Page 39 of Recklessly Yours

“She felt like I was never there for her when she wanted me to be. Then, when she felt like I’d let her down, she would spend days or even weeks mad at me about it.”

I frowned. That sounded toxic.

“No matter what I did, it wasn’t enough, and eventually, I stopped trying. It took a long time to realize how unhealthy our relationship had gotten. But once I did, I ended it.”

I nodded, although I couldn’t relate. The last semiserious relationship I’d been in was during college over five years ago,and that had just fizzled out. It wasn’t toxic or dramatic, but it wasn’t passionate either.

“Are we starting another one?” He nodded at the TV. “Or breaking for lunch?”

I glanced down at the bowl of popcorn. “Let’s watch one more before we eat.”

With a cleansing breath, I pressed play.

A minute later, I felt his eyes still on me, but when I looked back over, he was focused on his computer screen once again.

Chapter Sixteen

HATTIE

Thursday 8:40 p.m.

Unknown:

Why aren’t you talking to me?

Friday 5:48 p.m.

Unknown:

I’m going to have to scrub his touch from your body.

Saturday 11:12 a.m.

Unknown:

You look so beautiful with your hair curled like that.

Chapter Seventeen

HATTIE

Saturday 6:22 p.m.

All the single ladies

Savannah: It’s been a week, so what’s the verdict?

Me: Verdict is this guy keeps texting me every day, and it’s freaking me out.

Brittney: Ah, shit. Really? Have you not blocked the new number?

Me: Not yet. Dylan wants to keep the information coming in. See if he says something that gives anything away.

Savannah: I mean, that sucks, but it’s not what I was talking about.

Rachel: Savannah strikes again. We can always count on you to jump into the chat with some random statement or question you expect us all to understand.

Savannah: No one else has been wondering if our Hattie has found out what the sexy detective is packing?

---