Page 265 of Unexpected Hero

Chapter 50

Without a trace

Two days later

TOMER

Despite living on the edge of my worst nightmare this weekend — Lettie leaving me — I’m getting by. For the most part.

I don’t think anyone at work has noticed anything off about me, so I must be doing a decent job at concealing my restlessness and melancholy. And working with Mia has helped my mood. She’s like the sister I never had. If only she and Klein would fuck it out of their systems already.

Lettie texted me in the middle of the night on Friday, several hours after I got back from looking for her at the dance club. She said she needed time and asked me not to contact her while she had a break for a few days. Her phone has been off ever since.

All her trackers show her at home, and it’s killing me to stay put and wait for her. I want nothing more than to race over there and beg her to talk to me.

But she asked for space. I’m giving it to her.

I’m also respecting her privacy.No matter how much I want to see her — even if just on a screen — I haven’t accessed the security cameras at her apartment.

Hell, I haven’t even called Freya. She’d only tell Lettie I was checking up on her, adding more fuel to her belief that I think she’s incapable of caring for herself.

I want to be the man she deserves and not a psycho stalker.

She’s scheduled to work at Bask tonight. If I don’t hear from her by then, I’ll swing by the club after work to see how she’s doing.

Maybe I should bring her flowers. Is that something a boyfriend would do after a fight?

Probably.

Yeah. I’ll do that.

All I need to do is wait a few more hours until I see her again. I can keep it together for a few hours. No sweat.

I’ve tapped into the part of my psyche that I learned to access as a kid. It allows me to shuffle my worries around, pushing them aside so other thoughts can take the lead. Emotions can be sorted in much the same way.

It’s how I can be of use to my team in high-stress situations. Like flipping a switch, I turn off upsetting thoughts and fears, then zero in on what needs to be done.

Today is no different.

Until the workday ends, all my concerns about Lettie are neatly stacked to the side. Doing so has allowed me to finish up Mia’s training.

I shot a note to Boss earlier today to let him know I had an update for him on the status of my team. I’ve just been summoned to see him.

“You can head right in,” Peggy tells me when I approach Boss’s open door.

When I enter his office, he waves me in, motioning to the table. I take my seat, and he joins me a few seconds later. He sets his tablet down and props his phone up in an odd position.

“I didn’t bring my laptop. I assumed we were just talking about the team.”

He flicks his wrist at me. “Oh we are. You’re fine.” He glances at his phone.“I’m expecting an important call.”

I sit quietly, waiting for him to begin.

He clears his throat. “Everything okay?”

“Yes,” I reply flatly.

He narrows his eyes at me, brows drawn tight and hands steepled in front of his face.

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