Absolutely Unforgivable(85)

“And your ex-boyfriend is one of the guys in the other room?”

“Oh goodness no. No, no ... They are from the band. My ex is staying in Tomball with his mother.”

The officer relaxed when I said that and took the seat at the kitchen table next to me. “Is that where you went when you left here?”

“Not at first, no. I really just drove around for a while. Then somehow for some reason drove over there. We talked for a little bit and then I came back home and here we are now.”

“Do you understand how dangerous it is out there for you right now? There is a machete-wielding stalker on the loose who is looking for an opportunity to get you alone.”

“I know. I really do. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make everyone worry about me like that.” I put my hands up to my face and started to cry again.

“Please for the love of all things holy, don’t get the girl crying again.” Starla scoffed as she came into the room and put her hand on my shoulder.

Darla came in right behind her and took her place standing on the other side, placing her hand on my other shoulder. “Look, Stacy’s had enough excitement for today. Can we wrap this up already so we can get her cleaned up and into bed? She needs to rest.”

The officer looked up and down at the girls who clearly were not budging. “Alright ladies, you take care of your friend while I finish up with Mr. Snow.”

Darla smacked her gum and shouted out, “Billy, you’re up!”

Mindy, Bree, Tiffany, and Trista came into the kitchen as the police officer went to talk to Billy again.

“Thank you,” I said looking up to Darla and Starla.

“Whatever,” Darla said as she smacked her gum loudly. Starla, however, smiled and gave me a wink. Darla and Starla may act like they don’t care about anything or anyone but when it comes right down to it, they do have big hearts.

“How totally mad at Billy are you?” Mindy asked.

“Yeah, that. Can you guys help me with something?”

“Sure!” Bree answered.

I walked them into the bedroom I had been sharing with Billy. I asked them to help me pack up some of my things so I could take them upstairs. They begrudgingly agreed to help.

When the police officer left, Billy walked into the bedroom and looked at the packing being done. “What’s going on?”

I didn’t respond. I just kept folding up my clothes, trying to pack them into the suitcase on the bed.

Trista came in right behind him. “What the .... Are you leaving?” She smacked Billy in the arm. “Stop her, Billy!”

“I can’t make her do anything. If she wants to leave, then what can I do to stop her?”

I glared at Billy. “I’m not leaving Trista. I’m just moving back upstairs.” I didn’t understand why Billy was being such a dick to me. He was the one who lied to me. I didn’t do a damn thing to him so I don’t know what his problem is with me. I can’t believe he’s acting this way. I have every right to be upset.

After stuffing the last bit of clothing I could in the suitcase, I zipped it up and tried to remove it from the bed. It was too heavy so I asked Vin to take it upstairs for me instead. “Let’s go, little one,” he said as he grabbed my bag with a single hand as if the heavy weight was nothing for him and headed towards the stairs.

I followed closely behind him. I hadn’t been back upstairs since they replaced the floor and when I got to the spot where the blood stains had been I paused for just a moment. I took a deep breath, walked around it and then into my bedroom. Vin placed the suitcase on my bed and then walked over to the sliding glass door that led to the terrace.

“See this door? It stays shut at all times. I mean it. I don’t want you trying to open it for any reason.”

“Okay, I promise,” I said quietly as I unzipped the suitcase and started to unpack my clothes. Mindy and Bree came up a few minutes later, each with a bag of clothes in hand.

“I am not going to tell you that you can’t move back into your old room but you aren’t going to be alone up here. I am going to have someone posted outside your door at all times.” I wanted to complain but I knew it would be pointless.

I spent the rest of my day putting away my clothes. I heard Billy telling Vin that he was heading out for the night so I went downstairs and watched some television before heading off to bed, alone. I tossed and turned for a while before I finally got out of bed and opened my door. “Rocco, since you are going to sit there and protect me all night, think you could do it in here?”