Free LATCH by LK Collins Page A

and won’t return my texts.”
    “Then go to her.”
    “I can’t. Her husband is in town.”
    “Then what are you going to do?” she asks me firmly.
    “I don’t know. That’s why I am here.”
    “Latch, you know I’d do anything for you, but I can’t give you the answers you’re looking for. You have some decisions to make and then what you do with those decisions is up to you.” I take a sip of my coffee and stare out at the sun as it lights the morning sky.
    “May I use your phone?” I ask her, hoping that maybe Abby will answer a call from a number she doesn’t recognize. As I dial her number, I’m not even sure what I’d say to her right now, but knowing that I have to do something, I let it ring. Her phone goes to voicemail, “Hey, this is Abby, leave a message.”
    “We need to talk about this note. Please call me. I’m serious, Abby, I have some things I need you to know.”

As I sink down deeper and soak in the hot water of the bathtub, it surrounds me. It consumes my body and I wish it would my mind. All of the thoughts and fears that have plagued me ring loudly and I just wish that for a moment, they would leave and I could find some peace.
    Latch’s tone sounded so panicked in his message and it leaves me conflicted, not knowing what to do now.
    “Abby?” Darrell calls out, interrupting the calmness.
    Dammit. “Yeah.”
    He tries to open the door, but I locked it. “I made you some tea.”
    “Okay, I’ll be right out.”
    “Take your time, but I’d like to talk to you about something when you’re done.”
    I sink under the water, and let out the loudest scream possible. My blood boils, anxiety fills me, as I know I have to face him and talk…again. What in fuck’s sake could he want to discuss now?
    Coming up for air, I take these last few moments to myself and close my eyes. Searching for some serenity, but anymore, there is none. Especially that now, when I get out of the tub, I have to talk to Darrell. It has me on edge. My mind races and I figure rather than imagining what he wants, I better go and find out.
    Sitting up, I unplug the drain and let the water swirl down it. As I get out, I look down at my body. My sunken in stomach shows that I need to eat. I poked at the eggs Darrell made for breakfast and other than that, I don’t think I’ve had anything to eat minus a yogurt here and there since the day he caught Latch and me.
    I dry myself off and walk into the closet to get dressed. My phone vibrates and I see another text from Latch, Can we meet, please? The Metro Café, 4:00? I don’t know what else there is for us to say, but I can’t bring myself to text him back. Searching for something comfortable to wear, I think about seeing him one last time and come across his soft t-shirt. Picking it up, I bring it to my nose and breathe in his sweet scent. Christ, it still smells like him. Tears gloss over my eyes knowing that we are through. It rips my heart from my chest and I let the tears flow, keeping quiet as I savor his scent for a few more minutes.
    But inside, I know what I am doing is right. Latch cannot give me the future that I need or want. I don’t think Darrell can either, but this life with him is all I have. Tossing on a pair of sweats, I hide Latch’s t-shirt back in the bottom of my dresser and pull a hoody over my head.
    Right now, I have to deal with Darrell, and then Latch. As I emerge into the bedroom, Darrell is sitting on one of the chairs waiting for me. He has yet to touch the bed, which I guess I cannot blame him for. “How was your bath?”
    “It was fine. What did you want to talk about?”
    He looks nervously at the floor. His knee is bouncing up and down as I wait for his response. “I want you to come on the road with me.”
    “What?” I respond, caught off guard that he’d even think that was a good idea.
    “Like you used to, Abby. I think it’d be good for the both of us.”
    I roll my eyes at him. “Don’t act like you know