Page 140 of The Moment We Know

That sounded like a pretty crap day, and David decided he was probably going to hell.

Or maybe he was already in it.

On Tuesday morning, David heard from Lauren, and after the brief conversation, he texted Paige.

DAVID: I just got off the phone with Lauren. An investigation isn’t going to be opened, so she wants to meet me tomorrow night to discuss Plan B.

PAIGE: I wish I could go with you.

Secretly, he was relieved that she couldn’t go, even though the reason she couldn’t was shitty, and under normal circumstances it would’ve made him unhappy. With the month of December now upon them, her work schedule had exploded because of all the Christmas and holiday parties booked almost every day and most evenings at The Main Event.

DAVID: I know.

David blinked at Lauren. “That’s your Plan B?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I can do that.”

“Of course you can,” Lauren said with conviction. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t use a little bit of help,” she added, digging something out of her pocket and holding it out.

It was an oval shaped stone, two inches in length and colored a deep shade of brick-red, with a subtle pattern of black, cream, and brown veins running through it. Taking it from her, he examined it carefully, noting one side was flat, while the other was rounded in the middle, and waited for an explanation.

“It’s a worry stone,” she explained.

“A worry stone?”

“Yes. It’s called that because the repetitive action of rubbing it—or using it, as it’s usually referred to as—shifts your attention away from any anxiety you might be feeling, allowing it to be drawn out of your body and into the stone, which then lets it go. Using a worry stone also causes your brain to release endorphins, creating a calming effect in your mind and body.

“The stone in your hand is made of one of my favorite crystals. It’s a red jasper, known as the ‘supreme nurturer’, because of the support it provides in times of stress and its ability to absorb negative energy.”

“Sounds good, I guess,” David said. “So, how do I use it?”

“You make a loose fist, with the flat side of the stone resting against your fingers and rub the curved part with your thumb.”

David followed her instructions, tweaking placement until the stone felt right in the palm of his left hand, and he could easily rub it. After a few moments, he had to admit that the repetitive act was soothing, and sort of grounding. Now, whether that was because the red jasper was actually doing what Lauren said it could do, or because it just felt good to do it, he had no idea.

“I assume I’m supposed to use this during my meeting with Ashley?”

“Yes. It’s easily hidden in a pocket, so you can use it without being noticed. However, if you’re uncomfortable with that, just holding onto it can also have a calming influence, as can simply having it in your pocket.”

He had a feeling the third option was going to be the winner. “Okay.”

Chapter 58

On Friday evening, after leaving Jacob with Valerie, David drove to Ashley’s apartment. He’d been a little on edge all day, but as he knocked on her door, his anxiety seemed to settle into a feeling of resolve.

When Ashley answered the door, he noted her perfectly curled dark brown hair and flawless make-up, obvious signs she had plans for the evening. She was also wearing her signature skinny jeans and a revealing blouse that screamed Look at my boobs! Look at them! She’d always been a fan of displaying her cleavage, but was obviously taking it to new heights—or rather, new lows—since she could’ve tucked her phone in there. And a house plant.

Taking in the beautiful woman before him, it occurred to David that all those times he’d dropped Jacob off and thought she looked really nice because she’d just come from work, he’d been a fucking idiot. She’d probably just always been minutes away from heading out to have a good time with her boyfriend … which led him to wonder how many times she’d actually stayed home with Jacob.

After clipped greetings were exchanged, Ashley led him into the living room, which was surprisingly clean, given that when they’d been together, she’d hardly ever helped with the housecleaning.

Perhaps Liam was a neat freak.

David set the envelope he’d brought with him on the coffee table before sitting down on one end of the couch. Ashley took the other end, leaning back and arranging herself in a way that made it look as if she was acting out a scene from the movie Cleopatra.

“So, what’s this about?” Ashley asked, checking the time on her phone and frowning. “And how long is it going to take?”

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