Page 112 of Sparking Sara

“Can you make an excuse to get away for a bit?”

“We were just about to get into bed, so I doubt it.”

Talking to Denver right before I’m supposed to make love to Oliver makes my insides twist in a knot. I wonder if he thinks we’re sleeping together. I’m sure he does. I’m sureeveryonedoes. We’re engaged, after all.

“It’s important, Sara. Just go in another room or in the back yard or something. Somewhere you can speak freely without anyone hearing. You and Oliver aren’t alone there, are you?”

My heart starts beating wildly. “Denver, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”

“Are you and Oliver alone?”

“No. His parents and little sister are home.”

I hear his sigh of relief come through the phone. “Good. Just go somewhere and call me right back.”

“Okay.”

What can I tell Oliver when he’s expecting me naked in bed? And what could possibly be so important, and secret, that Denver needs to speak to me privately?

I walk to the bathroom and crack the door. “Ollie, I’ve decided I need a shower myself. I’m going to use the guest bathroom. Give me twenty minutes.”

“Okay, luv,” he says, his happy words echoing off the tile walls.

I put my jeans back on and grab a towel and my phone and head downstairs. I peek in the living room to see Enid and Harry watching a show. Octavia must have gone upstairs to bed.

Once I’m in the bathroom, I call Denver.

“Are you alone?” he asks.

“I’m in the downstairs bathroom. I have twenty minutes. Can you please tell me what’s going on now?”

“Turn on the water so nobody hears you.”

“Seriously? Why all the secrecy?”

“Do it, Sara.”

I roll my eyes and then do as he asks. I turn on the shower and close the lid to the toilet before I sit down on it. “Okay, I’m listening.”

“Sara, the police found your phone today. The one you lost in the accident. And it still works.”

Instantly, I’m excited about having a link to the past. “They did? Where?”

“It was discovered during a bridge inspection. It had fallen through a crevice. The case was beat up, but since it was waterproof, all they had to do was plug it in and turn it on. You really should password protect your phone, by the way.”

“I do,” I say. Then I let out a sigh. “Well, I donow. So how didyouend up with it?”

“I have a buddy at NYPD who was familiar with your accident. He called me when they found out it was yours.”

“Well, I’m glad they found it. I’m excited to be able to go through my pictures and stuff. It might help fill in some blanks.”

“It will do a lot more than that,” he says.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t be mad, Sara, but I looked at some of your text messages. Now before you yell at me, I should tell you that as soon as the phone turned on, there were some alarming text previews from Oliver that my friend brought to my attention. I started to worry with you being so far away, so I read the thread.”

I can’t decide if that makes him a nosey meddler or a curious protector. I choose to go with the latter and not get mad. After all, everything he’s done for me, he’s done with only the best intentions.

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