The Neighbor

Chapter 20

Arden's POV 

"Arden, I just- I don't think it's a good idea for you to go, not when you were served papers a week ago. Be smart here!" 

I looked in the mirror as I turned my head to the side looking at both ties. Did I wear blue or black? Florence's funeral was today. I knew she, she would be there. I hadn't seen her in two months and it was literally the worst fucking imaginable pain I could've ever been put through. I would've rather had my arms and legs cut off. Elodie was my everything, and if I could just talk to her, explain things, I could fix this. 

"I think it's a nice gesture, it shows that he cares. It'll look good." 

I turned my head grabbing my shirt as I looked at my parents.

"See, mom agrees!" 

I watched as my dad ran his hands along his temples  pushing his hairline and forehead back in frustration.

"Arden, you're not going. End of discussion."

I looked at my mom and motioned my head towards my dad. She could convince him. 

"Ardie, why don't you finish getting ready upstairs, I'll talk to your dad." 

I flashed a smile and headed upstairs. Elodie was still in Washington, I just needed to locate her. I have spent countless hours looking everywhere, but it seems she has been brainwashed. She has a legal team with her that's keeping her in a safe hiding location. Probably a hotel. I walked into the bedroom as I stared at the bed. Her bag of clothes laid on the floor, the bed untouched. I haven't slept in it since she left. If I'm being honest with myself I haven't slept really that much lately. My mind just kept flashing back to that night, every time I closed my eyes. It didn't help that my legal team was grilling me about it every second of everyday.

I had just finished showering. My mind was fuzzy as I heard a scream. I remember running down the stairs and there was blood. So much blood. Florence was dead, and Elodie, she looked at me with such hatred, as if I was a monster. I hadn't done those horrible things to Florence though, I cared about both of them deeply. My father was so selfish and let Jane take Elodie to the hospital, knowing that the odds of them returning were nonexistent. We had one of the biggest fights that night, vases shattered, walls punctured with fist sized holes, our home was destroyed. 

My mother took care of the body, a friend of hers at the morgue was able to take Florence in till we figured out what we would do. Mother said it would be a good sign of faith to return the body to her family, so that she could be laid to rest, so we did. I have reached out to Elodie on every platform possible. I called her phone at least 1,000 times, sent hundreds of texts, tried to message her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat. Hell, I even made new accounts, new numbers, I needed to explain myself to her. If I could just see her, it would change everything. She needed to see me, she was probably so scared and worried, and I needed to comfort her. Wyatt could never give her what she needed, and it was my job to ensure that she was safe, and I failed. 

I looked down at Elodie's bag as I sank to my knees. I loved her. I was suppose to protect her from this cruel world, and now? Now she's vulnerable, brainwashed by society. I grabbed the cold leather handle and slid it towards me as I sat down on the ground. The metal zipper was cold against my skin as I slid it down. Her clothes were folded perfectly. A pile for clean ones and a pile for dirty ones. I reached into the bag and pulled out a baby pink lace thong. The lace was so soft in my fingers as I held it. I missed her so much. I brought the lace towards my nose as I inhaled, her scent filling my senses. 

Fuck. 

I needed her, Badly. I wanted to kiss every inch of her body, taste her again, watch as her back arched with every thrust I slammed into her. Listen to the breathless moans of my name escaping her lips as I watched her eyes roll back, her perfect hips in my hands as I held them. I wanted to feel her legs wrap around me tightly as she orgasmed for me, over, and over again. My body missed hers. Every fiber of my being needed her. I knew she needed me. She was missing me, my body, my scent. All of me. I closed my eyes as I inhaled again, thinking about her. Elodie's beautiful soft, long honey blonde waves, my hands tangled deeply in them. Her beautiful delicate mouth wrapped around me, doing ungodly things to me. Those deep moss green eyes looking up at me for reassurance.