Page 104 of Regards, Mia

In Jay’s arms.

My phone rings, but I am happy to ignore it. I sift my fingers through Jay's hair as he kisses a path to my shoulder. There is blessed silence as the call goes to voicemail. Then it immediately starts ringing again.

“Do you need to get that?” Jay asks.

I glance at my phone and see my boss’s name tick across the screen. “It’s Jordan.”

Jay eases back. “Go ahead and deal with him. I need to call Chelsea.”

“You’re going to ruin her night.”

“I’ll let her down gently.” Jay rises and leaves the room, giving me privacy to deal with Jordan.

“Hello?”

“Mia!” Jordan's voice sounds high-pitched with panic. “Thank God.”

Oh, God. He knows. I’m not surprised, because Jordan knows everything that happens in this town. Reaching for the tequila, I take a long swig before answering. The liquor burns a path down my throat.

“What the hell happened?”

“What do you know?”

“Only that police were dispatched to your place, and Eric Mattson is in custody.”

“That’s pretty much the bullet points.”

”You shouldn’t be alone right now. I’ll come over.”

“I’m not alone,” I say. “Jay is here.”

“I thought you were done with him? What’s he doing there?”

My spine stiffens. “That’s none of your business.”

“Mia.” He sighs in frustration. “I care about you. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I glance into the kitchen where Jay is leaning against the counter, talking on his phone. The shirt I bought him looks good on him, even if it doesn’t exactly go with the black jeans and motorcycle boots he’s wearing. “Jay wouldn’t hurt me.”

Jordan scoffs. “He isn’t right for you.”

My fingers tighten on my phone as anger surges inside me. “You don’t know anything about him. Or me.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying right now,” he says. “You’ll be better tomorrow.”

I clear my throat. “I’m not coming in tomorrow. I need a personal day.”

There’s a heavy silence before Jordan responds. “I understand,” he says. “Take as much time as you need.”

I end the call before he can say anything else and lie back on the sofa.

Jay comes out of the kitchen, and all I want to do is feel alive.

Suddenly, I know exactly what I want to do.

CHAPTER 43

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