Ever Enough

I let out a small laugh. “What did the old lady down the road do to you to elicit a toilet papering?”

“She’s always staring at me with her stupid little squinty face when I drive by. She’s judging me, I can tell.”

“She’s not squinting at you, those are her wrinkles.”

Harper rolled her eyes. “Well, she needs to get a face lift then. She looks like she’s pissed off all the time.”

I laughed a bit harder. “You need help.”

“Whatevs.”

Harper smiled and shook her head before she turned serious. “So really, what are your plans today?”

“Do you have to work?” I asked her.

“Until three, but then I’m free.”

“Are you and Ky doing anything today?”

“Nope. He and Fi

“But you already know his parents.” I pointed out the obvious.

She looked at me like I’d grown a second head. “It’s different now Em. I’ve not been around them since I started dating him.”

Apparently Harper and Ky had been sneaking around since I moved in with Fi

“If you say so. I think I’m just going to stick around here.” I looked over at the clock by the bed. It was already eleven in the morning.

“How about I grab some Chinese food and we can have a Will Ferrell movie marathon and repeat stupid quotes all night.” She smiled at me.

“You got it Ricky Bobby! I guess I better get dressed for my date.”

Laughing, Harper got up from the bed and left my room.

It’d been getting easier to put on a happy front around the people that mattered. I saw no reason to drag Harper or my parents under my dark cloud. I behaved the way that I knew would make them more comfortable around me, but behind closed doors it was a different story. I was ready to find something new. In the many hours that I stayed in my room in the quiet, I’d thought about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Nothing would change what happened, and that was precisely why I’d made the decision to leave Mountain Home.

I got up, grabbed some clothes out of my dresser and took a shower. Standing in front of the mirror with a towel wrapped around me, a thought hit me. If I was leaving, I’d need to get my things from Fi

Time seemed to tick by slowly. I paced the house at least two dozen times, cleaned the bathrooms, and baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Looking at the clock I saw that it was almost two. If I left now I could get there, pack a box or two and be back before Harper even got home. I grabbed my keys and walked out the door.

Ten minutes later I pulled into Fi

Everything was the same.

The bed was unmade, exactly the way it had been the last time I was there. The dress that I’d worn—and haphazardly thrown on a chair in the corner of the room--hadn’t been moved. I slowly made my way into the bathroom and found the same thing. My toothpaste was on the counter with the cap off, my toothbrush next to it, and a towel lay in a heap on the floor.

Why had he left it like this? It had been at least two months since I was last here and yet it looked like I’d been there that morning. Any normal person would have come in here to clean the mess. In fact, I’d half expected to see my stuff already boxed up, and his stuff in its place. That was certainly not what I saw now. Snapping out of it, I reminded myself that it didn’t matter anymore. I’d box up as many of my things as I could and ask Harper to come get the rest. I was trying my hardest to not to feel, but it was becoming increasingly hard the longer I was in his space. Remembering what Fi

I’d went as quickly as I could—rushing around the room, not even bothering to fold the clothes that I’d found in the laundry basket before I put them in the boxes. When I’d grabbed the last of my jewelry I closed the boxes, pushing the ends together and tucking one of the ends under the other to keep them from popping open. I really should’ve brought some tape. Oh well, I made do. Another glance at the clock had my heart racing. I’d taken much longer than I had pla

I took one last look around to make sure I hadn’t missed anything that I couldn’t live without, before making my way out of the room with my box in my arms. The other was already on the couch waiting to be put in my car. I walked towards the front door but before I reached it, it was thrown open and a soaking wet Fi

Fi

“I thought it was time I came and got some of my things. I don’t want to keep taking up space at your house. Plus I’ve missed wearing my grandmothers pearl earrings.” Excuses, excuses Emilyn.

“This isn’t just my house. I’ve told you before, it’s our house. So why are you packing?”

“Fi

The intensity in his eyes jumped a notch. “Yes, you do.”

Jesus, I didn’t come here to argue with him. He loomed over me as I walked forward and moved passed him. Making my way out the door I was immediately met by freezing rain. It was literally coming down in sheets. Not even three seconds outside and I was soaked.

Great!

Reaching my car I opened the back door and slid the box across the seat. I would be pissed if any of my silk shirts got wet. One box down, one more to go. Turning around I ran right into a solid wall of muscle. I started to stumble backwards but Fi