Page 9 of Caught Stealing Your Heart
“You knowexactlywhat I’m talking about, Banks. I tune into almost every one of Leilani’s lives, so get to explaining.”
“Damn. Why am I being interrogated today?”
Paisley smacked her lips. “Banks Devon Callahan.”
“Not the full government name. I could’ve sworn I was talking to Paisley and not Alyson.”
“If you don’t stop playing with me.”
“It was something fun to do, Pai.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit, Banks. Social media isn’t something you do for fun. You’re careful when it comes to your image in that aspect. Getting on Leilani’s live was outthe ordinary for you, so something tells me you’re genuinely interested in her.”
Leave it to Paisley to call me out. It was crazy how well she knew me.
I sat back down on my sectional and exhaled. “And what if I am?”
“Know that I’m all for it, but you also need to be careful with how you move. Your worlds are totally different. The two of you are totally different.”
“Opposites attract, right?”
“I guess you have a point. Just… know what you’re doing. We both know Boss has a reputation, but Banks is different. If you’re going to pursue Leilani, give her Banks.”
“I hear you.”
Paisley and I chopped it up for a while longer. We decided to go to dinner together later. With a few hours to spare, I headed to my room to get dressed for the cages. My mind was everywhere, mainly wondering why Leilani abruptly ended the live, so I inboxed her. Hours went by with no response, but it showed she had read it.
I guess the heat about me was too much for her. It was all about Boss, not Banks.
The realization gave me a crazy idea, one I would need to talk to her about in person. There was only one way I would be able to get to her, so I set it up and went to let my emotions out with my bat.
“Leilani,what you are doing is dangerous. What are you thinking?” Mamie chastised over the phone, annoyance evident in her harsh tone. I imagined her shaking her head at me, looking just like our mother.
“I know. I know. I just want to see if it’s who I think it is.”
“Who do you think it is?”
I turned my left blinker on and stopped at the light. “Banks.”
“Ooohhh. Okay. Now your actions make sense. Still, it doesn’t take away the fact it’s dangerous. What if it isn’t him? What if it’s some crazed fan who attacks you?”
“You know I stayed strapped. If Daddy taught us anything, it was how to protect ourselves. It has to be him, Mamie.The last four of the card number match my sketch he bought anonymously.”
Banks had been writing me daily since the live, but I didn’t have the energy to entertain him. At first, it was fun and cute, especially when he gave me a glimpse of his softer side. When the trolls started commenting, I had to end it. I didn’t need that type of negativity on my live, messing with my energy. It was all because of Banks, so I decided I no longer needed to entertain him.
Which was why I continuously asked myself why I stalked his profile and was eager to see if he was the anonymous buyer of the drawing, I drew on the live.
Deep down, I believed there was more to Banks than the blogs posted. There was more to Banks than baseball, and I was intrigued. Not only that, but I truly wanted an answer to my question. I wanted to hear his side of the story. His hesitancy to answer should’ve been a red flag to me, but I believed in giving people chances.
“Well, I have your location. You’re on the outskirts of the city, Lei. That’s twenty minutes out from me. Do you want me to come stake out just in case?”
“No, I’m good. I love you so much and appreciate you for caring like you do. Willow would’ve never let me come.”
“She surely wouldn’t have. She’s the only one who can live on the edge in her eyes.”
“Exactly. Crazy ass girl.”
The GPS instructed me to turn left onto the street of my destination. My K5 wobbled against the gravel road, leading me up to one of the most gorgeous homes I ever laid eyes on. It sat on a hill in the middle of the greenest grass which uprooted four huge oak trees around it. The circular driveway led me to the front of the house where there was a gray stone water fountain in the middle of a flower bed filled with purple and yellow flowers.I immediately fell in love with the flat, wraparound porch and floor-to-ceiling windows in the front of the house.
