Page 35 of My Always One

A thin trail of blood oozes down my arm. The small puncture makes me grin.

If I needed any more proof that Jack is a prick, I now have it.

Marshal

Ican't believe she left without a word.

When I woke, Sami was gone, and I never heard her leave.

Normally, I'm fine with waking alone. It's much easier than thesure, I'll give you a callspeech, but this is different. This is Sami.

I have so many questions.

How is she?

Did she go back to that asshole?

Has she told her parents?

Are we still friends?

The questions run circles through my mind, nearly making me dizzy as I shower and get ready for work.

When I finally give her a call, it goes directly to voicemail. I imagine that she's turned off her phone or at least the ringer.

Did she see him?

The thought alone causes me to ball my hands into fists.

Why does it bother me so much?

Sami was engaged to the asshole.

Why now does the idea of her spending even five minutes with him upset me?

I know the answer.

My rage has nothing to do with the fact that we slept together. It's because he upset her.

By nearly noon, I can't take it anymore. Sami works less than ten minutes from my office, and I have to see with my own eyes that she’s all right.

The advertising firm where she works has a front office with a receptionist, Marcy. She's a friend of Sami's and recognizes me as soon as I enter.

"Marshal, are you here for Sami, too?"

"Too?"

"I have no idea what's happening, but she's had, roughly, fifty deliveries. I know it's not her birthday. But she's not spilling the beans." Marcy comes around the desk, steps closer, and flashes me a sexy grin. "Come on, you know everything about her. I bet you know what's happening."

Marcy’s one of those people who loves to get the dirt on everyone. She's pretty good at keeping the secret, but she hates being out of the loop.

I adopt my most innocent face and raise my hands. "Clueless. I just came to ask her out to lunch."

"Do you think stuffy Jack won't like her having lunch with other men after they're official?"

My chest aches at the thought of her being official with him, but I ignore it as I keep up my normal routine. "You know me, Marcy, I'm not just anotherman: I'm Marshal." I lower my voice. "And between you and me, I don't give a shit what he thinks anyway."

She winks. "That's right, you're the man."

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