“Yeah…”
“And…” I stare down at my hands in my lap. “I was embarrassed. I didn’t want you to think less of me. Your opinion means a lot to me.”
He rolls his head to look at me, his eyes soft under the dim porch light. “Millie…”
“I also want you to know…” I take a deep breath. “I had a really great time the other night. It was one of the best nights I’ve ever had. Because of you. So whatever else happens, thank you for that. I… I just had to tell you that.”
There’s a crease between his eyebrows. “I had a great time, too. I haven’t felt that happy in…” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “A while. I hadn’t even realized it.”
We stare at each other for a moment. There’s still electricity between us. I can see in his eyes that he feels it, too. He glances at the back door, and before I know what’s happening, his lips are on mine.
He kisses me for what feels like an eternity, but it’s probably more like sixty seconds. When he pulls away, there’s regret in his eyes. “I can’t…”
“I know…”
It’s not meant to be between us. For so many reasons. But if he wanted to go for it, I would do it. Even if it meant making an enemy out of Nina. I would risk it. For him.
But instead, I get up and leave him behind on the porch with his beer.
The wood of the stairs is cold against my bare feet as I walk back up to the second floor. My head is still spinning from that kiss and my lips are tingling. That can’t be the last time. It can’t. I saw the way he was looking at me. He has real feelings for me. Even though he knows my past, he still likes me. The only problem is—
Wait. What’s that?
I freeze at the top of the stairs. There is a shadow in the hallway. I squint at it, trying to make out the image in the darkness.
And then it moves.
I let out a screech and nearly go toppling down the stairs. I grab onto the banister and save myself at the last second. The shadow shifts closer to me, and now I can see what it is.
It’s Nina.
“Nina,” I gasp.
Why is she standing there in the hallway? Was she downstairs? Did she see me and Andrew kissing?
“Hello, Millie.” It’s dark in the hallway, but the whites of her eyes almost seem to be glowing.
“What… what are you doing here?”
She scowls at me, the light from the moon creating disturbing shadows on her face. “It’s my home. I don’t have to account for my whereabouts.”
Of course, it’s not really her home. Andrew owns the house. And if they weren’t married, she couldn’t live here. If he decided to choose me over her, this would be my house.
These thoughts are insane. Obviously, that isn’t going to happen.
“I’m sorry.”
She folds her arms across her chest. “What are you doing here?”
“I… I came down to get a glass of water.”
“Don’t you have water in your room?”
“I drank it all,” I lie. And I’m sure she knows it’s a lie, considering she snoops in my room.
She’s silent for a moment. “Andy wasn’t in bed. Did you see him downstairs anywhere?”
“I, uh… I think he was out on the back porch.”
“I see.”
“But I’m not sure. I didn’t talk to him or anything.”
Nina gives me a look like she doesn’t believe one word I’m saying. Which is fair enough, since it’s all lies. “I’ll go check on him.”
“And I’ll head up to my room.”
She nods and pushes past me, jostling my shoulder. My heart is pounding. I can’t push away the feeling that I’ve made a terrible mistake crossing Nina Winchester. Yet I can’t seem to stop myself.
THIRTY-THREE
I have Sunday off, so I spend the day out of the house. It’s a beautiful summer day—not too hot and not too cool—so I drive over to the local park and sit on a bench and read my book. When you’re in prison, you forget those simple pleasures. Just going outside and reading at the park. Sometimes you want it so bad, it’s physically painful.
I’m never going back there. Never.
I grab a bite to eat at a fast-food drive-through, then I drive back to the house. The Winchester estate is really beautiful. Even though I’m starting to despise Nina, I can’t hate that house. It’s a beautiful house.
I park on the street like always and walk up to the front door of the house. The sky has been darkening during my entire drive home, and just as I get to the door, the clouds break open and droplets of rain cascade out of the sky. I wrench the door open and slip inside before I get drenched.