Chapter 46 CHAPTER 046
Amelia POV:
"Ashley, hi." I say, the phone is pressed to my ear and my hands are busy massaging my cold feet. I am back in my room in Linc's mansion and all the feels are back. He left it exactly how I did. But he must have had someone clean it on a weekly basis. It smells fresh and yet untouched. I miss the room but not the girl I was in it.
"Hey! Are you out?" She sounds out of breath, she must have just come in from work.
We can't deny the strain on our friendship from this Tyler business. I can't get over the fact that she didn't immediately believe me when I told her what he did. That brief moment where disbelief flashed through her face. It felt like an even bigger betrayal than what Tyler was doing to me. She is my best friend. I expect unequivocal trust and loyalty. Just like I give her.
But I also understand that she must be grieving her own loss in this situation. She believed Tyler to be what he was not. It is not easy to just move on and forget. Maybe this space would benefit us. Strengthen our bond instead of making us pull further apart. I hope so.
"No. Uh. I am at Linc's house." I say quietly. Linc is downstairs making dinner. I know it sounds absolutely ridiculous but that is what he is doing. Apparently, he doesn't have the kitchen staff around every day. He mostly makes his own food.
He made a few calls and we are expecting a Mr. Hernandez from the private security agency he uses. After dinner. I am nervous for a number of reasons tonight.
"Linc's house? Why? What are you doing there?" Ashley asks, I can hear her going about the apartment, probably in the kitchen right now making tea.
"I told him about Tyler." I hate the silence that follows between us. And I hate Tyler all the more for putting this ridge between me and my best friend. But I know it is something we will overcome eventually.
"Oh." She says when the silence turns sour.
"Yeah. Linc thinks I should stay at the house for now. Till we are able to gain control of the situation. Linc thinks he might harm me when he finds out I told him against his request. I don't know. But I think I will be staying here for a while." I say, looking around the room like she is here with me and I am trying to avoid eye contact with her.
"Hm. I guess that makes sense." Her voice is low. I feel bad for leaving her alone at the apartment. Should I ask her to come stay here with me? I don't know.
"Yeah..." It is the first time we don't have anything to say to eachother. Not even teases. Fuck Tyler.
"Okay girl. I know Linc will keep you safe. He was like a bear when he asked me about your absence this morning. I was genuinely scared." Ashley forces a laugh and I do the same. I feel awful.
"He can be like that." I say.
"I haven't heard from Tyler. He didn't show up to work and his numbers are not connecting. Marcus was worried and said something about checking on him after work today. I will let you know as soon as I get ahold of him anyhow." Ashley promises.
I am sure she feels even worse about not believing me immediately. She allowed her affection for Tyler cloud her judgement at a critical moment. Though to her credit, she didn't say anything out loud but I saw it in her eyes before she shook it away. It is unforgivable but she is my best friend. We have a life together in Boston outside of all these drama and I intend on getting back to it.
"Alright."
"Yeah."
"Well, goodnight. I will talk to you tomorrow." I say.
"Yeah, goodnight." Ashley says, there is a moment of hesitation from her where I get the sense that she wants to add something but she doesn't and I end the call.
I stare at the wall of album covers as a huge entire wall covering collage I have in front of my bed. Sad albums. Metal bands. Artists with names that insinuate how much they want to kill themselves. Black lined eyes, sharp features. Skeletons. Then the sad indie girls. An intellectual mix of disturbing art.
Fuck, I can't believe how messed up I was, living in this house with my mother and her new husband who I had a deep crush on.
"Amelia." And now, he is at my door. Something that never happened then.
"Hi..." I breath when I open the door. The smell of spices hit me. He looks unfazed but I can smell the heat from the kitchen on him. I can't believe the man sometimes. So multifaceted. So complicated. And yet so simple. So within reach.
"I am done with dinner. Come down in a few minutes." He brushes his finger along my cheek and I feel a shock of electricity race down my spine at the warm gesture.
"Okay." I say with a small smile and shut the door. I press a hand to my chest, my heart is hammering hard against my ribcage. Is it okay to feel this way with the dark cloud we have hanging over our heads?
Tyler has not reached out to me yet. Though to be fair, he did say he was giving me three days. It is day two. I don't know what he is going to do when he doesn't hear from me tomorrow. He is unpredictable. And that is a scary thing.
I search my hastily packed bag for something decent to wear. I stumble on a silk dress. It is long and drapes over the body, highlighting curves and folds. A tempting neck line that plunges down to my ribcage. I don't know if it is appropriate, seeing as we have a guest who is slated to arrive in two hours.
I start getting out of my jean and shirt, to slip the wine coloured silk dress over my head.
A lot could get done in two hours.