Page 58 of Lethal Seduction

“I can see how it must have seemed,” I agree with her. “Trust me, if I’d been in his position, I would have walked out too.”

“Good, then you know how much hurt he is feeling right now and why he wouldn’t want to talk to you.”

Nodding, I want to walk away, tail tucked between my legs, but I can’t. The feeling I’ve been having… the one where Patrick is in danger won’t leave me. My gut is almost never wrong when it comes to things like this.

“If you don’t mind, I have somewhere to be,” Tina says, closing the door and locking it behind her. She steps around me. “Once I leave, you’re not planning to break into my house looking for him, are you?”

The idea has crossed my mind, but no. “Of course not.”

“Then might I suggest you leave?” Her tone has a warning to it. She doesn’t give a shit I’m a cop… not when it comes to her best friend. Her loyalties are clear.

“Promise I won’t bother you again, but I have to talk to you for a minute.”

“Make it fast.”

“I’m worried about him. I don’t know him as well as you do, but from our interactions, I don’t for a second believe he’s the type to completely ignore someone’s texts and phone calls. Especially after the connection we had with each other.”

“Patrick isn’t so desperate for attention that he needed to call you back.” She pauses and pinches her brows together. It’s clear to me she doesn’t believe what she’s saying. Sure, he isn’t desperate, but he isn’t the type to completely ignore someone.

“Have you heard from him today?” I ask. “When was the last time you spoke?”

She thinks about it for a second and then says, “Yesterday.” Tina pulls out her phone and taps the screen. “I have not heard back from him either. He hasn’t returned my texts or calls either.”

“Is that normal for him?”

She shakes her head. “No, but you really hurt him. Give him a few days, and I’m sure he will reach back out.”

“You truly believe that? There aren’t any red flags or warning signs to you that he might be in trouble?” I ask.

Tina shrugs. “Fine.” She shrugs and lets out a long sigh. “I don’t have any idea where he is and I’m fucking worried. If he’s totally fine and knows I’m even talking to you after what you did, he’ll never speak to me again.” She steps past me but then turns back. “I promise if he calls me, I’ll call you. But you have to promise to do the same. I’m really worried.

“Fair,” I say. Sending her a text so she has my number, I wait until I hear her phone beep. “There’s my number. Please call me.”

“Will do,” she says. “Why did you have to hurt him, though? He’s such a good person, a truly good guy. Someone you’d be fucking lucky to have.”

I look her in the eyes. “I know you might not believe this, but it was all a misunderstanding. The guy who showed up at the restaurant was a date I had one time… before I ever even met Patrick. He wasn’t my type, and I was a dick and ditched him at the restaurant.” I shrug. “He got his revenge. That’s for sure.”

I know the look on her face. She searches my face for a sign of me lying. Tina isn’t happy about it, but she believes me.

“I’ll call you as soon as I hear back from him,” she says.

“Thank you.”

Watching her get into her car, I get behind the wheel of mine. Tina is a good friend, and I know she wants what’s best for Patrick. So do I. Against my own instincts, I turn on my car and drive back to my place. It won’t be easy, but I have to wait.

Dammit, Patrick. Please be alright.

25

PATRICK

Tina urges me not to do anything rash or stupid. I promise her I won't. But here I am, sitting in Jake Bloom's living room, waiting for him to come back with a beer. His place is sparse but clean—definitely not what I envisioned when I came over last night. I don’t know why I’m even here, I let out a held breath and run my fingers through my hair. Is this some kind of rebellious shit? Like I’m going to hurt Michael by being here? I shake my head.

My first stop was to see Tina. She hugged me and let me cry it all out on her shoulder. We spent the next hour talking shit about Michael, and it felt good—at first. My heart wasn't truly in the shit-talking session because I still very much want him. For God’s sake, I really have feelings for that man. Even when they’re rather confusing feelings right now. Whenever I close my eyes, I see his face, smiling at me. I can still feel his lips on mine as we showered together and made love.

Why did he have to lie to me? I start wracking my brain for details. Had he said he wasn't dating other people? Was he even still dating that little asshole who ruined our romantic dinner?Ugh. There are too many possible truths to keep track of, and that's why I'm at Jake's place.

Spending the rest of last night with him was fun, but we didn't do anything sexual. Although I'm pretty sure he wanted to at least do some hand and mouth stuff, I wasn't ready for that. Not after he turned me down last time. Not to mention, my feelings for Michael. Truth be told, deep down, I hope there might be a reconciliation with Michael, but that doesn't seem likely since he hasn't even reached out to me.

---