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“Yeah. Thanks.”
Holding me in his arms, he stands and walks to the kitchen. I sip on a cup of coffee after all while he does last minute things around the apartment and lets his truck warm up before we leave.
The drive goes by quickly and we don’t talk about much on the way. Usually I like the silence, but it feels awkward today. I’m still thinking about my panic attack and how he reacted. He took it in stride and offered a solution. I don’t dare hope our relationship can be that simple. We don’t plan to see each other again, and it fuels my unease.
He slows in front of the house and parks. The curtains twitch, but whoever was watching for us moved away too fast and I couldn’t see who it was.
I’ve lost track of the day. I can’t remember if it’s Stella’s turn to be home or if Zane’s working in his study. That will be one of the first changes—telling them they can both leave. Ingrid will be here and Lucille is always around.
I need to start controlling more parts of my life or one day I won’t be on any medication but mentally I’ll still be in the same place.
Gage gets out of the truck and opens my door. He whispers a kiss over my lips and sweeps his hand over the back of my head. “Have a good day, sweetheart.”
“Thanks. You too.” I want to stay and snuggle in his arms, but I force myself to jump out of the truck. He’s busy and has anhour drive back into the city. Still, I pause. I want to ask when we’ll see each other next. I even part my lips, but I lose my nerve and he slams the door shut. The sharp sound echoes over the yard.
The cold, early morning air slaps at me.
He climbs behind the wheel and waves goodbye.
Shivering, I watch his truck until I can’t see him anymore. I miss him already.
My cell rings.
I dig around in my purse and find it at the bottom under my wallet. Unknown Caller is flashing on the black screen.
“Hello?” I answer cautiously, my breath coming out in white puffs. Who would be calling me now? It’s eight-thirty in the morning.
“Zarah, dear. This is Willow. I think it’s time we had a chat, don’t you?”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Gage
“You look like shit,” Pop says as I trudge into the office, Baby shuffling impatiently at my feet, trying to get around me and out of the cold. She’s part Husky, don’t know what her problem is. I’m irritable and probably should’ve went home and slept for a couple of hours, but we talk to JodiAnne’s psychiatrist today and I don’t want to miss it.
“Late night,” I say, sinking onto a chair in front of the desk and sipping my coffee, sending up a prayer of thanks caffeine exists.
“You and Sierra, finally? She looks like she’d be a real hellcat in bed.”
No doubt, but sometimes a man wants slow and sweet. “Not Sierra.”
“Zarah Maddox? I guess I’ll stop asking about Sierra then.”
“Yeah. We went to dinner and a movie last night. I’ve been thinking about what Max said, what he wanted me to do.”
“Speaking of that...” Pop reaches behind him and pulls a piece of paper out of the fax machine.
My request to be added to Ash’s visitation list was approved. He’s willing to talk to me, and I can call or email for an appointment.
I wonder if he knows who I am or why I want to talk to him. I doubt a prisoner in the state pen would turn down a visit from a stranger off the street, but Ash Black could have his own reasons why he would talk to me.
“You’re going to see him? For what?” Pop asks, assessing me.
“Not sure,” I admit. “I can’t pin anything down. Max didn’t think this was over. What? What isn’t over?”
“And you think going to see Black will help?”
I gulp my coffee. “I don’t know. At this point, anything is worth a shot.”