Page 245 of Dark Heart
“How do you know it’s me?”
“How come you have my number?”
I hear a smile in his voice.
“Don’t get cute with me,” I say, already losing the battle.
He stays silent long enough to let me gather my thoughts and find my voice.
“I hired a private investigator,” I say and pause, waiting for his reaction.
It comes.
“Okay...”
His voice is heavier than moments ago. I can tell it affects him.
“Why did you––?”
“I wanted to know the truth from someone who wasn’t biased like me,” I interrupt him.
“You could’ve asked me. I would’ve given you the truth,” he says.
I sense the sadness in his voice.
And then I feel my tears at the edge of my lashes.
“This is not easy for me, Jaden.”
“I didn’t say it would be.”
“I’m not gonna pretend I know what I’m doing, or I follow some plan. I don’t. Everything looks messy and conflicted, but this is the best I can do right now.”
“Okay,” he says softly.
“I hired him because I wanted to know more before deciding whether I wanted to talk to you or not.”
Silence comes from the other end of the line.
“I have a few questions...” I say.
“Do you want to meet me somewhere?”
I ponder.
“Yes. Tonight at eight. The place where you had dinner with Crystal and Adam Sanders last time.”
I pause, expecting a reaction.
“Okay,” he says, his voice unreadable. “Do you want me to pick you up?”
“I’ll meet you there.”
11
SENNA
I spendsome time choosing a dress for our meeting.
