A Deep and Dark December(19)

“You don’t think—”

“On the outside. Where everyone saw it. Everyone. They wrote ‘Come to the December Freak Show’ on it. The custodian had to take the door off my locker and replace it with a new one that was a different color from the rest.”

“Jesus.”

“That was in February. I had that locker until the end of the year. It made me a target. People shoved nasty notes through the slots almost daily.” She pulled in a shaky breath. “Thanks to you and your friends, I was free game.”

“Erin, I’m sorry. I don’t know which one of my * friends did that to you. I’d kick the shit out of him right now if I could.”

“You can’t.” She rubbed her forehead, trying to dislodge the ache that had settled behind her eyes. She sighed. Her anger drained away in the face of their current reality. “It was Greg.”

He stopped the car in front of Greg’s house and stared at it for a moment. She wished she could read his thoughts. Was he really sorry or only saying it because he’d been forced to face his past actions? How did the new Graham compare to the old? Could she trust him as much as she wanted to? As much as she already had? Or had she made a huge, irreversible mistake here?

Putting his arm across the back of the bench seat, he turned to her. The look in his eyes was full of regret. And shame. The shame surprised her.

“I really am sorry. I had no idea. I swear. I hope you can forgive me.” He glanced at the house again, then back at her. “And Greg.”

“I don’t know. I’m going to have to wait and see what you do with what I just told you.”

“Fair enough, but can I make a suggestion? Please don’t repeat what you just said. Someone might think you’d gotten your revenge by killing Greg.”

“But I didn’t.”

He put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “I know. I know, but someone else might take it differently.”

“You know you’re a prince when you’re not acting like a cop or a smart ass. Unfortunately, that’s almost never.” She reached for the door handle. “Let’s get this over with so I can get away from you.” She opened the door and stepped out into the rain, slamming the door behind her.

*

Graham would’ve kicked his own ass if it were possible. Why was he pushing her buttons? Just when he’d finally made some progress with her, he ruined it by being a complete f*cking idiot. He honestly didn’t remember that incident from high school. Was he really that much of an ass back then?

He remembered her very well in high school. She was the only girl who wouldn’t give him the time of day. That made her much more interesting than the ones who threw themselves at him. The more he tried to get her attention, the less interested she seemed. Then he graduated and moved away and he had only ever seen her briefly in the years since. She continued to have no regard for him whatsoever. Even now he wasn’t sure what she thought of him, past being a constant annoyance.

He stormed out of the car after her and knocked into Keith coming up the walk. Just what he needed.

“Stay out of the way,” he snarled at Keith.

“I never did like you,” Keith said. “I can see now that my opinion was well founded. Tell Erin I’ll be waiting for her in the car.” He spun on his heel and walked off.

Graham went up the steps to where Erin stood on the porch. He got as close to her as he dared. “What you told me will stay between us. I give you my word.”

“If you say so.” He had a lot to overcome where she was concerned.

The inexplicable need to be near her had him inching closer. “You frustrate the hell out of me, you know that?”

“You aren’t doing much more for me either.”

He could smell his shower gel on her skin and it brought back the images of her he’d had in his office. He leaned in. “I’m on your side.”

“Are you?” She seemed a little out of breath or angry. He couldn’t tell.

“I—” One of the tech guys came out of the house and bumped his shoulder, making him realize where he was. He backed away from her. “Stay here. I’ll go find your cell phone.” He went into the house, concentrating on keeping his steps even and unhurried.

The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to put his hands on her. Either in an embrace or around her neck, he wasn’t sure which. She’d somehow gotten in his head and messed with it. He had to find a way to get her out of it before he forgot why getting involved with her in any way was a bad idea.

The techs had set up their lights, illuminating every corner of the house. Graham found Erin’s phone on the floor against the wall outside the kitchen door. He grabbed one of the techs to photograph and catalog it, then took it out to Erin waiting on the porch.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

“Be at the station by eight tomorrow morning to give your statement.”

She went down the steps of the house to Keith without a backwards glance. He thought about calling out a goodbye to her, but figured he’d hit his sarcastic limit with her and would only dig himself in deeper.

So he stood there and watched as Keith came around to open the car door for her. Keith, the high school track star. Keith, the hometown boy who’d stayed. Keith, who didn’t say stupid shit to piss her off. Keith, who offered her comfort instead of aggravation. Keith, with the smug look as he got back into his car and drove away with Erin.