Uncontrollable Bachelor (Bachelor Tower Series), стр. 38
“I know you don’t want me to talk about him, but I saw what he looked like this morning. Damn, he looked like hell. So he isn’t happy, either. Maybe you’re not meant to be together, but I don’t think he wanted to hurt you.”
I knew that. Jace wasn’t a malicious person. But there was something going on and he didn’t trust me enough to talk to me about it. “Hurt comes in different forms, Betsy. He’s…a closed book. And a relationship takes two.”
“And sometimes a rocky road leads to a more beautiful spot.”
Although I didn’t enjoy my father lingering around, at least he wasn’t talking about Jace. My heart would never start to heal if I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Betsy was trying to cheer me up, but what she had accidentally done was plant a seed of hope. I had hope, but I wasn’t about to admit that to Betsy. She would just take that information and make it her personal mission to bring Jace and me back together. And if I know anything about the lengths Betsy goes to for friendship, she’d probably blackmail Jace into it.
“Don’t you have to be at work?” I said, trying to give her the hint I was done with this conversation.
She smiled. “Well, Jace was so worried about you he gave me the day off with pay. Actually told me I should come here and make sure you’re okay. I’m telling you, that man cares a lot about you.”
“I know,” I said feeling defeated. “Maybe he and I can try this again in another twelve years.”
“That might be a bit much. I hate to tell you, but your clock is ticking,” Betsy smiled. “And I’d love it if you and I could raise our families together.”
“Whoa. Who said anything about children?” Did I want them? Once upon a time, yes. But with my life as it is now? No way. I travel all the time and I’m…alone.
“You’re amazing with children. I know you’d be a wonderful mother. And I would need someone to show me the ropes. My husband said the only thing I’m good at is talking till someone falls asleep.”
I chuckled. “You know, he has a point. I’m tired already. Why don’t you let me rest and we can talk again tomorrow?”
“Or you can come over for dinner tonight,” Betsy said.
I glared at her. “No. Not going to happen. So don’t bother trying.”
Betsy tried playing all innocent. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I love you, Betsy, but you need to stop this. You’re not a matchmaker. Just be my…friend. That’s who I need right now,” I said softly.
As though the light finally went on, Betsy sat closer to me and put her arm around my shoulder. “You’re right. And I’m sorry.” After a minute she suggested, “Want to watch a movie and eat cake and ice cream all night like we used to before we started counting calories?”
I really just wanted to be alone. My father didn’t understand that and neither did Betsy. But if I was stuck with company tonight, Betsy was by far the better option. Forcing a smile, I said, “Make it a night of classic horror flicks and double fudge lava cake and you’re on.”
Hopefully a few scares and some laughter would be just enough of a distraction to give me a few hours off from being utterly miserable. Heck, I’ll be happy if I can go five minutes without missing what I thought we had.
Chapter 18
Shannon
I know I haven’t slept well, but I know what I saw. The same car had driven by my house four times in the last hour. Calling the police wouldn’t do any good, not if it was Prince Babboo. And what charges would they bring on him? Driving on the street wasn’t illegal.
No way could I just sit in the house and let Babboo torment me like this. My father was working in his study. He’d told me if I needed anything to just knock. But he didn’t know anything about Babboo. Did I really want to have the conversation, knowing it would likely end in an argument? In the meantime, Babboo was probably out there laughing at me, hoping I was scared.
I am scared. But these feelings of fear were just as likely to be the result of last night’s junk food and horror movie marathon with Betsy. Either way, there was a lot to be unsettled about. I know what I saw in the woods with Jace. I know what I see now. How to put a stop to it was a different story.
Betsy would be no help. She’d tell me to call the FBI, for goodness sake. I needed someone who could think under pressure without a long explanation on my part. There was only one person I could ask for help. But would he take my call? Guess I’m about to find out.
I dialed Jace’s number. It went directly to voicemail. That’s odd. Even if he was on another call, I should at least get four rings before his message. He could’ve blocked my number, but Jace wouldn’t do that. We’re fighting, but we don’t hate each other.
Holding my phone, I debated whether I should try again. He’d see my missed call, and if he wanted to talk to me, he could call back. That was simple enough. But I wasn’t calling just to say hi. I needed his advice, his guidance. I need him to tell me it’s going to be okay and Babboo can’t hurt me.
Sucking it up and swallowing my pride, I dialed his number a second time. He answered.
“Hey, Shannon, everything okay?”
Should I stick to casual conversation for a few minutes? What if, in those few minutes, Babboo made his move and showed up at the door?