Horse Ears.

Chapter Five.

Salt.

I needed salt.

I rummaged through the cabinet, searching for the one thing that would make my mouth water: Saltines.

A groan escaped my lips when the best I could find was a pack of white cheddar Cheez-Its. I sucked my cheek into my mouth, gnawing on it. I stuffed the chips I had pulled out back into their places and poured half of the box of the white cheddar Cheez-Its into a Ziplock baggy.

“Aunt Jeanette,” I called, looking into the family room.

“Yes, Lace?” She responded. I looked around, trying to find her, but I could only hear her voice. She must be in the coat closet or something.

“Could I borrow your truck? I want to go into town to grab a few things.”

I saw her head emerge from the guest room. I blinked in surprise. Was I losing my hearing that quickly? I had no idea she was in there.

“I have a list of things I need from the grocer,” she told me, walking past me and into the kitchen. She raised an eyebrow at the Cheez-Its in my hand but didn’t say anything. She pulled a piece of paper off the refrigerator, scribbled a few more words on it, and handed it to me.

“Go to the guest house and ask Zachary if he needs anything,” she told me. “If he’s not there, don’t just walk off. Go find him, ask him, and then you can leave.”

I rolled my eyes. “Okay, Auntie,” I mumbled. I didn’t want to see Zachary now! Of course not!

I stuffed a few Cheez-Its in my mouth and grabbed the list. “I’ll be back, then,” I said through a mouthful of crackers. I walked to the front door before I remembered I needed my wallet. I ran back into my room and grabbed my wallet. I smiled at my mother’s debit card that was tucked inside.

My eyes wandered to the clock when I re-entered the kitchen. My eyebrows furrowed. It was three o’clock or so. I had no idea it was that late in the day. “I’ll be back tonight, Aunt Jeanette.” It would take me an hour and a half to get to town, a few hours to go buy my things, and an hour and a half to get back. I’d be gone until at least nine or ten, probably later.

I pulled my phone out, went to my contacts, and found the number I’ve been itching to call. I pressed call as I shut the front door behind me.

I put my phone to my ear before I started walking towards the guest house, eyeing everything around me. This place was just so serene. Everything was so peaceful, so quiet. So different than the suburbs and the city, where I grew up.

“Hello?” I heard.

I smiled. “Hey, snakey. Guess who’s back in town?”

There was a muffled noise before he replied, “Lacey?”

I ran my tongue over my teeth. “The one and only.”

“Lacey! Where have you been the past three years?”

I shrugged before remembering he couldn’t see me. “Thomas, I’ve been out and about. I’ve been home. You know I don’t live here.”

“Well, you could have called or something,” he grumbled. I smiled.

“But I’m here now. Do you have anything on you?” I asked quietly.

In my head, I could see the redhead glance around before he answered me. “A little bit. What were you looking for?”

“Anything, really. I’m running low on a lot of things.”

“Eh,” I heard him hesitate. “I’ve got a bit of this and that. We could meet up and you could see what you like. You coming into town?”