Page 233 of My Rules

“He’s fine.”

The rain begins to really come down.

“What does that mean?” I call over the rain.

“It means he’s fine,” he snaps in frustration. “I’m sorry, but if you expect me to have sympathy for you, Rebecca, I just don’t. You’ve broken his fucking heart.”

I step back from him and nod my head. The rain is heavy and loud.

Henley pulls onto the street and drives into his driveway. The garage door slowly goes up, and he drives in. No wave, no hello.

Just a whole lot of disappointment.

“I’ve got to get going,” Antony calls. “Go in out of the rain and try and get some rest.”

“Can you tell me where he is? Please?”

“He’s safe. That’s all you need to know.”

“Does he hate me?” My eyes search his.

He exhales sadly. “Bec ... I don’t know what’s going on, but ... just give him some time, okay?”

My eyes well with tears. “Okay, thanks for bringing my car back.”

Without another word, he sprints across the lawn and into his house, and I sit down on the front steps and watch the rain come down.

Sopping wet and with nowhere to go, I pray for a miracle.

I stand behind the pole in the parking lot. I never saw myself as much of a stalker, but he’s giving me no choice.

It’s Thursday, and Blake hasn’t come home.

He won’t answer my calls, he doesn’t reply to my texts, and quite frankly, I’m going out of my mind.

I’m waiting at the hospital for him to arrive at work in the parking lot by his car space. It’s 7:00 a.m., and if this is the only way that I can speak to him, then so be it.

Late Sunday night, I saw Blake’s Porsche leave his house with Antony and Henley inside. They obviously took him work clothes and his car, and it seems that I’m the street pariah.

They are both openly angry with me, and I guess I would be, too, if someone did this to my friend.

But to not even want to talk about it? I’m getting kind of pissed. He’s acting like a two-year-old.

I see his car come through the boom gates, and I clutch my handbag. I wait for it to pull into his parking spot, and then I scooch down and run around to the passenger side. I open the door and dive in and close the door behind me. His face falls when he sees me.

“Hi, Blake.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I need to see you.”

“I don’t want to see you.”

“Can we talk?”

“There’s nothing to say.” He stares out through the front window.

“Blake.”

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