Free Hideaway Hill by Elle A. Rose Page B

have you been
drinking?”
    In response, Arthur launched himself from
the doorway, crossing the space between them in two steps. His hand
jerked Veronica’s face upward, forcing her to look into his
bloodshot eyes.
    “ I asked you where you’ve
been, girl. Who have you been with?” he spat, and then smelled her
clothes and the air around her, as if he was trying to pick up on
something his eyes were missing. His grasp became tighter, and
Veronica could only think about getting away. Her hands thrashed
about, swatting to free herself from his clutch, yet Veronica was
unable to break the hold.
    “ What the hell has gotten
into you, Arthur? Why are you drunk?” With a last ditch effort to
break the hold, Veronica dug her nails into Arthur’s arms. He
yelped and let go, giving Veronica a chance to move away from his
hands. She made it a point not to back herself against another
wall. “Look, I don’t know what your problem is, but I told you
before, you will not put your hands on me again.” She glared at
Arthur, challenging him to respond. “The computers crashed at work,
and I lost track of time while trying to put the system back in
order. Why didn’t you call or come pick me up, if you were so
worried about where I was?”
    Arthur’s lips pull back into a sneer and he
took a step closer to Veronica.
    “ Lies! Lies! Lies! That’s
all you do is tell lies,” he howled.
    Veronica jump from his harsh tone. “Lies?
What lies? I haven’t lied to you about anything.”
    “ Bullshit, Veronica. When
did you think it would have been a good time to tell me about the
little love affair you had with Darwood? Is that where you were? I
saw you two today, all cozy standing in the bakery. Is that where
you go to meet him? Have you two been sleeping together this whole
time? I trusted you and this is what you do?”
    Veronica had hoped Arthur wouldn’t have
found out through someone else about her and Blake’s past. She
should have said something before it got to this point, but she
just didn’t know how.
    “ I’m sorry you had to find
out about what happened between Blake and me years ago through
someone else. But Arthur, that was long before I met you. Long
before we fell in love.”
    “ Love! Don’t you even think
about using that word, you filthy whore.”
    Again, Arthur shot forward.
He moved faster than Veronica anticipated, and slapped her hard
enough to bring her to her knees. She whimpered, and lifted her
hand to her cheek. The force of the slap made her bite the inside
of her cheek. How could he do this? There was no point in talking to Arthur, not with
such a deranged glint in his eyes. Getting to her feet, Veronica
started to move towards the stairs.
    “ Arthur, it’s time for you
to leave. You need to go take a walk or something to sober up. I
have nothing else to say to you. Tomorrow, once you calm down, and
you would like to talk, then—”
    Veronica stopped at the foot of the stairs
and glared at him, still holding her cheek. “—And I mean talk about
everything, like our future together—then we can talk. I will not
talk to you like this. Not with you calling me names, and putting
your hands on me.”
    As she started to climb the stairs, Arthur
spoke.
    “ I always gave you your
privacy about that scar. But now it all makes sense. You’ve done
nothing but lie and keep secrets. You dragged me to this
hole-in-the-wall town so you could what, reconnect with Him?” Tears
ached to be free from Veronica’s eyes. She shook her head and
continued to walk up the stairs. “Answer me, Veronica!”
    “ I told you, I’m done
talking to you! Goodnight!” She hated that she was shouting. How have things gone so wrong? She wished it all to stop. She wanted the kind,
sweet Arthur, she knew before they moved to Surpatch back, and she
hoped her past with Blake would fade into an old memory. Her legs
trembled with every stair she took. Arthur stirred behind her, but
she refused to look back.
    “ Don’t you