Page 82 of Lucky in Love
“We left on iffy terms, and now I can’t reach her.” He recapped the story of Chloe stopping by and how he ended up with the wrong phone.
“That one’s got some nerve,” she said. “Showing up and assuming you’d take her back?”
“Yeah. I didn’t handle that so well and, let’s just say, she’s pissed. She wouldn’t give me Alex’s number, so I have no way of getting a hold of her.”
“You don’t think Chloe would try to stir up trouble by texting Alex, do you?”
“Oh, geez,” he said. “I hadn’t even thought of that. New fear unlocked. Thanks.”
“Sorry. Why do I feel like there’s more to this story?”
“Because you’re my mom and you know me too well?” He smiled. “I told Alex I loved her.”
“Honey, that’s fantastic.”
“She said ‘thank you.’”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. We haven’t had a chance to revisit it, but I was hoping to talk to her about it soon.”
“You and Alex are great together. I could see that in an instant. Women have always fallen into your lap, but you may have to work for this one. The question you have to ask yourself is, is she worth it?”
That was a no-brainer. Hell yes, she was worth it. He tried Whispering Pines again. Then called Page Turners, Barkingham Palace, and The Outdoor Outpost. It was past nine now, and all were closed. He left increasingly desperate messages at each place, asking that they have Alex call him.
As a last resort, he even called the Green Valley Falls Sheriff’s Department. He got through to a live person in dispatch, but because it wasn’t an emergency and Nick was off duty, the best they could do was take another message.
Brody slept at his mom’s house that night and returned to the hospital in the morning. Chloe’s phone had died overnight, and he didn’t have the right charger to charge it. Once she got a new one and transferred everything over, the one he had probably wouldn’t work anyway.
He and his mom were watching a daytime talk show when a nurse popped in. “Are you Brody?” At his nod, she continued. “There’s a call for you at the nurse’s station. The main switchboard transferred it. Alex Gray?”
He was already on his feet and pushing past the nurse. “Yes. I’ll take it. Where?” He followed the woman, who pointed to a small room off the main hallway.
“I’ll transfer it in there.”
He thanked her and went in to wait, picking up the phone at the first hint of a ring. “Alex? Oh, thank God you got my message.”
“Well, you left one with everyone I know. How’s your mom? What happened?”
“She was in a car accident on the way home from the airport,” he said. “Broke her leg and has some scratches and bruises. I’m sorry I couldn’t call, but I don’t have my phone and didn’t memorize your number.”
“That might explain your ‘don’t call me, I’ll call you’ message.”
“She didn’t?” Of course she did. “What’d she say? Never mind. I don’t want to know. That vindictive…”
“Chloe?”
“Yes.” He sighed. “She showed up thinking there was some chance in hell we might get back together. As if.”
“I ran into her in the parking lot. She’s very pretty.” There was a dullness in her tone. A resolved, unfeeling matter-of-factness that put Brody on edge.
“Not half as pretty as you,” he said softly. “I hope she didn’t upset you.”
Whatever Chloe had said, Alex had been stewing on overnight. That didn’t bode well for Brody’s chance at repairing this over the phone.
“Brody.” He sensed an incoming death knell.
“Alex, don’t,” he begged. “Please forget whatever trash Chloe spewed. I’m sorry about the article. I’m sorry I had to run out without telling you. Nothing has changed for me. I still love you.”
