The sound of the door buzzer pulled Myrna from a listless sleep. It took her a moment to remember she was home, not on the tour bus.
The buzzer sounded again. A few stray rays of sunshine filtered around the edges of her bedroom curtains. Morning already? Myrna stumbled from bed, still in the clothes she'd worn the day before.
The buzzer sounded again. Several times in a row. Loud knocking followed.
Brian! He'd made it.
"I'm coming," she called as she hurried toward the door.
She unlocked it and pulled it open, a bright smile on her face. It faded instantly.
"Good morning, darling," Jeremy greeted. His bright blue eyes raked over her body from head to toe. "Did you sleep in your clothes last night, sweetheart? You're a mess."
He wasn't. Deeply tanned, blond, tall, athletic, and handsome, he looked like a walking advertisement for a country club. Her mouth worked at producing words but nothing came out. Her entire body had gone numb. She couldn't move.
"Here, I brought you flowers. I know how you like the frivolous things." He shoved a huge bouquet of mixed flowers into her chest. She caught them automatically. He edged his tall, lithe body into her apartment and closed the door. "I told you I'd see you soon. Why do you look so stunned?"
"Leave!" she managed to bellow.
"You're not happy to see me?"
"Of course I'm not happy to see you. Get out of my apartment!"
He lifted his hand to touch her check and she whimpered in fear.
He dropped his hand, his blond brows drawn together with concern. "I'm not going to hurt you, darling. I don't drink anymore. See? Smell my breath."
The minty scent of his mouthwash bathed her face. She flinched. She couldn't help it. She was terrified of him. "That's not the point, Jeremy. You aren't supposed to come within three hundred yards of me. If you don't leave by the count of three, I'm calling the cops."
"Myrna, just hear me out."
"One."
"I realize what a jerk I was and I've come to ask for your forgiveness."
"Two."
"I've been through treatment, Myrna. The thought that we can be together again is all the reason I need to stay sober for the rest of my life."
"Three." Myrna tossed the flowers on the floor and turned to search for her phone. She remembered that she'd fallen asleep with it against her chest the night before. She hurried toward her bedroom to retrieve it.
"Wait." Jeremy followed her into the living room. The sound of his footsteps behind her made her heart race. She covered the back of her head with one hand and walked sideways so she could keep an eye on him. She wouldn't put it past him to clobber her over the head the second she turned her back.
"Just give me a chance. Please, Myrna. Listen to me." His strong fingers gripped her arm.
She froze, trembling uncontrollably. She couldn't catch her breath. "How did you find me, Jeremy?" she said, gasping. "How? I did everything right."
He chuckled. "That part was easy. There aren't many '57 Thunderbirds registered in this state."
Of course. Her car. How could she have been so stupid?
"Why are you shaking? I said I wouldn't hurt you. Don't be afraid."
"Don't be afraid? Don't be afraid! " She turned and shoved him with both hands. "You put me in the hospital, you crazy son-of-a-bitch. You almost killed me."
"That wasn't me, baby. It wasn't. I was drunk and you were cheating on me with that gas station attendant. I lost control. But I won't slip again. I promise. I'll never hurt you again. Never."
Gas station attendant? What the fuck was he talking about? She'd never dated a gas station attendant. She didn't even know a gas station attendant.
"I'm not that man anymore. Remember that charming man you fell in love with?" He smiled and she could almost remember the man she'd married, but she remembered a face twisted in rage and a pair of hard fists much more vividly.
"He's back. I," he continued, pressing a hand to his chest, "I'm back and we can go back, Myrna. Back to the way things were at the beginning. You'd like that, wouldn't you? I never meant to hurt you, sweetheart. You have to believe me. I'm better now. I've changed. I love you. So much. I do. I love you. You believe that, don't you?"
Her stomach churned at the sound of those three little words slithering from between his lying lips. Nothing had changed. This was exactly like every other time he'd talked her into taking him back. Well, one thing had changed. She had. She knew real love with a good man. Brian had showed her the difference. She shook her head at Jeremy. "Even if I did believe you, and I don't, it wouldn't matter. I don't love you. I have a new boyfriend. One who respects me and treats me well. He doesn't think I'm a whore or falsely accuse me of cheating on him."
Jeremy's eyes hardened and his upper lip curled. A thrill of fear raced down her spine. As she suspected, the darkness in him was carefully veiled behind his lies and attempted manipulations.
After several seconds, Jeremy relaxed and smiled. "Oh, yes. Brian."
"Do I know you?" Brian asked from the open front door.