Page 37 of Heartbeats and Hashtags
“I wish I could, but I won't be able to take any extended time off this assignment,” I admit regretfully. “Sundays are my only guaranteed day off. I can try to come up in a few weeks?” I offer.
Clara makes a noise. In the background, I can hear Lily chattering away, oblivious to my shortcomings as an uncle to her and friend to Clara.
“We understand, Cole.” Clara’s gentle voice doesn’t help. “Just know we're always here for you. Lily wants to show you what she's been making in art class next time you visit. Oh! And she's just started gymnastics.” I can hear the smile and pride in her voice.
I smile softly. “Tell her I can't wait. I'll come the first chance I get.”
Clara's voice takes on a somber note. “It's a hard day... He would have been thirty today.”
I wince, feeling as though I’ve just been punched in the gut. I’m older than my elder brother got to be.
“I know.” I try to keep my voice steady. “Been thinking about him too...”
Clara sighs gently. “He really would have adored all this time with Lily. I kept imagining how proud he'd be of the woman she’s becoming.” Her voice cracks, our shared loss yawning painfully.
My throat tightens at the mention of him and Lily, that he’ll never get the chance to witness her become a young woman.
“I'm sure he's looking down and bragging to anyone who'll listen about his beautiful girl,” I say with more conviction than I feel. I know that nothing comes after death. I have seen it too many times in my life. I've seen the light leave a man's eyes, and I know there is nothing after this life. We getonechance.
“He'd be so proud of you too, Clara,” I add softly. “You're the strongest person I know. Lily is lucky to have you as her mom.”
“She's lucky to have you too, Cole,” Clara replies. “We both are. I know today is hard, but we'll get through it together, like always. Just remember we love you.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, grateful for this family I never expected but don't deserve. “Love you both too. I'll see you guys as soon as I can.”
We both know that is a loose promise, but she agrees anyway.
“Ugh!”Everly grunts from her usual working position, curled up on the sofa, laptop positioned haphazardly between her knees and chest. After the trip, she immediately resumed editing content, pretending like nothing happened between us and like she isn’t still receiving strange messages from EvBear. Admittedly, the last few haven’t been as worrying as the knife, but just last night they sent her a poem that I know freaked her out.
I’ve been doing some work myself, reviewing the reports from the team about knife and note analysis. Verdict, our team are a bunch of morons who can’t seem to find out anything. My anger is pointed at the wrong people though. If I just knew who might be behind this, then the team could track them down and resolve this situation, then most importantly Everly would be safe.But then you wouldn’t have to be around her so much,a small voice whispers.
I’ve got one of the guys trying to track down Ryan Fox, Everly’s ex-boyfriend golf pro. He seems to mysteriously have disappeared out of the country, and Everly did say he was still in love with her, something about it being him doesn’tfeelright though. I frown. My instincts are usually pretty good with this stuff.
“You still good for brunch with Tanya and her dad tomorrow?” Everly asks. Yes, I cant wait. An intimate brunch with the woman I’m falling for and the man who pays me to protect her and strictlynot fall for.
I grunt a yes in response. I know Everly thinks the offer is kind, but I have a feeling Mr. Park is checking in on us for some reason.
“Another freakin’ message from our favorite guy,” Everly drawls sarcastically. I stand up immediately, heading toward her.
“Pass it here.” I hold out my hand for the phone.
She continues tapping before the color drains from her face.
“What is it?”
She hands me the phone.
The message is from EvBear of course, but this time there is a link.
“You clicked on this?” I try to hide the irritation in my voice. Internet policy 101: never click on any strange links sent from suspicious people.
She nods.
“What is it?”
She shifts, not meeting my eyes and tucks a hair behind her ear. Her smattering of freckles distracts me for a moment before I’m drawn back to her full lips.
“It’s..uh..some tabloid article, with a photo of you and I from the beach and your arms are around me. It's claiming you’re my new man, which you know,you’re not.” She snorts.
