The Wrong Man by Kitty King

Author:Kitty King [King, Kitty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

ESSA

“What time are people coming over?” Taking the birthday cake she baked out of its plastic carrier, Piper stuck a frosting covered finger in her mouth. It was decorated with snowdrops and carnations. Apparently, those were January birth flowers—she informed me with a look of disappointment that I didn’t know.

“Well, Eli said Rhodes and Adon couldn’t make it. Both had to work. Tate is on vacation in Costa Rica or someplace warm. Johnny said he would be here, though. Not sure about Dixson…” Hoping Dixson wouldn’t show up, I held my tongue. He was still Eli’s friend, so I wouldn’t press it, but after his reticence on Thanksgiving, he didn’t seem to warm up to me.

“So Eli’s actually going to show up…” Piper gave me a knowing look, her perfectly trimmed eyebrows crinkling her forehead as they raised. I’d told her my fears about Eli backing away from me. She sat with me through my tears, but finally told me to “find someone better.” Feeling like she had grown tired of my talk of my boyfriend, I ended up just avoiding the topic with her.

“Yes, he’s coming. He said he would.”

She shrugged. “Huh. It’s weird that Rhodes isn’t coming. Adon, I could understand. That man is selfish as fuck.”

My nostrils flared with a sharp snort. She hated Adon, and I couldn’t figure out why she wouldn’t let their little squabbles go. Whenever I’d ask, she’d only insult him more.

“I accidentally let it slip about the party to Eddie, my creepy neighbor. I don’t think he’s coming, but he said something about buying me a present. He made it sound dirty.”

Snarling a lip, she said, “Ugh. That guy is gross. He hasn’t been bothering you, though, has he?”

“Not since I saw Eli talking with him that day… And no more break-ins, either.” Though I did worry about what would happen at night now that Eli was spending fewer and fewer in my bed. I’d taken to sleeping with the lamp on or falling asleep while watching old Agatha Christie movies online.

Even though I insisted she refrain from buying me anything, Piper brought over some plants she housed in pretty pots for my kitchen and den. She was explaining what each was and how to care for them when Johnny Davis showed up at the side door.

“Johnny! Come on in!” Throwing open the door for him, he waltzed in with his usual air of congeniality.

Despite his attractiveness, he always looked like he was hiding a secret. His gold-colored hair was perfectly styled into a pompadour, with long sideburns running down his squared face. Behind his constant smile, his hazel eyes held a distant expression of sadness. Shirking off his puffy black coat revealed a navy-blue Henley shirt over some darker distressed blue jeans.

“Hey, Essie! Long time, no see.” His taut arms gathered me into a warm hug. Smiling at his nickname for me, it felt comforting to know I had another friend in my life aside from Piper now. “Hell yeah. Cake!”

“Hey, I’m Piper.

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