Chapter Eleven

Scarlett

I didn’t sleep at all once we got to Hannah’s. No matter how hard I tried to get my mind off things, it was still there. The damage was so violent. He had slashed my couch with something sharp.

Isaac was hurt and angry. If I could talk to him, maybe I could explain why I’d needed to move. I would tell him it was to further my music career. Then he would understand. He had always told me he wanted me to be successful. I would appeal to the Isaac I had first known and fallen in love with.

I stumbled into Hannah’s kitchen and started coffee. My eyes felt like sandpaper had been rubbed over them. I knew I probably looked like hell.

“You can rummage through my closet and find something to wear,” Hannah said, coming into the kitchen.

I looked at her and laughed. “Damn, we’re both looking a little rough around the edges this morning. Did you get any sleep?” I asked her.

She laughed. “Not really.”

“I need to go to my parents’. Can you drop me off over there?” I asked.

She nodded. “Of course. They’re going to be worried sick about you.”

“I know.”

I texted my mom and let her know I would be over within the hour. I showered and borrowed a pair of shorts and a shirt from Hannah. Thankfully, she wasn’t much taller than me. We had been sharing clothes for as long as I could remember.

“I’ll call you tonight,” I told Hannah once we got to my parents’. “Thank you so much for coming to stay, and I’m sorry our weekend was ruined.”

“Don’t you dare apologize for that jackass.”

I smiled and waved and watched her drive down the long driveway. I turned and took a deep breath, looking up at the huge house where I’d grown up. The gated driveway and the tall fence that surrounded the grounds had always felt like a prison when I was younger; now I could understand why my parents had installed it. I was thinking I needed the same thing.

My mom rushed out of the house, tears in her eyes and her arms outstretched. She wrapped me up in a tight hug. My dad joined us and enveloped us both in his strong arms.

“We’re so glad you’re okay,” my mom sobbed.

“I’m fine, Mom. He wasn’t trying to hurt me.”

We walked inside where my mother plied me with food at the kitchen table. She was doting on me, and I let her. I knew this was her way of soothing her own fears.

“I think once Isaac figures out I live next door to a cop, he might back off,” I told them.

“I don’t think Isaac can figure anything out,” my dad shot back. “The man is a menace and needs to be behind bars. I’ve spoken with our lawyers. They say there’s nothing we can do at this point but to keep documenting the harassment.”

I nodded. It was the same thing we’d been told for months. Anytime the police talked to Isaac, he claimed innocence. Isaac was a smooth talker. He had a quiet demeanor that disarmed people. It had worked on me countless times.

“Can I borrow the car?” I asked. “I want to pick up a few things before I go home.”

“Of course, dear. We’ll drive you back,” my dad answered.

“Thanks,” I said and grabbed my purse.

As soon as I got in the car, I called Isaac and asked him to meet me at the McDonald’s in town. I needed to talk to him but wanted to do it in a public place. Isaac would never risk showing his true colors in public. I felt safe enough.

I walked in and found him at a back booth away from the crowd of people. I had hoped to get there before him and pick a table closer to the action.

“Hey, babe,” Isaac said when he saw me. He stood and kissed me on the cheek. I did my best to hide my revulsion but couldn’t stop my body from stiffening under his touch.

I sat down at the table and looked at him. “Isaac, we have to talk.”

He nodded. “I know, babe. Things have been crazy. What are you doing back in town? I thought you moved to Nashville.”

“I have. Isaac, we’re not together anymore. I need you to understand that. You have to leave me alone.”

He shook his head. “You need some time to clear your head. I understand that. I’ll give you some space.”

“No, Isaac. I’ve moved on. You need to as well.”

“Scarlett, don’t talk like that. You know I love you, and you love me. We’re going through a rough patch. We’ll get through this,” he insisted.

I took a deep breath, refusing to let the man talk me into agreeing with him.

“No, Isaac. It’s over. I don’t want you to call me or send me flowers. Don’t come to my house. You have to leave me alone.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’ve done this before. You’re mad. You’ll get over it, and we’ll be together again.”

“You can find another girlfriend. Please, Isaac, just leave me alone.”

“I’ll never stop loving you, Scarlett. You’re mine. You will always be mine. I’m not going to give up on us. We’re meant to be together.”

In that instant, I realized I had to do something drastic. “I’m engaged,” I blurted out.

He looked as if I’d slapped him. “You’re what?” he hissed.

“I’m engaged to another man. I told you, I’ve moved on. We are not going to be together ever again. What we had is over for good,” I said firmly.

