Page 64 of Wanting Alex

What did he mean bywhoI threw at him? He wasn’t making any sense.

I returned to my organizing, wanting to forget what just happened. I still had one more pile of documents to shred, and then I was to tackle the desk. Each drawer was stuffed full of crap. No matter how many times I asked Dad to empty it out, he either made up an excuse or he commented that there were things in there I would need or want one day.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was being thoughtful, but I knew he didn’t want to take the time to work.Dad avoided paperwork like the plague.

I closed the last cabinet and took a deep breath. I wasn’t ready to tackle it either. Plus, I needed trash bags and maybe a bottle of wine to help. Who knew what lurked at the bottoms of those drawers.

I flipped through my schedule to see when the next available day I had to start in on it when I heard the bell on the front door ring.

“Hey, sweetie. I knew I’d find you here.” My father made his way into my office and sat down in the chair Spencer had occupied all morning.

“Hey, Dad. Just finishing up.” I looked at my watch. I’d closed early since there wasn’t anyone showing up today. “Was going to head home soon.”

“Sure you were. You’d sleep here if I let you.” He cocked his eyebrow. “I went by your house and let the dogs out. I’m worried about you, Alex. The place is a mess. That’s not like you.”

“It’s fine, Dad. I’m fine.”

I wasn’t fine.I didn’t know if I’d ever be fine again. Everything reminded me of them. Thomas and Declan had both stayed over at the house during the past month. Every time I sat on the couch, I saw Thomas sitting there, waiting to snuggle with me under a blanket to watch a movie. When I looked at the backyard, I saw Declan playing with the dogs.

“Randol won’t stop calling.” I needed to change the subject.

“I never liked Randol,” he reminded me.

“I know that. You say it every time his name comes up.” I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.

“What did he do this time?”

“I’m not really sure. He just called and said it wasn’t over. Something about throwing someone at him, but I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Did you go to the police yet?”

“Not yet.” I knew Dad was right. Randol had crossed the line long ago. I was just so tired.

“You need to. Get a restraining order. He can’t be sending you threatening messages and blackmailing you. There has to be something the police can do to help.”

“I’m working on it. I’m trying to put together everything I have on him right now and then I’ll go to the station. If he’s taking pictures of me, I need to make sure I have everything in order before I go to them.”

“I think we should get you an alarm system and a security camera for outside of your house.”

I nodded. He was right. Even if I got a restraining order, there was still the possibility Randol would ignore it.

“Plus, I can’t have more gossip going around about me right now. I want that to die down before I give them even more to discuss over the watercooler.”

“Oh, let those gossipmongers talk. You do what you need to do. Your safety is far more important than what some ridiculous people say behind your back.”

I smiled and walked around the desk, stepping into his arms.

He pulled back and assessed me before patting my shoulders.

“Are you really going to wear that tonight?” he asked.

My forehead scrunched up as I mentally replayed my calendar. I was sure there wasn’t an event planned for tonight. “Where are we supposed to be going?”

He smiled. “The wedding. We’re supposed to be there in a few hours.”

“What wedding?” My heart dropped. It would be a long time before I could hear that word and not want to cry.

“Alex, where have you been? The Kingstons’ wedding. Their parents told them if they didn’t marry now, they would lose everything. I thought you would have heard about it through the grapevine or seen the invitation they sent.”

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