Page 129 of Come Break My Heart Again

A man has appeared around the left side of the house. He’s tall, over six feet. Almost as tall as me. Dressed in a golf outfit with a full head of gray hair that’s neatly combed.

“I’m looking for Elle,” I tell him.

His forehead wrinkles slightly before it smooths. “You’re trespassing on private property.”

“I’m just here to talk to your daughter for a few minutes.”

He crosses his arms. “Elodie isn’t home.”

“Do you know when she will be?”

“Yes.” No elaboration.

I wasn’t expecting Elle’s parents to like me. But it still kinda sucks, staring at her dad and realizing he’s already decided how he feels about me. That he’ll warn Elle away from me and tell her how much better she can do.

“Can you let her know I stopped by, please?”

“I don’t even know your name.”

I step forward and hold out a hand. “Ryder James, sir.”

Mr. Clarke studies me for a good minute before finally shaking my offered hand. “I don’t recognize the name.”

I don’t miss his double meaning.

He’s trying to make me second-guess Elle’s feelings. I must not matter, he’s saying, because she’s never bothered to mention me.

It’s also a dig at my address. Everyone who matters, he knows. He’s correctly assuming I didn’t walk here from one of the mansions down the street.

“I just moved to town.”

“From where?”

“Jacksonville.”

“Well, welcome to Fernwood.” Some of the sternness has left his expression. It’s more like he doesn’t know what to make of me now, not that he’s debating chasing me off with a shotgun.

“Welcomeback. I lived here once before.”

“Did you trespass on my property then too?”

I almost smile, catching myself just in time. “No, I didn’t, Mr. Clarke.”

“You’re interested in my daughter, Ryder?”

“I’m in love with her, sir.”

He digests that information silently, looking me up and down. “And how does Elodie feel about you?”

Talk about a loaded question.

“She wouldn’t call me being here trespassing.”

Maybe I’m imagining it, but Mr. Clarke looks a little more amused than he did when I first showed up.

“I’ll let her know you stopped by,” he tells me.

It’s a clear dismissal, one I should heed. Elle isn’t here. I’m worried about her after what happened with Archer last night. She insisted she was fine. That doesn’t make me any less worried. But since she isn’t answering her phone and isn’t here, I’m out of options to reach her.

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