He glared at me. “You’re engaged to another man?”

If we hadn’t been at McDonald’s, I would have been terrified. I had to believe he would keep his temper in check with the number of witnesses around us.

“I am engaged and in love with another man.”

“Bullshit.” He was seething.

A nearby mom looked at us and scowled. Isaac ignored her.

“It isn’t.”

“Where’s the ring?” he asked, looking down at my bare hand.

“It just happened. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, and he hasn’t had time to get me a ring,” I said.

“Who? Who is this guy you’re suddenly in love with?”

“My neighbor. We met the day I moved in. He’s a cop and was going to give me a ticket. We hit it off, and we’re going to get married,” I lied.

He shook his head. His jaw was clenched, and I knew he was pissed. I hoped I hadn’t made things worse. Isaac was a volatile man. It took little to push him over the edge. I was hoping he would get that I was never going back to him and would move on. I wondered if I had made a huge mistake. What if I had only incited his anger and made him more violent?

“You’re a lying little bitch, Scarlett. You don’t love him. You love me.”

I gulped down the lump of fear lodged in my throat. “I love him. I don’t love you, Isaac. I will never love you.”

“I’m not going to let you go. I told you, you’re mine. We’re destined to be together. I won’t let a stupid cop get in the way of that.”

“I’m going to go now,” I told him. “Do not come by my house. Don’t send me flowers, and don’t call. I will press charges.”

He smirked. “No, you won’t. You can try, but you and I both know nothing will come of it. You can’t have your boyfriend arrested for sending you roses or calling to tell you he loves you.”

I stood up. He wasn’t going to listen to reason. There was no point in trying to make him understand. I just hoped he would hate me enough to leave me alone. I wanted nothing to do with him. I looked down at him and tried to remember why I had been attracted to him in the first place. He was nothing like Cameron. I had been instantly attracted to Cameron. Isaac kind of grew on me like a fungus.

“Good-bye, Isaac.”

I walked out of the restaurant with my head held high. I was pretending to be strong when inside I felt like crying and hiding in a corner. I saw him come out of the restaurant and quickly put the car in gear and drove away. I didn’t want a replay of the window-smashing.

When I got back to my parents’ house, I told them what I had done. They weren’t happy. I’d had to try, though. I’d had to do what I could to make Isaac understand he had to leave me alone.

On the way back to my place, we stopped at a local store and picked up some basic kitchen supplies along with cleaning supplies. My mom ordered me to use the credit card they had given me to buy new clothes if it came to that.

When we pulled in the driveway, the first thing I noticed was that Cameron’s truck was gone.

“Dammit,” my dad said when he walked into the house and saw the mess. “That man is a lunatic. I swear if he does this again, I will take him out myself.”

My mother made various sounds under her breath as she walked through the house.

“Well, we may as well dig in and clean up what we can,” she said, quickly taking control.

We spent the next several hours filling trash bags with things that couldn’t be salvaged, and my mother made a list of what would need to be replaced. I tried to tell them they didn’t have to buy me a new TV and other items on the list, but they insisted.

“Thank you guys, for everything,” I told them as they got ready to leave. “I’m sorry this has become such a hassle.”

“Don’t apologize,” my dad said. “I wish I could find that man’s parents. I would love to give them a piece of my mind.”

I laughed. “According to Isaac, his parents died when he was young.”

“He probably killed them,” my mother quipped.

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” my dad agreed.

“We’ll have a few things delivered tomorrow,” my mom said. “I’m going to talk to our security guy and ask him to work up a package for this house. He’s the only one I trust. I don’t want one of those flimsy services traipsing around here.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“Yes, you will, and when the security system is installed, I’ll feel better. You’re doing this for me,” she said with a smile.

They were at the door when I finally gathered the courage to tell them about my little lie. I felt like I had to in case Isaac questioned them. I didn’t think he would dare talk to my parents, but the guy did a lot of things I didn’t expect.

I cleared my throat. “Mom, Dad, I, uh, should probably tell you in case it comes up: I told Isaac I was engaged to my next-door neighbor.”

My mother raised an eyebrow. “Was that wise?”

“I don’t know. I was hoping it would make him see I had moved on.”

“If anyone around town asks, we’ll keep up the lie,” my dad said, nodding. “I think anything is worth trying at this point.”

They waved and walked out the door. I locked the door behind them before realizing it was pointless. Isaac had managed to get in once already. I had no idea how, but he was determined. If he wanted in, he would find a way.