Page 10

Chapter Ten

After leaving Will’s house, AJ followed Zara into their shared apartment over Granny’s garage and let out a gust of air.

Zara flipped on the light. “How do you think that went?”

“Better than I had feared. He didn’t leave as soon as he saw me there.”

Zara chuckled. “True. You know, he couldn’t stop looking at you.”

“Like boring holes in my head with his laser vision?”

“Not at all. I don’t think he knew what to make of being in the same room.”

AJ shook her head. “I have to say, I get that. Oh well.”

“Friendly reminder—you haven’t told me the rest of the story yet.”

AJ walked to the couch and flopped down. “I know. It’s not easy to talk about.”

Zara sat at the other end of the couch facing AJ and simply waited.

“We were on again/off again in high school and college—”

Zara’s phone rang. “Sorry.” She silenced it. “Oh, I should take this. It’s the station. Probably following up on—”

“Just take it.”

Zara answered the phone and went to her room.

AJ shoved herself off the couch and wandered to the kitchen. She searched the cabinets. Was she hungry? She’d eaten so much at Will’s.

Maybe a cup of tea was what she needed, even if it was still eighty-something degrees at ten o’clock at night.

Her phone buzzed that she’d received a text message. Pulling the device from her pocket, she swiped it open and clicked on the new message.

I’m glad you’re able to stay in your own home. Hope that means you are feeling better. You look beautiful tonight.

The phone dropped from her hands and clanged on the counter. Who on earth? She’d blocked that last number. Was this someone different? Or the same creep?

She picked her phone back up and blocked the number, deleting the message. This was ridiculous.

After sliding her phone in her pocket, she went to the window by the door and peeked between the blinds. Was someone watching her?

Nothing out of place.

“AJ?”

She jumped and turned.

“Didn’t mean to startle you. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I think I just need to get to bed. Do you think it’d be too much if I started going to second service with you and Will?”

“And Logan?”

AJ nodded.

Zara shrugged. “Only one way to find out. Try it. Then I’ll have Will figure out if it bothered him too much.”

“I like that idea. And I haven’t forgotten … I just can’t right now.”

“Go to bed. There’ll be another time.”

AJ told Zara good night and got ready for bed, but cautiously entered her bedroom, checking her closet and under her bed. She was acting paranoid, but someone was sending those creepy texts, and she didn’t trust they weren’t from Daryl. And more than anything, she didn’t trust Daryl not to take extreme measures to get what he wanted.

At church the next morning, Logan sat in a chair in the center of the row halfway down the middle section. He set his Bible over two chairs to save a spot for Will and Zara.

Will came in and handed Logan his Bible. “You survived being in the same room as AJ last night. Good job, friend.”

Logan shook his head and winced.

“You okay?” Will took his seat.

“A headache, no big deal.”

“You’ve been having those a lot lately.”

Logan shrugged. He wasn’t about to tell his friend the headaches were a result of his increased whiskey consumption. The more he saw AJ, the more he wanted to drink. It was the easiest way to not have to think about all he had lost.

The band came on the stage, and the guys stood as the music started. As the worship leader welcomed everyone, Zara slipped in next to Will and gave him a hug. She waved at Logan.

He returned the gesture with a smile.

AJ joined Zara. Logan tried to keep his smile but looked away in case it faltered. He shouldn’t be rude, even if he wished she wasn’t here. For years, they’d managed to avoid each other, even while still attending the same church. He knew she went to first service, so why was she at second today?

She had the freedom to come to whichever service she wanted. It only made sense that she’d go with her roommate, but … he growled internally.

He’d sing and ignore her. He’d be fine. At least he tried to tell himself he would be. But he wasn’t.

After worship, the pastor got up and started his sermon. Logan opened his Bible and followed along as the pastor taught out of the book of 1 John. He talked about how if we claim to love God but hate a brother or sister we are liars and murderers.

Logan was antsy. When would the service be over?

But when the pastor said, “Loving means forgiving,” Logan could barely stay in his seat.

He closed his Bible. It was over and done; did forgiveness really matter now?

He bided his time by thinking about that kid who had set Amelia and Caleb’s trash can on fire. She had gotten him to crack and reveal his friend’s identity. The two of them had been charged with a misdemeanor and released to their parents pending the hearing. The kid never did admit to going anywhere near Logan’s house, so he didn’t tell them what he was doing there. It would remain a mystery for now.

During the last song, Logan felt the Holy Spirit trying to nudge him. I just can’t. I don’t know how, and frankly, I don’t know that I want to.

He didn’t want to deny the Holy Spirit. But it felt easier to ignore Him for now. Let’s deal with it later. He should pray for a softened heart, but that would require more of him than he could give up right now.

