Chapter 129
Charlotte was now looking at me suspiciously, while she asked her brother a follow up question, "What do you mean 'drove over the last one'?"
Zenon was never a talker, but he explained it very simply. "This is a very expensive relationship."
I've always admired Zenon's sister from a distance. Growing up, she was the beautiful and smiling girl next door. People gravitated towards her and I always wondered what that life was like.
Now, by some strange stroke, Zenon and I were dating. And I wanted more than ever for her to like me. I think it's important for his family to see me in a positive light...
And damn near impossible, based on my past experiences with them.
Charlotte hugged her brother and said she would see him later at home. She had a dinner reservation with her ex bf and her current bff, Nicole.
Her ex-boyfriend, the model that he is, was staring at me like I was last season's fashion. I waved.
"You now met the girlfriend," Charlotte mumbled, pulling him away.
This guy met me for 10 minutes and saw me prepare for a cat's funeral and run over my laptop's boyfriend. I don't blame him.
"See you at the club, Bryce," Nicole waved him bye.
"Why 'the club'? You going out tonight?" Axel asked Bryce, watching the girls walk away.
"She meant the country club," Bryce explained.
"Oh."
Silent moment for all of us without country club memberships.
Zenon stared at his friends, "You guys going to keep drooling over Nicole or help me out here?"
What a day. So many accidents, so many mishaps. There was nothing this day needed more, than a warm bowl of chili.
Thank you, Gloria.
While we had been searching for Roger the dead cat and prepping for his funeral, Gloria had found old ingredients in my cupboards and whipped together the first home cooked meal I've had in a while.
After all, my mother's groceries consisted of alcohol and alcohol.
And one block of cheese that Axel found.
Now he was happily grating cheddar all over his bowl, watching the yellow flakes melt into his chili. A mountain of cheese formed, drowning out the meal before he got stuck into it.
"So why was your laptop on the floor?" he asked.
"Maybe this house is cursed," Bryce answered, "I broke my sunglasses in the kitchen an hour ago."
"But that's a good question, Axel," I jumped on the opportunity to clear my name, "Why would it be sitting on the driveway like that?"
"Can you pass the salt?" Bryce asked.
Honestly, I can't be blamed for stupidity. Except when I contribute to it... which I guess I did.
Zenon gave Bryce a knowing look and then said, "Because Ch-"
"Why are we dwelling on the past?" Bryce interrupted, "Let's not focus on how the laptop got there, and let's be grateful that we are all well."
"True words, Bryce dear," Gloria said, cleaning up the last of her cooking utensils, "Now everyone, I think it's time for me to leave. It's getting dark outside."
I watched Gloria wrap her scarf around her neck and put on her woolly coat.
I said longingly, "Please stay."
She made everything better.
"I wish I could, sweetie. Today has been a lot to handle but you need to take care of yourself now," she kissed my forehead and then went to hug the boys.
On her way out, she said, "I didn't realize Candace and Zenon lived across the street from each other. And now they're dating. How cute!"
Zenon wasn't a fan of that reaction. I don't think he liked being called cute.
"You are cute though," I whispered to him and he smiled, squeezing my knee.
After everyone had left, it was only Zenon and me in the house.
Even Heidi had woken up, eaten some of Gloria's chili and gone out. She said there was a -200% chance she would come back tonight.
I'm not comfortable with her statistics, but...
Zenon held his broken laptop in one arm while he held me in the other. He kissed me softly and said, "Will you be OK here tonight?"
I thought about the blood stain on my carpet upstairs. I thought about the dead cat outside. I thought about how someone had broken in and violated my home. How could I feel safe here?
Zenon opened the front door. A crescent moon was high in the clear sky tonight. His picturesque house was across the street and he was just moments away from going home.
"Zenon," I said, "Remember when you asked me 'your house or mine'?"
There was a pause. I gulped, "Well. I changed my mind."
A knowing smirk crossed his handsome face, "But you were so insistent..."
I smiled and grabbed my school backpack. I still had homework to do tonight, after all this chaos. But it felt so good knowing I'd be safe with Zenon.
He held the door open for me. We stepped out and began the 18 second walk to his home.
"Oh wait! I forgot my pajamas!" I called out.
He was walking across the street when he said, "You won't need any."
After my father left us, weeds started growing in our backyard. Our furniture started disappearing as my mother had to pay her way out of debt. We kept our house, even though it turned into a shell of a home.
Meanwhile, only 70 feet away, Zenon had grown up differently.
He could afford the basketball camps and new clothes. He had the love of both his parents and the most amazing flowers in his backyard.
I would know – I've plucked them once or twice
Now Zenon was walking me across the street from my home to his. I couldn't help but think it was like crossing worlds.
"Let me carry that for you," he offered, lifting the strap of my backpack off my shoulders.