“No, I haven’t seen him since last week.”
“You mean when you were busted by your dad doing it in the backroom.”
“Shut up.” She was never going to live that down.
“No can do. As your best friend it’s my job to tease you unmercifully about this to the day we die.”
“Tell me something I didn’t know,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
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“No, how about you tell me something I don’t know. Are you going to take him up on his proposition?”
This was a question that had plagued Cyn like nothing else before. She weighed her pros and cons, asked her family and friends for advice and even took stock of her life circumstances, but when it came down to it, she realized she had to go with her heart.
And her heart was with Parker. “Yes, I am. I’m not sure of the hows and whys right now, but I want to be with him. My dad and I talked about it and he wants me to make the move.”
“He wants you gone?”
“No, he wants me to be happy and he knows Parker makes me happy. So I’m going to do it.”
“Wow.” Miller seemed surprised by her admission.
”I know.” She smiled. She hadn’t told Parker, but Cyn was pretty sure he was going to think the news was wow worthy as well. “But we can discuss all of that later. Right now, let’s talk about my beautiful dress.”
“When did you take it out of the cleaners?”
“Today. My dad picked it up for me and he was going to drop—” The words died in her throat as they rounded the corner and spotted Drew and Staci standing in the living room. After the little showdown at the store they’d moved out, much to her delight. So it was a bit shocking to see the two of them standing bold as day in her place again. “What are you two doing here?”
“We just came by to get a few things we left.”
“Good.” Cyn took off her purse and set it on the side table. “Now leave.”
“We will, but first…” Staci glanced quickly at Drew then back to Cyn. She took a hesitant step back and a little to right, as if she was trying to stand behind Drew. “We need to talk to you.”
“About what?” Cyn didn’t really care what Staci had to say. They weren’t moving back in. Not today. Not ever. The last three nights were the most peaceful of her life and she planned to keep it that way.
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“There was an accident,” Staci said softly.
Cyn frowned. “What type of accident?”
“Well…Walt asked us to pick up your dress.”
“Oh, no.” Miller caught on before she did. He stepped up behind her and placed his hands comfortingly on her shoulders. “Cyn stay calm.”
“What?” Confused she glanced back at him, then to Drew who was watching her intently.
“It was an accident,” Staci repeated. “You know how clumsy I am.”
“What was an acc—” Sudden realization hit her squarely. “Not the dress.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“What did you do?” Miller questioned, his voice filled with rage.
“It’s just a little wine.”
“Wine.” Cyn glanced wildly around the room looking for any evidence of the supposed accident. “Where’s my dress?”
“I’m sorry,” Staci cried.
“Where?” She was going to kill them.
“In the kitchen. I tried to clean it.”
Cyn tore away from Miller and raced into the kitchen. Lying on the counter was her mother’s gown. There was a large plate sized crimson stain over the bodice with several mini dots along the side.
“Fuck.” Miller’s outrage was no match for her own.
Deep inside, she known kicking the two of them out would have some repercussions, especially when her father had sided with her over them, but she in no way did she ever imagine they would do something so malicious and cold. They didn’t just ruin her dress for tonight. They ruined one of the last tangible links she had to her mother.
“You…you…bitch.”
The words came out stilted and without heat. Her heart was breaking. She didn’t have the energy it would take to kill them and bury their bodies.
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“It was an accident.” The lack of remorse in Drew’s voice was the final nail in her coffin.
“Get out.”
“I have to get the rest of my st—”
Cyn grabbed the knife off of the cutting board and pointed it at Drew. Maybe she had the energy after all. “Get out now!”
“Cyn, give me the knife.” Miller took a step towards her with his hand held out.
“She did it on purpose.” Cyn took a step as well, but in the direction of Drew and Staci, who was cowering behind Drew.
“I didn’t,” Staci squealed.
“Liar! You’re a hateful person and you’re going to burn in hell. Both of you.”
“Yes, they will.” Miller came from behind her and grabbed her hand, pulling it to her side. “But not today, and not by your hands.”
“They’re evil.” Tears ran unchecked down her cheeks.
“Yes, and apparently very stupid because they’re still here.” He tightened his hold on her wrist and pulled her back against him. “If I were the two of you I’d get out.”
“But what about…” Staci began to ask.
“I’m going to count to three then I’m going to let her loose.”
“But…” Drew tried to argue.
”Three.” Miller made as if he was about to release her, which caused the girls to dash from the kitchen, screaming as if it their very lives depended on it.
Cyn let the knife drop to the floor and sank to her knees in front of the ruined dress.
The red wine was never going to come out.
“Maybe we can soak it in vinegar.”
They could soak it until the cows came home and it still wouldn’t change a damn thing. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Don’t say that.”
“If this were truly an accident they would have soaked it the minute it happened.
This is dried on. I wouldn’t put it past them to have used my blow dryer to
