Page 74 of Making Home with You
I focus on the part about Eliza, about finding her, because a huge part of me feels like she’s my missing link.She will be the support I need to take Andrew down or maybe I’m putting too much on her being what I need.
“Were you able to get a cell number for her from anyone at work?”Ryan asks, and he chews his bottom lip, processing everything I’ve told him.
“Number’s disconnected.”
“Address?”
“Moved,” I say, getting annoyed all over again that everything I’ve tried has failed.
“You certain?”Ryan asks, and I can see the former detective in him coming out.“If she’s hiding something she may have more people involved than just herself.”
“Went by her apartment, well, what used to be her apartment, and the girl who answered the door said she had just moved in.”
Eliza didn’t live far from the office, only a few blocks and I ducked out on my lunch hour to see if I could find her.But the girl who answered the door was definitely not Eliza and the apartment was bare.The just moved in thing wasn’t a story because she opened the door wide, letting me have a look inside.
It was hard enough getting her address and phone number from one of the girls who worked in accounting with her, but finding her has proven impossible.
“What do you think about all of this?”Ryan asks, giving Erin as little nudge with his elbow.“Think she changed her name, Connelly?”Ryan gives Erin a wink and she smirks back at him.
“Totally could have and if I’ve learned anything from hiding, it’s shit doesn’t stay hidden forever.”Letting out a long sigh, Erin adds, “If you can’t find her, there’s a reason.Something’s wrong.”
My short conversation with Erin and Ryan just confirms my suspicions, and I have to find a way to get to Eliza Anderson.
“Why don’t you call Joe?”Ryan suggests.“Have him see if he can find her.”
Ryan texts me Joe’s number, and I call him immediately, but as the phone is ringing, I have a better idea, and when Joe picks up I tell him what I need.
Even though it’s getting late, I decide to head back over to Finn’s house to spend the night.He’s working the late shift, but he’ll be home around midnight.I also left my laptop over there and I want to get to work on some marketing plans I have for the pub.
Erin is passed out on the couch, sprawled across Ryan while he’s watching TV.I watch from the doorway as Ryan absentmindedly twirls one of Erin’s red curls around his finger, his other hand resting on her belly.
I feel my heart climb up into my throat and I swallow hard.I love what Ryan has with Erin.I love the simplicity of their relationship and how much he adores her; they’re perfect together.
“I’m going to spend the night at Finn’s,” I whisper to Ryan not wanting to disturb Erin, and I wait for Ryan’s snarky response.
He pauses briefly, looking up at me from the couch, as he blows out a slow breath.“I’m glad you have Finn,” he eventually says.“He’s a great guy, Sarah.A way better guy than I ever gave him credit for.”
I’m absolutely floored by Ryan’s comment.I was led to believe the animosity between the two of them was still fresh, especially after what went down with Erin.
“Yeah, I know,” I respond, but still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Ryan actually approves of someone I’m dating.
“Does he know about what’s going on with your boss?”
I nod my head and then shake it back and forth.Finn doesn’t know, at least not the full extent of it.It’s so hard because we both are going through a ton of shit, and it really just seems better to keep it to myself.
“He doesn’t,” I admit.“And please, please don’t say anything to him, Ryan.Please.”I’m begging because I know how this usually goes down.I walk away and Ryan calls Finn and rats me out.
“He’s going through his own shit right now.He doesn’t need this piled on top of it.Plus, I got this.I’ve got Joe helping me out.If things escalate, I promise you Finn will be the first to know.”
My words come out fast and shaky, but the last thing I need is the concern that Ryan’s going to out me to Finn as I stand here attempting to defend myself.
“I won’t say anything,” Ryan concedes and I breathe a sigh of relief.“But make sure you keep Joe up to date and if anything changes, I want to know about it.”
I agree and thank Ryan for dinner, and for being my sounding board, for not making me feel like I was overreacting to the Eliza thing.And for hopefully leading me down the right path to getting Andrew off my ass.
I pull into Finn’s driveway five minutes later and the house is dark.I hate that with everything going on with Carla, he doesn’t leave a single light on.That crazy bitch could currently be sitting in his dark house waiting for him to come home from work.
I shudder, and grab my phone, texting Finn.
