“What else are you lying about?” I studied his face. I knew a few things he had been dishonest about. Would he fess up to them? Or would he keep lying?
“Nothing, I swear.” Lie.
He exhaled sharply.
“She told me she slept with Joe.” Calvin glanced over at me. “Last night after the barbecue.”
I knew he was only telling me this so I’d feel sorry for him. I didn’t. But
why had Charlotte implied that Joe was dangerous? If he truly was, she wouldn’t have slept with him. Right? Or maybe she was that crazy. Crazy enough to sleep with a potentially dangerous man just to try to make Calvin jealous.
I grabbed the glass of water from my nightstand and took a sip. ere was
shame in his eyes, but there was also anger. Where was the kindness I had seen days before? He moved his hand up and down, stroking my thigh beneath the blanket, trying to comfort me—but there was nothing comforting about this.
“I know you’re mad, and you have every right to be. I’m sorry. I don’t care about any of them, Charlotte, Joe, Betty. I only care about you, and I want to make this work,” he said.
Calvin studied my face, waiting for me to say something, almost willing me to speak. Sometimes saying nothing was more powerful than speaking at all.
“I love you, Grace Evans. ese aren’t the best circumstances to tell you this, but I do. I’ve fallen in love with you.” Parts of his face twitched. My silence was infuriating him, but he was trying his best to hide the anger. His best wasn’t good enough.
When I didn’t speak, he cleared his throat.
“And I don’t want you to say it back. I just wanted you to know how I felt.” He stood from the bed and walked to the door.
Before he icked the light o , he smiled and said, “Good night, Grace.”
Calvin leaned against the doorframe, waiting for me to respond. After a few
moments of silence, he closed the door. But I knew he was standing on the other side. Completely still, like a statue. It was minutes before his shadow
nally disappeared, his steps loud and steady, clomping down the hall. I sank
deep into my pillows and pulled the covers up to my chin. “Goodbye, Calvin,” I whispered to the dark, quiet room.
 |
 |
My eyes shot open when I felt part of the mattress sink in. I didn’t know what time it was. e room was pitch-black so I assumed late. An arm fell across me as I lay on my side. His body spooned me and pulled me closer to him. I considered pushing Calvin out of my bed, but I was in too vulnerable of a position. What if it brought out that anger he was having trouble hiding? I breathed in through my nose, but stopped when I noticed something was amiss. Calvin didn’t smell like Jack Daniel’s.
I ew out of bed, shouting and screaming. e lights icked on. Calvin stood in the doorframe wearing only a pair of boxers. In bed laid Albert. He sat up, disheveled and drunk. His eyes were barely open.
“What’s going on?” Albert’s speech was slurred. “You’re in my fucking bed,” I yelled.
Calvin ran to my side and pointed at Albert. “Get out of her bed!”
e old man looked puzzled. He shu ed out of the bed, falling into the wall just as he got to his feet. “Must have got confused.”
“Sorry ’bout that, little lady.” Albert tipped an imaginary hat and stumbled toward the door, waving his hand as he staggered out of the room. Another door creaked open and then closed with a slam.
I pushed Calvin away from me. “I want a goddamn lock on my door!”
He put his hands up and nodded. “Of course. Whatever you want.” “He needs to leave,” I said.
Calvin rubbed his eyes. “I can’t kick him out right now. It’s the middle of
the night. I’m sure it was an accident. He’s old and drunk.”
“An accident? You didn’t see the way he was looking at me.” I shuddered. “You promised I’d be safe here.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Calvin put his hands on my arms. “I’ll install a lock tomorrow and see if I can get him put up somewhere else.”
He looked into my eyes, waiting for an answer.
I shrugged his hands o of me and turned away from him, sliding back into the bed. “Close the door when you leave,” I said, yanking the covers up past my shoulders.
Calvin hesitated for a moment and sighed. “Okay,” he nally said. “Sleep well, Grace.” He icked o the light and closed the door, lingering on the other side of it once again. At some point, I must have fallen asleep but I never heard his footsteps walk away. I think he stood there all night.
