Page 88 of Just My Ex

“Hi. Yes.” But Elianna’s stilted voice has my stomach plunging to my knees. “Where are you right now? Are you guys at the airport?”

“No. We’re actually back in Longdale. Henry’s still at his parents’ house, but Navie remembered she left something at Stella’s, and we had some extra time, so we decided to take the long way to the airport.” I laugh. People who aren’t parents probably don’t understand the depths we have to go to sometimes for the stuffed animals in our children’s lives.

“You’re in Longdale?” Elianna sounds surprised. “Glad to hear you’re okay.”

Her voice is hesitant.

“Why wouldn’t we be okay? Elianna, what’s wrong?”

“There’s been an incident at the resort. Graffiti. And it definitely involves you.”

My gut is heavy, and I have to focus to be able to breathe. “How? Raymond’s in jail. And where is it? What does it say?”

“On the front of the property. We’ve called the police and once they take the front desk’s statements, we’ll make arrangements to have someone come and take care of it. I thought you should know so you can be extra cautious, I guess.”

“What does it say?”

Elianna pauses. “Something about money.”

“Is that why the resort called me?”

“Yes. When they couldn’t get ahold of you, I offered to try.”

“I appreciate it. I don’t understand who could have done this, though. Look, I’m coming over there. I’ve got a little bit of time—”

“We’re not even there. We’re heading to Denver. Sebastian’s parents have some sort of announcement to make to the family? Sophie and Oliver are on their way, as well.”

“And Alec and Oakley are still there,” I add. It’s strange knowing that things with the family will never be quite the same when they all find out about Benson Kilpack.

Maybe I should have stayed in Denver longer and been by Henry’s side through all of this.

Ugh. Will I ever figure out how to do this? How to still be in love with my ex and not make it messy and complicated?

And on that note, should I have said something about my latest thoughts and feelings about giving us another try?

I will as soon as I can. I have to. I’m more sure than ever that I want the man that I love in my life, regardless of his career. It’s right to step into this, I can feel it. And what’s best for me is what’s best for Navie.

I thank Elianna and get off the phone.

Call it curiosity. Call it anger.

Either way, when I explain the situation to Stella, she kindly offers to take care of Navie for me, and I head over to the resort.

I have to figure out who did this.

Elianna warned me that the graffiti clearly had something to do with me, but I’m still unprepared for what I see when I pull up to the resort. A police car is parked out front, and there are officers out there near the door, speaking with Trevor from the front desk. I grab one of the umbrellas Henry left for me, leave the car, and head up the walk to the resort.

You won’t live to spend a dimeis spray painted in huge red letters, violating the massive whiskey oak double doors. The doors are beautiful. Theyusedto be beautiful.

So much anger.

I approach the officers.

“So, I’m Quinn.” I point to the door. “That’s directed to me.”

The male officer frowns and widens his stance, like I’m somehow a liability. The woman officer offers a sympathetic smile.

“Any idea who did this?” the man asks.

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