Page 24 of Perfect for Her

I know what I said was harsh. I know the procedures of the police force he must follow is not his fault, but there was something about the way he looked me right in the eyes and didn’t seem to care that I had someone following me. Someone that took the time to stalk me around the globe and take photos of me and my son without my knowledge.

The anger rages inside me as I get up off the floor and make my way into the kitchen, glancing at the photograph that now sits in a plastic bag along with the other notes and the red rose. I tossed the rest of the flowers the second I got off the phone with my lawyer. So, I take the bag of “evidence” and throw it on the counter, wanting nothing to do with it right now.

“Mommy! I’m almost ready for bed!” Ethan yells from upstairs and I take a breath, putting that smile he loves on my face as I make my way upstairs, trying to keep my boy’s life the same as it always has been, and knowing that I will do everything in my power to make sure this never touches him. I would die before I let any of this touch him.

I just hope it doesn’t come to that.

Mark

“This is Harlow, I’m not available right now so please leave a message and I’ll get back to you soon. Or text me because I hate listening to these things.”

I don’t leave a message, knowing she won’t call back because it’s been three days and I haven’t seen or heard from her. I know something’s wrong; I can feel it in my bones but I’ve done everything besides barging into her house demanding she tell me what’s wrong because I know that would make it worse. Yet here I am pacing my kitchen, wanting nothing more than to do just that.

“How many times have you called her?” Lucas asks, smirking as he eats a bowl of cereal at my kitchen table.

Apparently, he’s bored since Billie went out of town for some photo shoot and so he’s been spending way too much time at my place and is driving me up the wall.

“A few,” I say, avoiding eye contact, knowing that a few might equal at least seven over the last three days.

Lucas smirks, going back to eating his Lucky Charms and shaking his head.

“Look, I know it seems like a lot but when you talk to someone on the phone every night and they cut you off for no reason, you start to think bad things.”

Lucas holds up his hands in mock surrender as he stands and brings his bowl into the kitchen and places it in the sink.

“And I know I should probably just go over there, but I don’t want to intrude.”

God, how come I sound so fucking weak right now, like the thought of her and Ethan not being in my life tears me up inside? That’s because it would. I shake the thought from my head and pick up my phone once more, hoping Harlow at least responded to one of my messages. But nothing.

“Do you want my advice?”

I take a breath, knowing from the look in his eye I won’t like it.

“It might be cutting under the belt, but use seeing Ethan as a way in.”

I narrow my eyes, hating the idea of using my son as a way to figure out what’s going on.

“I know that sounds bad.”

“You think?” I scoff, pushing off the counter and pacing once more. “Harlow and I have an agreement that I see Ethan on the weekends because everything is so up in the air during the week with his school and her day care. So, busting over there right now demanding I see him wouldn’t really work.”

Lucas nods, shrugging as if he’s out of ideas.

“Then just go over there and say you were worried and see what she says.”

God, it’s so simple and yet it comes with so many risks. I don’t want her to think she owes me anything when we’re just starting to get to the good shit. It’s been three weeks of us, and it’s been incredible and me demanding something like this could break us.

“Okay, I’m going to say something and I hope you don’t take it the wrong way.”

I arch an eyebrow, wondering when he got this insightful when it comes to relationships.

“I know you’re worried that going over there is going to make her hate you, right?”

“Yeah,” I admit, seeing the knowing look in his eye and hating that I’m this predictable.

“Well, if it does break you, then you weren’t meant to be in the first place.”

I stand there stunned, mouth open as I begin to wonder if he’s right.

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