Chapter 3
As I got close to the house, I could hear everyone inside making a racket.
I hurried in and saw Emily waving a red lace bra in the air.
My ears buzzed, my heart was pounding, and I could barely catch my breath.
I dropped the cake and lunged forward, snatching the bra out of her hands.
"Who said you could go through my closet? Don't you have any manners?" I asked.
Emily rolled her eyes.
She sneered, "Seriously, lady? You left this man-pleasing lingerie on the floor, and now you're embarrassed someone saw it?
"I'm an independent woman. I don't care about this kind of thing, and I'd never pick it up myself. What's with all the yelling?
"Charles. I used your bathroom, and your wife's already losing her mind.
"Are you just going to stand there? Want me to deal with her for you?"
Charles grabbed my arm and shoved me toward the bedroom.
He snapped, "Why are you just like your mom, always making a scene?
"Can't even keep your own stuff together, and now you're throwing a fit?"
I tried to explain, my voice shaky with anxiety.
"No, I swear I put it all the way in the back of the closet," I said.
Emily snorted and flung the bra in my face.
"Memory loss is the first sign of dementia. Maybe you should get yourself checked out," she sneered.
She clapped her hands together.
Emily said, "Oh, right, almost forgot; you're flat broke now, totally living off Charles.
"Charles, don't go bullying the old lady."
Charles shoved me into the bedroom and slammed the door shut.
"Why bother arguing with a crazy person?" he said.
"Oh, so you think you can school me now? I'm so gonna make you pay for that," Emily said.
Their voices came through the wooden door, muffled.
I clutched the bra, tried the doorknob, but no matter how hard I turned, it wouldn't open.
Charles had locked it.
I slumped against the door and slowly slid down to the floor.
The light switch was right there, just inches away.
I just couldn't bring myself to flip the switch.
Neon lights from outside flickered in, barely lighting up my clothes strewn all over the floor.
I waited until the voices outside faded away.
Then I dragged myself up, switched on the light, and started folding my clothes, one piece at a time.
A bizarre, sultry moan exploded in the room.
I pressed my hands over my ears, but it barely made a difference.
Steamy moans and groans echoed all through the house.
They were blasting porn sounds over the Bluetooth speaker.
The noise was so loud, it was almost as bad as the nightly dance party downstairs.
I buried my head under the blanket, but I could still hear every line loud and clear.
It didn't take long before the neighborhood chat blew up.
1302: [Who the hell is blasting porn out loud? Kids are living here!]
1506: [Damn, you can hear it all the way at the front gate. If you're that desperate, go to a stud farm.]
1101: [Where's property management? Are we paying all this money just to get free porn audio?]
Jack Lewis, the property manager: [Sorry, everyone. We started investigating right away and are working as fast as we can to fix this.]
2003: [No need to investigate; it's definitely 2001. I was literally at their door and heard everything.]
Jack: [Copy that, heading over now; give me two minutes.]
1302: [Already called the cops. Everyone in 2001, get ready to be busted. You're all criminals messing up our kids.]