Chapter 8
On the twenty-second day, Brenna found a small two-bedroom apartment near her workplace. The walls were outdated. The kitchen was narrow. There was no backyard. But it had a lease she could sign in her own name. Mom offered to help with the deposit. I did not. Instead, I offered to pay for a small moving truck if Brenna and Colter signed the move-out agreement and returned every house key on moving day.
Brenna agreed. Colter refused. “I’m not signing anything.” Camille placed the agreement in front of him. “Then the next document will be filed in court, along with a request for property damages and unpaid utility costs.” He signed.
They moved out on the twenty-eighth day. A light rain fell that morning. Not the violent rain from the night I fell. This rain was soft, barely loud enough to hear against the windows.
Brenna placed her keys on the kitchen table. Her eyes were swollen, but she was not crying. “I did use you,” she said. I waited for the excuse. It did not come. “I was so afraid of losing everything that I started believing what you had belonged to me too.” I looked at the keys. “I wanted to help you.” “I know.” “You turned my help into something I owed you.” She nodded. “I know that too.”
May you like
Maddox hugged me before walking out. He was careful of my cast. “Can I still visit?” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “You can visit.” He looked relieved. “But you knock first, wash your own dishes, and ask before taking anything.” A small smile appeared. “Deal.”
Colter did not say goodbye. On his final trip to the truck, he carried a computer monitor from my former study. Jonas stood beside the front door. “That stays here.” Colter’s face reddened. “It was in our room.” “It was in Emmett’s office before you moved it.” Colter set the monitor down and walked away. The door closed behind them at 3:17 p.m.
