I put three drops in her tea, making sure she’s watching me, then set it next to the sugar.