Page 84 of Bidding War

“Of course.”

“And that Dad doesn’t want me to?”

He shrugs. “Elliot West has been disappointed before. He will live.”

“And you won’t tell him.”

“If that is a secret you wish me to keep, it is kept.”

“It is. Thank you.”

He nods once. “Whatever you need, whenever you need it.”

I guess that’s that. It takes a second to remember her phone number—the combination of drugs and never dialing her up doesn’t help matters. She doesn’t answer, but I get her voicemail. “Baby, it’s me. Call this number, please.” I recite the number and hang up, hoping for a quick?—

Her number pops up as a call. “Where have you?—"

“Fuck, it’s good to hear your voice,” I blurt. Something deep inside releases. Something the drugs couldn’t help with.

Moss turns around, pretending to be distracted by his own phone to give me privacy.

She barks, “What the fuck is going on, Anderson?”

“I will explain everything in person.” Telling her I’ve been shot and I don’t know exactly where I am will not set her mind at ease. “I’ll be home tomorrow. Can you meet me there tomorrow? Say eleven?”

“Just tell me what is going on. Please.”

When her voice breaks on that last word, so does my heart. But I can’t tell her about any of this on the phone. That would be cruel. “I need you to trust me. It’s better I tell you in person.”

“Fine, I guess. But it better be good. I’m talking about a full explanation of something big. I have been freaking out since you went radio silent on me. And whose number is this?”

“No one’s, and I promise?—"

“No one? How pretty is No One?”

I laugh, which hurts, but I don’t care. “It’s a burner, June.”

“Oh.”

“You’ll have all your answers tomorrow. I promise.”

“I’ll see you at eleven.”

“I love you so much, baby. Whatever I can do to make this up to you, I will.”

For a moment, her end is silent. “I love you, too.”

We hang up, and I already feel better from hearing her voice. “Thank you, Moss.”

“You are right not to tell her on phone.”

“You can tell I feel guilty, huh?”

He smiles and nods. “You are good man. You feel guilty about everything.”

Good? Doubt it. But there is no sense in arguing with Moss. When he knows something, he knows it. No matter the evidence to the contrary.

“And do you ever feel guilty about anything?”

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