Page 8 of Toxic

“The way you just said that…”

I bit the insides of my lips. Keely knew me too damn well. “Said what?” I asked, cursing myself at the little squeak in my voice.

“Youlikehim!”

“No, I don’t. He’s a little too hardcore for me,” I replied.

“Not Butcher. You likeToxic,” she accused.

I sighed. “Keely, no I don’t. I’m exhausted. And scared. And worried. I don’t have time for men.”

“Honey, that’s when the right men always seem to show up. And trust me,thesemen? They show up in abigway.”

“I don’t even know what that means, Keels.”

“You’ll find out,” she said with a little laugh that made me want to reach through the phone and strangle her.

“Thank you,” I said, softening, “for getting me some help. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Honey, you’re like a sister to me. And to Dani. I can call Mom and Dad if you want?”

“They don’t even live here anymore, Keely.”

“You know they’d be on the first flight.”

“I know,” I sighed. “Not yet. I need to figure out what’s happening.”

“I can send a cease and desist letter. Get me the address and I’ll draft it up tonight.”

“You’re seriously the best. I’ll send that over.”

“Billie?”

“Yeah?”

“Please be careful. I love you too much to lose you.”

“I love you, too. I will.”

“You can trust these guys. Okay? They’ll help you.”

“Thank you,” I said, the relief of hearing that made my shoulders sag.

“Send me that address.”

“I will. Bye.”

We hung up and I grabbed one of the letters off the pile, took a photo and texted it over to her.

“Everything okay?”

I jumped, spinning around as Toxic’s voice cut through the quiet. “Oh!”

“Sorry,” he said, raising his hands up in a gesture of peace. “You’re a bit jumpy,” he added, eyes narrowing as he studied me.

“I know,” I replied. “I’ve been having…problems.”

“What kind of…problems?” he echoed.

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