Part 4 (2/2)
Melody sighed. ”Spoken like someone who's never been a victim.”
Chapter Three.
Melody awoke to Sarah scrounging in her bedroom during the night. Seconds later the hall light popped on. Melody peeked from her room. She straightened the long T-s.h.i.+rt she wore as a gown. ”Sarah, are you okay?”
”Ah s.h.i.+t!” Sarah yelled down the hall. Melody rushed toward her.
”Sarah, are you okay?”
”Yeah, I just stubbed my toe!” She shoved the chair out the way. ”How many times I gotta tell you not to leave chairs in the hallway? It's too d.a.m.n narrow as it is.”
”I had to change the hall light. It's your d.a.m.n fault since it was your turn to change it, anyway. Why are you up?”
”I heard something downstairs. I thought it was you.” Sarah edged to the stairs. They heard a thunderous b.u.mp against the front door. ”s.h.i.+t, what was that?”
”I don't know.” Melody shook. ”Sounds like someone's trying to break in or something.” Sarah ran downstairs. Melody tipped into the dark living room behind her.
Sarah listened at the door. They heard the sound again. She turned the doork.n.o.b.
”Sarah, what in the h.e.l.l are you doing?” Melody grabbed a book. ”Don't open that door! You, idiot we could both end up on the news tomorrow! It could be that rapist.”
The doorbell rang.
Sarah glared at her sister. ”A rapist who rings the doorbell, Mel?” Melody lowered the book. She still wasn't convinced, and she didn't care how stupid she seemed. They weren't accustomed to late-night visits. These days a woman couldn't be too careful whether she fit a rapist's victim profile or not.
”Sarah, don't open it!”
She laughed. ”Just keep the book high and hit him when I let him in.”
”You think it's funny, but I'm practically p.i.s.sing here.” Sarah opened the door.
Keith waved, drawing attention to his elaborate Cartier watch. Melody would have rather it been the rapist. ”f.u.c.k,” she whispered. She still wanted to hit him.
”Hey, babe.” He stared at Sarah's flimsy nightgown.
”Keith.” She brushed her hair down. ”What's going on?”
”I'm sorry.” He looked at Melody. ”I must have scared the s.h.i.+t out of you both, huh? Well, you won't believe the luck I'm having tonight. I had this killer migraine so I went to the corner store. Well, when I got home, I couldn't find my house key anywhere.”
”Oh no,” Sarah sighed.
”Yeah, so I am locked out of my house, and I still got this headache.” He rubbed his forehead. ”There was no way I was calling a locksmith or something at this hour so...” He looked at Melody. ”What's with the book, Mel?” He grinned.
”Melody, put it down.” Sarah walled her eyes.
”Maybe I don't want to.”
”So your brother wasn't home either, Keith?” Sarah rubbed Keith's forehead.
”You have a brother?” Melody grimaced. She wondered if he liked to spy on naked women too.
”No, he had plans. I tried to call him but my d.a.m.n cell phone isn't working.”
Melody crossed her arms. ”How convenient.” Sarah glared at her. ”I recall your phone working this evening at the restaurant.”
”Well, it's not working now.” Keith smirked. He took Sarah's hand. ”Baby, I didn't mean to wake you but I had no choice but to come here.”
”Well, it's late. Why don't you stay?” Sarah smiled.
”Uh, Sarah, are you on crack or just crazy?” Melody walked toward them.
”He's staying, Mel.” Sarah gritted her teeth. ”This is my house, remember?”
”It's my home, too, since I live here! You can't just invite people to stay here, Sarah! Especially a strange guy.”
”He's my boyfriend, Melody!” Melody shook her head in disapproval. ”Why don't you just grow up, huh?”
”Why don't you get a f.u.c.kin' clue, Sarah? Can't you see he's lying?”
”Shut up! You have no right to say that about Keith! He's having a bad time. Can't you understand that? We have to help him!”
”I don't have to do s.h.i.+t when it comes to this...this...”
”Watch your mouth, Melody.” Sarah made a fist.
”Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Keith waved his hands. ”Ladies, please! Now I didn't mean to cause any problems.”
”Ha! The moment you've been involved there have been nothing but problems, Keith.”
”You have some sort of score to settle with me, Melody?” He put his hands in his pockets. ”I don't see what the h.e.l.l your problem is.”
She looked at Sarah. ”I don't think you want me to mention it in front of Sarah now do you?”
He walked toward her. ”I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know.”
”Go on, Melody.” Sarah smirked. ”You got a problem with Keith, then tell him.” Melody turned away. ”Keith, you can stay here. It's not a problem, believe me.”
”I don't want to make Melody uncomfortable.”
”Oh bulls.h.i.+t! Your existence makes me uncomfortable, Keith!”
”Melody, stop it!” Sarah shoved her. ”He is staying tonight and that's the end of it! I'll go get some blankets, Keith. You can sleep on the couch.” She left the room.
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