Page 52 of Clash
“I’m fine, Bess. Thank you for asking. Just had a tough day at work… ran into someone I didn’t want to see.”
Bess’ smile widened. “Oh, Karen told me. She said the man was quite the looker, and a biker too! You best stay away fromhim, Gina. All bikers, especially the ones in this town, are bad news. Maybe I can set you up with our neighbor’s son, Walter. Like I told you before, he’s a nice man, with a successful job, and owns his own business. He’s definitely the kind of man you should be chasing after. Not the biker who has left you such a mess.”
“Where’s Alex?”
“He’s sleeping. That kid wore himself out today helping me garden. I really think he has the makings of having a green thumb. Do you know who else has a green thumb? Walter, he has an amazing garden with the biggest zucchinis I’ve ever seen. Let me give him a call, I’m sure he’d love to meet you. I’ve seen him eyeing you a few times as you’re coming and going. He’s definitely interested.”
Her heart was in the right place, but I wasn’t ready to date anyone. Hell, Clash had to steal that damn kiss away from me. I wasn’t ready for it, nor did I want it. Or maybe I did… subconsciously… but if that was the case, I’d never admit it.
My cheeks lifted in a warm, brush-off type of smile. “That’s very nice of you to think about me like that, Bess. But I’m not interested in dating anyone right now. At least not until my divorce is finalized.”
Bess didn’t seem convinced. “Nonsense! You’re not even close to drawing up divorce papers, and you need to get out more, Gina. If you’re not here, you’re hiding in the flower shop. Have you even attempted to call your sister since you emailed her? It’s been a few weeks, and I know she left you her number, you left it up on my computer. I wrote it down for you, just in case.” She handed me a posted note with my sister’s number, smiling like she always does when she takes care of me without me asking.
My smile faded. I wanted to call Cadence, even picked up the phone and typed out her number a few times, but I secondguessed myself, the fear of reaching out to her overwhelming me to the point of exhaustion.
“You should call your sister, Gina. She wouldn’t have left the number if she didn’t want you to call her.”
She was right, but that fear of my ex somehow finding me, was still making my stomach turn and knot up my insides. The Amber alert was still in place, but due to my husband’s lack of planning, nobody could pick up it was us, unless they knew who we were.
Bess placed her landline in my hand and smiled encouragingly. “Just let her know you’re alive.”
Nodding, I took the phone, the receiver sitting heavy in my hand.
“Don’t worry, I have long distance.” She patted my arm as she left me alone, heading toward her bedroom in the back.
Before I could psych myself out of it, I dialed Cadence’s number, the only number I knew by heart was Eric’s. I was almost certain she wouldn’t pick up. Cadence was a busy woman, and if I had to guess, she’s probably mid punishment, spanking the hell out of some lumpy, dumpy, business man with a cheating kink.
On the fourth ring, she finally answered.
“Hello?”
A long pause came over the line before the breath I’d been holding was exhaled. “Hey, Cadence.”
“Oh my god! Gina, is that you?” her voice came out a whisper. It made me wonder if she was trying to mask who she was talking to. Was Eric already there? Would he know I called?
“How are you?”
“Don’t ask me that! I’ve been worried sick about you. When Eric called me and told me that you ran away with Alex, I didn’t believe him at first, but then your phone went straight to voicemail every time I called, and I haven’t heard from you sinceyou sent me that cryptic email. It made me wonder if the bastard killed you or something and he was just pretending like you ran away. Did you run away?”
Worrying my bottom lip, my teeth sank into the flesh of my pout, anxiety overwhelming me the second she said his name. The asshole was still creating havoc inside of me, and he wasn’t even here. Hopefully, he was still in Louisiana.
“Why are you whispering?” I questioned, still a little on edge.
There was a pause on the line before she spoke again. “I have company here.”
Again with the long pauses.What the hell was my sister hiding?My brain instantly thought it was Eric. I don’t know why.
“Look, Gina, you gotta be careful with what you tell me. My place has been tapped and there is a private investigator that’s been sniffing around looking for you. I’ve had the cops here at least three times, pumping me for information. I didn’t tell them anything because there was nothing to tell, so don’t do this to me right now. I don’t want him finding you. I’m just lucky I had this burner phone on standby so you could contact me.”
“Cadence, I was hoping Alex and I could come stay with you once I saved up enough money to get there.”
“Oh, honey. You know you’re always welcome, but if you come to Vegas, you’ll be a sitting duck. There’s no way he wouldn’t be able to find you.”
God, I hate it when she’s right.If Eric was already pumping information out of my sister, and hired a private eye to find me, then Eric had to have filed a kidnapping charge on me as well as the Amber alert, which meant I was on the short trip to a lifetime prison sentence.
“Look, I just called to tell you I’m alive. You’re the only person I have left in this world, and I miss you, Cadie. I’m trying to save up enough money to get a high-quality lawyer, then I’mgoing to take Eric for all he has, setting me and Alex up for the rest of our lives.”
There was a commotion going on in the background, but whatever it was, she brushed it off. “You need to stay where you are, Gina. Make a friend or two that can protect you. Eric’s pissed. He’s spreading lies about you all over social media. He said you kidnapped Alex and tried to kill him. I don’t think anyone believed him, but you know the kind of pull he has… he’s charming and unpredictable. A dangerous combination when you’re trying to get a divorce.”
