Sweet Little Lies
Page 14

AFTER ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED today, I’d almost forgotten about my eavesdropping when I shouldn’t have been that morning. Making up all the excuses in the world for why I stood there and listened to the fight between Presley, Stone and the Wesley guy was pointless. I knew the truth. I had wanted to understand Stone and Presley’s relationship. I’d expected more than what the actual truth was. I shouldn’t have been so nosey but I had to admit I was relieved.
Thinking too much about why I was relieved was uncomfortable though. I didn’t want to do that. Jasper was enough to keep me upset and awake at night. I didn’t need to add more to it. I could ignore the curiosity I had with Stone.
Stone’s vehicle was parked outside but Presley’s was now gone. Knowing I was going to walk into the apartment without her there was nice. She made me tense. I imagined she made most people tense, men and women alike. The girl was over the top.
As I made it to the second floor the door to the apartment there opened, and a tall, willowy brunette stepped out. She was everything you saw on the face of beauty and fashion ads, commercials, and billboards. Exotic, perfectly placed features was the only way to describe her face. She yawned as if she was just waking up at seven in the evening. The tiny shorts and crop top she was wearing were the kind you’d see on a runner. Her hair was pulled up high in a ponytail. The unique color of her green eyes focused on me and she paused.
“Thanks,” she said and then propped her incredibly long leg up on the wall and began to stretch.
“Excuse me?” I replied completely confused.
She glanced at me then touched her nose to her knee. “I’m thanking you. You are Beulah Edwards correct?”
I paused. Then nodded before realizing she wasn’t looking at me to see my response. “Yes,” I verbalized.
She switched legs and continued the stretching. “You got the crazy bitch out of here. We all owe you thanks. I’m just giving you mine.”
I didn’t know if this was Chantel or Fiona, but I knew they were the two that leased this apartment from Stone. I was good at remembering names. I’d just never met either of them. I’d also assumed they were friends with Presley the way she had talked about them the first day I arrived.
“I didn’t do anything, it was Stone. They argued,” I explained deciding if it was rude to ask who she was since she obviously knew who I was.
The girl dropped her leg and then began bending her waist with her hands over her head. This time looking directly at me. “They had arguments, fights, fucking loud ass screaming many times. But this is the first time she packed her shit and left. You’re here. That makes this your doing. Claim it as a victory. We all credit you.”
I didn’t know who “all” referred to. I also didn’t have a thing to do with Presley’s leaving. Unless you take into account that she thought I was sleeping with Stone. But lots of women had slept with Stone. I shouldn’t have been the one that sent her packing. Especially since I had not, in fact, slept with Stone.
The door behind her swung open and a familiar face that took me a moment to place appeared. “Do you have tampons?” she asked her gaze swinging from the girl to me. She straightened and took a step out the door as the recognition slowly came on her face. She pointed. “Jasper’s maid,” she said her eyes wide.
“Jesus, Shay. Fucking rude,” the girl muttered. “This is the one who got rid of Presley.”
Shay’s eyes began to smile as her mouth joined in. “No shit! I knew I liked you. Not that we talked very much. I had on no pants, it was early, and I was hungover and late for work. Great party though.”
“Ignore my little sister. She’s not the best with words,” the girl tossed her ponytail back over her shoulder and gave me a bored look that I imagined made her money. “I’m Fiona. This is Shay my sister and a regular house crasher.”
Shay rolled her eyes. “Not that I like crashing here. The two of you don’t eat actual food. I’d starve if it weren’t for Marty and Mack.”
“Whatever. I need to run,” Fiona’s tone was slightly annoyed.
“Why? Did you eat too many carrots today? God knows you need to run that shit off.”
“Stop being a dick. Wouldn’t hurt you to get in a run. The cookies and chips you’ve been eating aren’t doing you any favors,” Fiona called out as she ran down the stairs.
Shay flicked her middle finger up. “Skinny bitch!”
I stayed paused. Unsure if it was polite to leave now.
Shay smirked at me. “Same dad. Not the same mom. My mother was a farm girl from Virginia. Fiona’s mother, on the other hand, was an heiress from Spain. Our father likes them beautiful. And young. Once they hit thirty-five he shops for a new one. Anyway, that’s why she looks like that and I look like this,” she said waving her hand over her body. “Oh, and the cookies and chips. She’s right about those.”
This world I was now involved in seemed to be overrun with fathers who married often and young. I was starting to understand more and more why my mother didn’t marry. She was smart.
“I’d offer you food, but they seriously have nothing unless you consider kale, lemon, and quinoa food. And I haven’t got a clue how to cook that quinoa shit. But I was about to go down to Mack and Marty’s. They have the best snacks. Marty brings home fresh donuts from the place by the fire station he works at.”
A fireman. Interesting. I hadn’t met Marty, but I had met Mack. If Marty was a fireman, then Mack had to do something that made money. I didn’t imagine a fireman could afford the lease on this place with his salary.
“I ate before I left work, thank you. It was nice to see you again,” I replied.
She nodded. “Yeah. Same. Thanks for getting rid of the bitch. She was insane. I don’t live here, but I’m here enough to dread seeing her. I caught her with Dan in his study one afternoon when I first started working for the Elswoods. I never said anything, but I haven’t been a fan of hers since. Claire isn’t the warmest or most likable woman on the earth or in a room of ten people, but no one deserves to be cheated on. I keep my distance from Dan,” she grinned. “Anyway, too much info I’m sure. Have a good night. I need to get sustenance before I pass out.”
“Yeah you too,” I replied awkwardly as she jogged down the stairs toward the guy’s apartment.
This place was like living in a television drama.
I KNEW I COULD COME and go as I pleased at the apartment. It was my temporary home for now. It was difficult to get comfortable because it felt like I was intruding on Stone’s personal space. I decided I’d walk inside quietly and go to my room. After all, he needed to enjoy the peace he could with Presley gone.
What I didn’t expect was for the place to smell like garlic, butter, and heaven as I stepped inside. Closing the door softly behind me, I glanced toward the kitchen and heard classic rock on the sound system and noise that could only mean someone was cooking. I wasn’t shocked that Stone could cook. Jasper had mentioned his culinary talent once. However, witnessing him doing something so domestic was surprising. As curious as I was, I wasn’t going to walk in there to see him in action for myself. He needed personal space, especially after the day he’d had.
I turned and headed down the hallway just as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” started playing. I liked his taste in music. If the entire house was going to have this music playing, it was an enjoyable choice.