Page 26 of Wanted

Calvin provided me with daily updates. So far, everything wasfine; nothing out of the ordinary. He reported back she retired to herresidence after she closed up the shop, never leaving her apartment once shewas home.

I knew she was hurting, and the thought alone was almost enoughto make me pick up the phone and give in, to tell her I was an asshole and begfor her forgiveness. When those moments crept up on me, I instantly grabbed adrink, downing it to abate my momentary weakness.

My phone alerted me to a text as I was preparing to take ashower. I’d assumed it was work-related, so I was surprised it was actuallyfrom Sara.

Weneed to talk when you come home –S

I was dreading our talk because it would mean the end of us. Themore time which passed without communication was more time for it not to bereal. But once we talked, once we ended our relationship, it would cut me. Deep.

Ok

My response was curt. I knew Sara was dealing with this all byherself, going about it blindly because I refused to let her know what I wasthinking. But I couldn’t tell her because all she would say was that I wasbeing ridiculous and somehow, she would talk me out of it. Then I would be backto square one.

Breaking it off with her was the only thing I could think of totry and sever the hold we had on each other.

I would wither up inside, but I could go back to keeping hersafe. Not once in the eight years I watched her did anything bad happen to her.

After I forced myself into her life, she was attacked in thehallway of a bar, kidnapped by a psycho, shot, rushed into surgery and spenteight goddamn days in the hospital.

I only had a few days left before I said goodbye to the onlywoman I’d ever loved.

~18~

Sara

Five hours.

Five hours to go until I demanded some answers from Alek. He’darrived back in town a day early but went straight into the office. He messagedme telling me he would be tied up all day in meetings.

More avoidance.

I couldn’t go on the way I had been. It was too much. Theconstant worrying where our relationship stood, if he still loved me, if hestill wanted to be with me. His behavior as of late was odd. It was indicative ofsomeone who wanted out.

For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why.

~~~~

“No, I haven’t. Because I don’t want to have the conversationwith him over the phone, Alexa. I need to see his face,” I whispered, doing mybest to not let anyone else overhear. I would have gone into the back, but Iwas needed in front to man the shop until Megan was done with her currentarrangement. The order was already running behind, and I didn’t want to delayit any more than necessary.

As I turned to face the door, a woman walked in. Normally, Iwouldn’t have paid her much attention, but there was something about her whichinstantly set me on alert. She made eye contact with me and even scowled. Maybeshe was a dissatisfied customer. Thankfully, I’d never dealt with one before,but there was a first time for everything.

“Lex, I gotta go. Talk later,” I rushed as I hung up the phone. Takinga step around the counter, I approached the surly woman with my guard up, not quiteknowing what to expect.

“Can I help you with something?” I asked, taking another steptoward her.

She looked to be someone who’d comefrom money, or at the very least put on the allusion of having money. She wastall and thin, her clothes fitting her like a glove. Her dark blonde hair ranpast her shoulder blades, a trendy cut which she worked at every angle.Minus the dour look on her face, she wasrather beautiful, but something told me her personality was going to ruin allof it.

“You sure can, Sara,” shehissed. The air of haughtiness in her tone was certainly off-putting and myguard was on high-alert.

Clenching my fists behind my back, I didn’t want to let her see howshe was affecting my mood. My face was expressionless but my body had tensedgreatly. “Well, you appear to have me at a disadvantage. It seems you know whoI am, but I have no idea who you are, Miss…” The more time I spent in herpresence, the more I knew the turnout wasn’t going to be pleasant.

“Bossett. Cora Bossett. Alek’s fiancée.”

Don’t react. Don’t give herthe satisfaction.

Silence loomed between us. She’d certainly come out of nowhere,denying me the opportunity to prepare for such a statement. Had my relationshipwith Alek not been so rocky as of late, I would have laughed right in her face.But I didn’t. I didn’t react at all. Initially, at least.

She looked pleased with herself as she stood there glowering atme. Releasing a deep breath, I took two steps closer, fisting my hands at mysides. It was time to set her straight.

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