Elude [H.S.]

FORTY

My eyes quickly scan the guest room, wanting to make sure that I wasn't forgetting anything. I had several bags packed on top of the bed, and then a couple of suitcases on the ground. There wasn't much left in this room, just a few dresses that Conrad had bought me over the years that I absolutely hated - I wouldn't be taking those.

I had made sure to grab my parent's letters from Conrad's desk, and Elton was safely packed as well. Pulling one of the duffel bags over my shoulder, I grab the flower frame carefully by the gold chain and head down the stairs. All these bags were going to take me several trips.

I had checked with Theodore last night on my way home, and Conrad wasn't due to be picked up from the airport until around six this evening. It was almost twelve, and Harry and I had planned to have a nice picnic in the park to celebrate me finally being free. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, beginning to text Harry that I was about to order my Uber when I heard the front door click.

My heart stops as I look up, and I see Conrad walking in the door. I quickly look down to my phone and erase my text. I had been very smart about deleting my text conversations with Harry, and any texts pertaining to Harry that I had with Lyn, I also deleted. My hand shakes as I go to put my phone in my pocket, but Conrad sees me first.

"What are you doing?" He asks, and my lips part.

"I-I was just-"

"Are you...are you leaving?"

I feel all the color drain from my face as Conrad sighs and turns his back to me to set his briefcase down. With tears in my eyes, I quickly click on Harry's contact and delete it. I shove my phone back into my pocket, biting down on my bottom lip to keep it from trembling as I realized I've just lost my only way to communicate with Harry until I can see him again.

But if Conrad got my phone, and saw an extra number with a name attached, even just an 'H', he would call it. Then we'd be screwed.

Conrad turns back around to me, and I immediately turn out all the tricks I had learned throughout my relationship with him. I push the tears back, and put on my most brave face.

"I'm not leaving, why would you think that?" I ask, tilting my head to the side. "I'm just going to Lyn's. I forgot you came home today, I'm sorry. I was going to spend the night."

His eyes look over me, then and he points to the flower frame. "Then why do you have that?"

I look down to the frame, and I know I need a good excuse for why I have this. If he knows it's sentimental to me by any means - he'll destroy it.

"I bought it recently while I was out," I lie, looking back over to him. "Lyn wants to see it. She's really creative, and she wants to try and make one herself."

Conrad walks closer to me, and I swallow harshly. "Give me your phone, and go back upstairs. I know you're lying."

My eyes dart between the two of his, and I'm trying to decide on whether or not to just roll over and surrender, or if I should keep trying to fool him. "Conrad, I promise you I wasn't-"