Killing Kate(51)
He brings his arms around me and kisses my forehead. “Why wouldn’t they?”
I smile and shrug and reach up to kiss him back. I hear the front storm door swing open and turn around and just about lose my shit. Someone is about to rain on my parade in the worst way. “Holy fuck,” I gasp under my breath. It’s Drake.
He looks handsome and out of place in a light grey suit and expensive Ray Ban sunglasses on. I breathe in deeply. Hold her in, hold her in, I think, feeling my head twitch slightly like I have Turrets. Drake takes his glasses off and puts them in his suit front pocket and looks around. Then he finds me and grins. My face has collapsed into a look of despair. Justin feels me stiffen and pulls away from me, misunderstanding my reaction and not realizing who I’m reacting to. I bite my lip and fight the urge to scream, or worse, let Kate out.
“Hello Jenna,” Drake says softly and dangerously when he walks up to me. He looks at Justin with a gaze that indicates he should back away, which is exactly what Justin does.
“Need anything, Jenna?” Justin asks me, “I’m going to get something else to eat.”
I shake my head but I’m silently screaming, “You! I need you here!” My feet are melded to the floor and I can’t move. Drake’s gaze makes me look down and away. I desperately look in Devin’s direction but can’t seem to catch his eye. He is focused on Holly, and suddenly I am angry at her for being here. I’m angry at Justin for walking away, and I’m angry at Devin for ignoring me. I’m left alone to fend for myself.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I whisper. “You shouldn’t be here!”
“Nice to see you as well, Jenna,” he replies casually. He reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out a brown paper wrapped package. “I came to drop off your housewarming gift. It’s specifically for you,” he tells me, with all of his emphasis on “you”. He hands me the package and I clutch it against my chest. It’s very light. Then he winks at me a split second before Devin walks up to us.
“Mr. Carroll, right?” Devin says, shaking his hand. I feel a bit nauseous. “Devin Parker. It’s nice to finally meet you. Thanks for all of your help with the property tax transfer.”
“Oh, it was my pleasure,” Drake says, stressing the word “pleasure”. What is with him and the last word of every sentence? It’s gross. I can’t believe I found it alluring at any point in my life. “Call me Drake. I can’t stay for very long. I just wanted to drop by and make sure everything is going smoothly with the tax statements.”
“They seem to be coming through just fine,” Devin says. “I mean, we got the first monthly bill so I assume everything is fine. Are you sure you can’t stay? There’s plenty of food.”
“Oh no, I can’t,” Drake says. “I need to go to another house closing up on the north side. Anyway, call me if you need anything else. Jenna has my number.”
“Will do,” Devin says and walks Drake to the door. They shake hands again and Drake casts me once last glance that makes me shake all over. Then he turns and goes. When Drake walks out I breathe a sigh of relief. Devin is oblivious, but Justin comes back to me with a beer and asks if we can talk alone for a minute.
“Meet me on the porch,” I say, realizing I am still holding the package Drake gave me. I need to put it away someplace safe. “Let me go to my room and get my smokes.”
I walk to my room and put the package down on the dresser and my hands are still shaking. I look across the room at myself in the mirror and see Kate standing behind me. “Go away!” I say out loud to her, and then clap my hand over my mouth. I’m sure someone heard me shout. She smiles and blows me a kiss and vanishes. I breathe another deep breath and sigh loudly. My pack of cigarettes is on the floor next to my bed. I take one out and walk out of the room, past everyone in the kitchen and onto the porch. I need air, even though it’s stifling hot outside and the cool air conditioning made me forget it. Justin is already out there waiting for me. I light up my cigarette and stay standing and pace the length of the porch, trying hold myself together.
Justin sips at his beer and watches me. “Jenna, who was that?” he asks me softly. I’m sure I look like a maniac and he doesn’t know quite how to handle me right now. “Jenna, what did he say to you? Why were you so affected by him?”
I don’t want today ruined and I don’t want any trouble. I feel like Justin knows what’s up but wants me to say it. He’s watching me with a suspicious look on his face. I make myself stop pacing and look straight at him. “It was our real estate lawyer who handled the property tax transfer on the house,” I say, telling the truth but offering nothing beyond what I want Justin to hear. “He stopped by to make sure everything was okay.”