Free Twisted by Lisa Harrington Page A

kitty-cat clock echoes through the kitchen.
    â€œI’m not sure if I’ll ever understand. Or if I can ever forgive her …” I whisper.
    â€œFor dying?”
    â€œNo, for marrying Vince.”
    Aidan gets up and carries his dish to the sink. On the way he stops and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Love. It can make people do some pretty fucked-up stuff.”
    â€œIF JANET DOESN’T GET this oven fixed soon, I swear I’m going to punch a hole in the kitchen wall!” Erin exclaims, loudly slamming down a tray of muffins.
    The noise makes me jump. The fact is, she terrifies me, but I force myself to go over and see. “They don’t look so bad,” I offer weakly.
    â€œAre you freakin’ kidding me?” She picks up the tray and slams it down again, louder. “They’re hard as rock!” One bounces out and lands on the floor. She kicks it across the kitchen, where it ricochets off the side of the fridge and hits the broom handle, causing it to topple across the recycling bin.
    I’ve got to get her out of here before she trashes the place. “Erin. Your shift is over. I can totally do this. Go home.”
    Ignoring me, she whips open cupboards and drawers, assembling what she needs to mix up a new batch of batter.
    â€œErin!”
    She looks up. “What?” She’s gripping the spatula so tight, her knuckles are white.
    â€œIt’s okay. I really do know what I’m doing.” I say it in a low, soothing voice, like I’m trying to talk a jumper in off the ledge. “My mom owned a bakery.” I carefully tug the spatula from her grasp. “I know how to make muffins.”
    Her shoulders sag, and she leans back against the counter. “Yeah, okay, maybe … I’ve been here since seven a.m., you know. I was up till two working on a paper.”
    I nod. She doesn’t fight me when I lift the apron off over her head.
    â€œI think I’m having some kind of breakdown,” she whispers.
    I smile and pass her her jacket. “It’s dead in here. Go home and get some sleep. I’ve got this.”
    Like a zombie, she slowly drags herself out the door.
    The rest of my shift passes uneventfully. It’s my third time working by myself, and I actually know what I’m doing now. My attempt at blueberry muffins is a success. I even tweak the recipe a bit — sour cream, a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg, just like Mom used to do.
    And thank God there’s been no sign of Kyle. That entire next shift, every time the door opened, I held my breath, thinking he was back to stir things up. Hopefully he got the message and is staying away on purpose.
    But no sign of Liam either. He’s been off for a couple of days. Not that he has to check in with me or anything. It’s just, I’ve gotten used to seeing him. I think I … sort of miss him. Not him , him, more like talking to him. He makes me laugh — something I haven’t done a lot of lately.
    The door opens. My eyes scan the group coming in, hoping Liam’s in there somewhere. I know he works later tonight. No, it’s Anna, here early to relieve me, and a couple of random students.
    â€œI just wanna grab a bite before my shift starts, okay?” Anna says.
    â€œSure.”
    She takes one of my muffins from the display case, hesitates for a second, then reaches in and takes another. “I gotta bulk up. I’m working a double. Liam so owes me.”
    â€œLiam’s not coming in?”
    Anna shakes her head. “It’s the girlfriend’s birthday. He’s taking her out for dinner or something.”
    â€œOh, right …” There’s a burning feeling in my stomach. “The girlfriend.”
    AIDAN’S CAR IS IN the driveway when I get home. I hope he didn’t eat all the leftover spaghetti.
    Once inside, any thoughts of spaghetti leave my head.
    Aidan is standing in front of my bedroom door, a screwdriver in