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CHAPTER EIGHT
When Marlena walked through the door of her place, she was surrounded by desolation. It was so empty. She’d lost her cell phone when the Romatar men abducted her. But there was still her landline. She never used it, yet it was there, mocking her after Trace had said he’d call. The only reason she had a phone at home was in case of emergency. It was a silly safety net.
She showered, nuked a microwavable dinner, and vegged out in front of the TV. Tucked into a blanket, sleep called for her—
The ringing of her home phone jolted her awake.
No way did he call, justno way. But her phone rang, echoing from the kitchen… and maybe this was a dream. She stared toward the kitchen in absolute disbelief. He couldn’t have taken the time to look up her unlisted number. Right?
Jumping up with the blanket tucked around her, Marlena shuffled for the phone. “Hello?”
“Told you I’d call.”
Her stomach fell, but she smiled. “You did.”
But “why” was the question. There was no reason for him to throw her a pitying bone. If he hadn’t wanted to call, he’d never see her again.
Trace cleared his throat. “Are you surviving okay at your place? Because I hate mine.”
“I dozed off on the couch while watching TV.” God, she sounded like a loser.Why say that?
Trace laughed. “Me too. Bored as hell. I hit up a game of pool with the guys then came back here. To a townhouse. In a car. Shit.”
“I don’t get it. How else would you have driven home?”
He laughed again. “I’m not really a car guy.”
“Oh. You’re a… like a truck guy or something?”
“I can deal with any good set of wheels that make a fun time out of escape and evade. I guess the Charger’s okay. It can gun it and all. But… a car and a house make me feel antsy, that’s all. Anyway. What’s the deal with your new digs?”
She’d already fessed up about being home alone with nothing to do. “The job’s to blame.”
“Too simple, Marlena. Something else is there.”
“You’re right, but I don’t want to get into it.”
“Fair enough. Are you still jumping when doors shut and cars drive by?”
She sucked in a breath. “No!”
“Right.”
“Well, I’ve been by myself. No cars or doors to make me jump.”
“It’s not abnormal after the shit show you were pulled through.”
She sighed. “I don’t want to think about it, much less talk about it.”
He didn’t say anything, and they sat there. She twirled the phone cord around her finger and leaned against the wall. There was a nice level of comfort knowing he was there. If a door slammed, maybe she wouldn’t jump. Then again, she was supposed to be alone, so if a door slammed, she should jump. She pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I don’t want to be alone tonight.” His low voice made her shiver. “I shouldn’t have left you earlier. I shouldn’t… be saying that. Hell, Mar. I have to go.”
“Wait!” Wait, what? A man ditching her shouldn’t be such a surprise except that it was, and deep down, it felt as though maybe he needed her that moment more than she needed him. “Trace?”
Seconds floated by. “Yeah?”
Her dad would bet against her. Brian would shake his head and say that no one needed her. Marlena closed her eyes and shook her head.Fuck Brian, that piece of shit dad. “I don’t want to be alone tonight either. But I’m not good for much. I’m just—”