Read Rewind (A Perfect Forever Novella) for Free Online Page A

of things, and definitely not of something that took my guy away from me.
    I smile. My guy. I hope wherever he is, he is that.
    Listening to my phone messages, I start to make my way down the hall toward the kitchen. In the living room, I find Tiki sitting obediently in her cage looking as if she’s waiting to be released.
    I crouch down in front of her, checking to see if there is food and water. Those soulful dog eyes fix on me. I smile but I’m not about to release her.
    “Sorry girl,” I whisper, slowly slipping my fingers through the cage to lightly scratch her ear. “You’re going to have to wait for your dad to come home. I’m not ready to trust you yet.”
    As if she understands my human rambles, a look flashes in her eyes as if to say I’m not ready to trust you either.
    I laugh. Leave it to Bobby to find a dog like me. My humor leaves me. Is she like me? Is that part of what Bobby said true?
    Shaking my head, I stand back up and continue into the kitchen. I open the fridge and hang on the door trying to figure out if there is anything to eat here. Nope, Bobby was right. There is definitely nothing worth cooking in the fridge.
    I slam shut the door and find instant coffee on the counter. I rummage through the cabinets, find a cup, fill it with water and put it in the microwave to heat.
    I hit call back for the office, then the speaker button.
    “KKK Productions,” Veronica says pleasantly.
    “Good morning, Veronica. Got your urgent messages. What’s up?”
    I take the cup from the microwave and stir in the instant coffee.
    “Are you all right?” she asks anxiously.
    “I’m great. Why?”
    “You missed your afternoon meetings, and when I left work last night your car was still in the parking lot. Justin said he hadn’t heard from you. That’s when I started worrying.”
    I scrunch up my face. “Family emergency. Nothing is wrong. Just everything got so hectic I forgot to call.”
    “Are you coming in today?”
    “I’ll be there in about two hours.” I look in the pantry. Not even bread. “Justin wanted to meet at ten. Tell him that works for me.”
    I click off my cell and take my coffee back to Bobby’s bedroom.  I stare at the bed, wishing he was here to spoon with all day and feel a prick of unkind emotion that I don’t want as I wonder why he’s not here. I toss my phone onto the bed and go into the bathroom.
    After turning on the shower, I begin to absently rummage in the cabinets. I don’t know why I’m doing it. The fresh towels are neatly stacked on an open shelf right where I can see them. I look in the vanity drawer: A first aid kit, allergy pills.
    I go to the medicine cabinet: electric razor,  shaving cream, cologne…
    I twist open the bottle and take a sniff. Thank goodness he wasn’t wearing that last night. It must have been a gift from his mother. Linda has unusual taste.
    Linda. I need to call her. Bobby is right about that. Without looking, I shove the bottle back into the medicine cabinet and a box falls out. Every man’s little gold best friend. Shit, I wish I hadn’t seen these. The condoms don’t surprise me, but the internal nerve pricks have just gotten worse.
    I lift the lid. The box looks almost completely full. It doesn’t mean anything. Could be new. I set it back on the shelf and close the cabinet door.
    I take a shower in record time, finger scrunch the dampness from my curls, pull on yesterday’s clothes and grab my purse. I check my phone. Still no message from Bobby. I pull free my keys and then freeze.
    Shit, I don’t have a car. How am I going to get to the downtown from here? I  spot a set of keys still on the dresser. Maybe Bobby has another vehicle as well as Bertha.
    I go out onto the porch and find Bertha still in the driveway. So, Bobby didn’t take the heap truck last night wherever he went. I’m hit with another internal nerve prick that I don’t want.
    I lock the front door, then close it behind me. I debate with myself whether to