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Chapter forty

Owen

B y the time the elderly witches dropped me off at my mother’s house with a promise to keep the perimeter guarded, I could tell they were tired. I had no idea how they were going to keep me under surveillance when they were so clearly ready for their bed.

I didn’t think it mattered that much though. I doubted the Vipers or anyone else would be seeking me here. I thanked the two profusely, then rushed into Mom’s house.

Chloe, Mom’s little Yorkie, met me at the door, and I scooped her up and kissed her, then went to put her out back so she could do her business. When I rounded the corner, I stopped short when Eric Strange stood arrogantly smiling at me.

“Well, the prodigal son returns home, I see.”

“Eric, I didn’t think Mom had anyone over,” I said.

“Your mother left this morning and asked me to let Chloe out. Never fear, I was just about to leave. ”

I nodded, went to the back door, opened it, and let the little Yorkie out. When I turned around, Eric had gone. I listened and sighed when I heard the front door shut. “Just great,” I said, “perfect greeting party.”

Chloe finished peeing, which, of course, had the jerk let her out, she wouldn’t have needed to go, and I let her back in. It was late, later than she usually ate, but I had to assume if he hadn’t let her out, he probably hadn’t fed her either, so I pulled out the fancy dog food Mom insisted on buying and filled her dish.

Sure enough, she went right for it. Chloe wasn’t one to overeat, so the asshole certainly hadn’t done anything. It just made me wonder why he’d come over. Most likely to rub it in my face that he was here, and I wasn’t.

Oh well, no use worrying about the bully ex. He was firmly in my past. I didn’t have the energy to be dealing with him.

I grabbed my phone and texted my mother.

Me: Eric Strange was here, said he was taking care of Chloe. Just so you know, he wasn’t doing a good job.

Truth was, I probably texted that just to be an ass. Mom shouldn’t have put me in a position to face my fucking ex like that. Even if she was angry that I’d moved away.

I went upstairs, leaving my phone on the countertop. I was trying to figure out whether I should unpack or not. Maybe I should just leave my shit in my bag until I knew what I was doing. Seeing Eric was enough to remind me I wasn’t really welcome here. It might’ve been my home once, but it certainly wasn’t now.

At least it did give me a refuge for the moment.

I lay on my bed, closed my eyes, and immediately remembered the card in my shirt pocket. I removed it and studied the symbols. Light and dark. The spinning of the wheel. That certainly described my life.

Even seeing my stupid ex. Whether or not Damian wanted to be with me any longer, he was a bright light compared to Eric's darkness. At least , I thought as I fell asleep , I’d done a better job with the last ex than with my first.