When the pastor bade them all a good week, Logan turned to Will and Zara and said, “I’ll see you guys later.”

Logan darted away as fast as possible, which was a snail’s pace as everyone slowly exited their seats.

Amelia and Caleb stopped him and chatted for a few minutes. At least it wasn’t AJ. When they were done talking, Logan glanced over his shoulder. No sign of AJ.

He breathed a little easier. Walking out the front door, he considered what he should do this afternoon. It was too early to start drinking, though tempting. He didn’t want to become an alcoholic, but where was that line anyway? He wasn’t there yet. Surely, not.

AJ stood in the shadow of a tree close to the church. Miles stopped and said hi to her.

Logan halted and contemplated turning back into the church, but he felt frozen in place. How’d he missed Miles inside? If only Logan hadn’t seen AJ.

She didn’t engage, so Miles went and got in his rental car parked nearby.

Logan should go back inside. Surely she’d leave soon. No, he should walk by and let it be.

AJ drew her phone from her bag and read something. She fumbled the device, nearly dropping it, then darted her gaze from side to side.

What was wrong?

Her eyes caught his. The panic was more intense than her behavior seemed. It was as if her eyes screamed at him to help.

This was his AJ. Why wouldn’t he help her?

He took two slow steps toward her. She came to him.

“What’s wrong?” It came out flatter than he wanted.

Her jaw quivered as she stared at him. Was she trying to decide if she could trust him with what had her scared?

“Where are Zara and Will?”

“Inside talking to the pastor.”

He took a deep breath and intentionally softened his demeanor. “What has Miss I’m-scared-of-nothing rattled?”

She smiled at the tease. He’d given her a hard time about having zero fear when they were young. “I keep getting these texts. I block the number, but then I get a new one.” She opened her phone and turned it to him.

A single text message.

You went to a different service this morning. But I waited to see you. Gorgeous as always. Wish you’d come hangout with me instead of going to that place. Next time.

If the phone was in his hand he might have thrown it on the ground. “Why would you show me this?” His arm twitched as he balled his fist.

“Because it’s not what you’re thinking. I’m scared, Logan.”

“Trying to rip open old wounds? Salt or lemon juice?”

She sucked in a shaky breath. “It’s not like that.” The fear in her eyes increased. She was afraid of him now too. He didn’t want that—but maybe he did.

“It feels like that.” He barely opened his mouth to shoot those arrow-like words at her.

She shoved her phone back in her bag. Tears pooled in her eyes.

He was being a jerk again. Why did he do this? The terror that shook her body was real, like it had been at the grocery store. He needed to stop playing the donkey.

“Will you hang up the past for a second? I need help. Someone is watching me, and it’s freaking me out. Forget it, I should just tell Zara and Will.” She spun away from him.

“AJ.”

Slowly she turned back.

“What can I do?”

“Honestly, I don’t even know.”

“How many creepy texts have you received?”

“I think this makes four. But I blocked the numbers. And I deleted them—I didn’t want you to see them and get the wrong idea.”

Yet that’s what he did when she showed him willingly. The words I’m sorry would probably be appropriate, but he couldn’t get his voice to speak them.

Her phone dinged. She retrieved it and handed it to Logan. Another text came through from the same number.

I didn’t mean to scare you. Come to me, not him.

They both looked around, but Logan didn’t see anyone watching them.

He wanted to kill the man tormenting AJ. “Do you have an idea who it could be?”

She shrugged. “Part of me wonders if …” She looked at him and hesitated. “I guess it could be Daryl.” She cringed like she expected Logan to explode.

Despite wanting to, he kept it contained. He didn’t understand why she’d be upset if Daryl was making advances again, but how did he ask that without being a jerk? “That’s completely over?”

She looked at the ground. “Yes, you know that.” She sniffed. “I regret what happened more than anything. I’ve told you I’m sorry, and I still am. He didn’t like that I broke things off so quickly, but in five years he hasn’t given me trouble until I ran into him at the grocery store that night.”

Logan nodded. He hated that he had asked. She’d tried to reconcile their marriage. But she’d broken her vows.

Had he driven her to it?

“Hey, you two are talking?” Will’s voice drew Logan out of his mind.

He and AJ turned to find Will and Zara.

Zara tilted her head. “What’s wrong? I guess the two of you are talking, so that alone could explain—” Zara covered her mouth.

Logan glanced at AJ. The look on AJ’s face must have been what cut Zara off. He almost wanted to laugh, but it all weighed too much to let any levity erase the tension.

Logan said, “You haven’t told her about the texts?”

AJ shook her head.

“Why not? She’s a cop, and your roommate.”

“And you’re my husband, at least you were.”

“Technically, I still am.” He drew in a breath. “Let’s get to the bottom of this. We may be separated, but I won’t stand for someone bothering you.”