Page 112 of One Last Time
I wish I weren’t. “Tell him I’m sorry,too.”
“Let me rephrase that,” Catherine says. “He’s not happy someone is doing this to you. Listen, we’re in Tampa. He’s going to drop me off and then come to you.Okay?”
“You don’t haveto.”
“I know, but we’re goingto.”
“I’m at Nicole’s. I’ll text you theaddress.”
We hang up, and Nicole looks at me with her browraised.
“Jackson is cominghere.”
“Your cousin?” she asks, her eyes goingwide.
Inod.
“The ridiculously hot one that has abs on hisabs?”
“Nicole,” Iwarn.
“Yeah, yeah, he’s married . . . I know. Doesn’t mean a girl can’tdrool.”
Great. Now my best friend is going to hit on my cousin, and I’m too fucked in the head to care. As if this day couldn’t get any worse before nineAM.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Kristin
“Hey, Kris.”
“Hi,” I say, and once again, the tears come when I see the pity in Jackson’s gaze. I’m like a damn leaky faucet. But Jackson is like a brother to me, and I don’t want him to ever see me thisway.
His big arms wrap around my shoulders, and he holds me tight. “Don’t cry. Don’t you know men are stupid when they see tears? We can’t seem to say the rightthings.”
I sniff against his chest. “Even big bad NavySEALs?”
He laughs. “Especially us. Just ask Catherine, it’s her bestweapon.”
“Good to know. I’m assuming you’re not here for moralsupport?”
Jackson looks at me and shakes his head. “No, but I am on yourside.”
“Right.”
“Let’s go talk.” He jerks his head toward thecouch.
As we make our way over there, I pull my shit together. I need to be strong through whatever is coming. I’ve had my time to feel sorry for myself, now it’s time to woman up. My life has definitely taken some turns, and I’ve survived them all. It hurts now, but eventually, it willebb.
“I need you to answer me honestly, and I swear I won’t judge or beupset.”
I lift my hand to stop him there. I know what he’s going to ask, and I’d rather not hear the words again. It’s been hard enough. “I didn’t write it. I didn’t send it. I have no idea whodid.”
He gives me a sad smile. “I didn’t think youdid.”
“Do you have any idea how this could happen?” I look to him with hope. He owns a security company and has done investigative work. Of course, I have no idea what the hell he can do to help me, but maybe there’s someone heknows.
Jackson gets to his feet and grips the back of his neck. “Not yet. I need you to give me anything you can so I can start digging. I told Catherine I was getting involved because if someone is setting you up, I’m not going to sit back andwatch.”
