Page 84 of Reckless Hearts

“I don’t do much either. Just for fun now,” Flynn tells her, and I swear these two are killing me with their pleasantries. Just get to the reason for the call.

Mochi cries at my feet, and I pick him up. Tucking him under my arm and into my side, he cuddles in, getting comfortable.

I wasn’t joking about Jade not getting the dog back. I like him way too much and today I plan to surprise Sloane with him. I’ve already texted Daisy asking her to pick up dog food and clueing her in.

She had a million questions, but I need to see her and Sloane in person to give them the update on all this chaos. Hopefully after this call, it will all be a thing of the past.

“It’s been nice catching up with you,” Danielle now says, and here it is. The moment I’ve been waiting for. “I need to look into the allegations that were submitted yesterday. I’m sure you understand.”

“Absolutely. I have my girlfriend here with me if you think you have time to chat with both of us,” Flynn states, looking over at me. His face is impassive, and I can’t get a read on what he’s thinking. Wondering if he thinks this will all blow over quickly.

“Unfortunately, we’ll need to interview you separately. It’s protocol, same with the complainant. It will all need to be done in person, and I’ve assigned your case to one of our local agents. If you have any evidence that goes against the claim, like emailsor text messages, you can share them with the agent during your interview. Is this going to be a problem?”

She asks the question like we’re lying and I’m almost insulted. Why would we have anything to hide? But she doesn’t know that; she’s only doing what her job asks.

“Nope, not an issue at all,” he says, looking over at me, and I give a subtle nod. “Anything else you need from me?”

“No, just need to verify your phone number and get the address of where you’re staying,” she says, and then lists out Flynn’s number, and he gives her the address to the cottage at The Pipe Dream. “Someone will be in touch soon.”

“Thanks, Danielle,” Flynn says.

“I’m sorry this is happening,” she adds. “But you understand that we have to take all complaints seriously, and with this being so close to the start of Maui Pipe, we didn’t want to sit on it too long.”

“Yeah, I know. Thanks again.”

I’m sure with Flynn’s connections to the surfing world, he could get us out of this, but that’s not what I want. We both need our names cleared and the media to understand that we fully cooperated with the process. Neither of us needs Jade coming back and saying Flynn paid someone off or used his name to throw this back on her.

I want her to throw it back on herself. She needs to see that she can’t just have a tantrum and she wins. This is real life, the kind that people use as their livelihood, and not some damn game. This will probably be the first time in her life when she doesn’t get her way, and a secret part of me is looking forward to it.

A few seconds later, my phone is ringing, an unknown number appearing on the screen, and my heart races with anxiety.

Answering it, I’m met with the ISA agent assigned to our case, and I set up a time to meet with him. Trying to work around my training schedule and my work schedule, and also wanting to get this done as soon as possible.

I settle on later today, after The Pipe Dream has closed, asking if he could come to my house. I need to be in a place I feel comfortable so I’m able to focus and not let my anxiety get the better of me.

I need to tell Nate and the girls, but it all feels so overwhelming. This isn’t how my life is. I’ve tried so hard to keep it drama-free since my mom left, hating that she was always involved in something over-the-top. I made a promise to myself that I would be happy, but not just that, I would keep my life my own, quiet and calm, peaceful. And up until now, I have.

Not that I regret any of this. I don’t. I would do this all over again if it means I still get to meet Flynn. I hope he feels the same way.

“You okay?” he asks me, and it’s an impossible question to answer.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m sorry I can’t be with you when you do your ISA interview,” he now says, his arm wrapped around my shoulders. He pulls me into his side, dropping a kiss against my temple.

“I get it. They want the most honest version of the events and I’m sure there are people who don’t feel comfortable speaking the truth when the other person is in the room. Same reason you can’t be there when Jade gives her interview. You might try to coerce her into lying for you.”

I smirk up at him, Mochi now wiggling in my arms to be put down. As soon as his little legs touch the ground, he scampers over to lick the plate that Flynn obviously put food on for him.

“Please, like I could coerce Jade into doing anything,” he mutters. “If that were true, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

“What did you feed the dog?” I now ask, changing the subject far too quickly.

“A hamburger from the other night.”

“No, you didn’t.” I laugh, shaking my head. “You know he’s going to puke, right?”

“Doubt it. He’s hearty. He’s probably been surviving on Twizzlers and Dr. Pepper with Jade. That burger was gourmet to him.”

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