Page 193 of Love Me in the Dark
Dad’s attorney had advised me to stay exactly where I was. “This’ll all blow over soon, young lady. Just stay away from the press, and for God’s sake, stay away from Martin Chesterfield.”
“Martin Chesterfield?”
“He’s in with the mob, and he’s pissed off.”
“Well, can we go to the apartment? We have some things there that we’d like to get, personal things. And where is our mother? She’s not answering her phone.”
“I’ll arrange to meet you at the apartment this afternoon, but you’re not to show up on your own. Honestly, there will be a repossession, so I shouldn’t be letting you in to take anything. But we’ll just keep this between us. A few small personal items won’t matter. And as for your mother…I’m not sure, Jude. I…”
His voice trailed away, and I swallowed. “I understand. Three o’clock at the apartment okay?”
“I’ll make it work.”
He hung up with no further niceties, and I disconnected more slowly, clicking over to my text messages. I had messaged Jason roughly fifteen times, starting with when I arrived home from our date, before everything had gone to shit, to now.
Had a really good time last night. Can’t wait to see you again.
Hey. Guess you saw the news.
Call me, please.
Trying really hard to curb my crazy here, but the fact that you’re not answering a single one of my texts is making it difficult.
Okay, I’m going to assume that the fact that my father is a criminal has changed things. I can’t necessarily say I blame you, but for God’s sake…the very least you could do is grow a fucking pair of balls and say it.
GHOSTING IS SO JUVENILE.
Fuck you, Jason.
FUCK YOU.
I hope you trip on a manhole and break your ankle.
May you eat bad Thai food, get explosive diarrhea, and be stuck in traffic.
I hope you —
Tears were close to the surface. My finger hovered over the keypad, ready to send one more message.
You didn’t reply, but I got the message.
Eleanor jerked the phone out of my hand.
“Hey!”
She ignored my protest, scanning my litany of increasing desperation with a pinched expression. “Jude, you have to stop. You have to let it go.”
My face crumpled, giving way to the tears, and I covered it with both hands. “Damnit, Lens, I can’t. It’s not right, what he did to me?—”
Dropping the phone to the sofa, she wrapped her arms around me. “Of course, it’s not right. He’s a dick. But do you really want someone like that in your life?”
I shook my head. “No, of course not.”
“So, fuck him and his IKEA bar cart.”
I gave a watery snort. “It probably was IKEA. I love you, Lens.”
“I know. I’m amazing. Let’s move on from this asshole.” She wiped the skin beneath my eyes. “He’s not worth this. What did the lawyer say about getting our stuff?”
