The fact that the shower had stopped running indicated that he would be out any moment from now. I panicked and glanced around desperately for anything I could do.

Was he going to do what he couldn't do last night now? No way he would still be mad at me now, right?

Regret welled in my being over last night. If I had known, I would have pushed Maria away then, even if it meant throwing her to the floor. I had actually intended to leave the house then before she foiled my plans.

George emerged from the bathroom just then, his white towel wrapped around his waist. He threw...