Don't Forget Me by Rea Frey

Author:Rea Frey [Frey, Rea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

21

NOW

I ran so fast out of my house that I tripped down the front steps.

I sprinted around back, hoping I could catch a glimpse of the perpetrator through the windows, but before I could get there, I ran face first into Ryan.

I screamed, and he shot his hands up in surrender. “Whoa, it’s just me. What’s going on?”

I looked at him, confused, not understanding where he could have come from. Why was he in my side yard?

“There’s someone in my house!” I hissed. “Upstairs.”

“What? Are you sure?” A flash of concern morphed his handsome features. “Stay here.” He bolted around the side as I chased after him.

“Ryan, do not go in there. Seriously.”

But he pushed his way inside anyway to inspect. I stood there, fully expecting him to be slaughtered in the next five minutes. I’d seen those movies. I knew how they ended.

Ten minutes later, he reemerged, shaking his head. “No one’s in the house, Ruby. I literally checked everywhere.”

“He could have escaped while you were upstairs,” I said. I looked at him, my heart pounding. “Why are you here?”

“I . . .” He glanced behind him. “I need to talk to you.”

“Come in.”

I yanked him inside and closed and locked the door. There was no way I could stay here tonight, not without somehow reporting Cassie’s murder first. How was Greg going to figure that one out? I paced in my front foyer, clearly on edge.

“I really don’t think anyone was here, Ruby. What did you hear?”

“It sounded like a footstep.” I pointed upstairs. “I know it was a footstep.”

“Okay, okay, just calm down. Breathe.” He stepped toward me and rested his hands lightly on my shoulders. I stepped into a hug, and his arms tightened their grip. It reminded me of when I’d fallen apart after Lily had disappeared and how he’d been there for me every step of the way.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I’m just in a bad place.”

“I know.” He stroked my hair absentmindedly, and I closed my eyes, being lulled by his familiar scent. It had been so long since I’d been in his arms, so long since anyone had comforted me. I opened my eyes and stared down at his shoes. Drops of red paint clung to the top.

Or is that blood?

Every fiber in my body seized. My arms stiffened, and he felt it.

“Hey, you okay?” He pulled back. His eyes were friendly and warm, full of genuine concern.

“What did you need to tell me?” I took a shaky step back.

His eyes changed as he exhaled a breath and moved to the living room. “I don’t know where to start.”

I motioned for him to sit. He sank into an armchair, and I sat on the couch across from him.

“I’ve been doing some digging myself,” he said. “About Tom.”

I looked at him, confused. “What about Tom?”

“I just never trusted him. And after I knew how he treated you, I don’t know . . . none of it sat right with me.”

My phone dinged. I fished my phone from my pocket with trembling hands.

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