Page 203 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

Instead of answering, he reached over to the nightstand and grabbed his cell phone. He activated the screen and a few seconds later, began typing.

He was texting someonenow? In the middle of their conversation and—she glanced over at the clock—this late? “It must be important if you’re sending a message at one in the morning.”

She always caught him texting at the oddest times. And once he would send the text, she never heard a ding or vibration to indicate an incoming response. Nor did he ever read any reply.

He lifted his hazel eyes but didn’t answer. Again, his expression was locked down tightly.

Since she was not one to beat around the bush... “How come whoever you text never texts you back?”

“Because she can’t.”

What the hell did that mean? Who wasshe?

Even though she wasn’t jealous, she was now curious.

When she put out her hand, palm up, she expected him to balk. To make excuses.

To keep whoever he was texting a secret.

Jason had never let her see his phone. He had always kept it locked unless he was using it.

Liyah didn’t want to be with someone she couldn’t trust. Trust should be mutual.

Nox surprised the shit out of her when he placed his unlocked phone in her hand with the string of texts still pulled up on the screen.

Now she was unsure if she should even look. She might be violating his privacy.

Her stomach dropped when she quickly scanned the texts. All of them, every last one, written by Nox. None answered by whomever he was texting.

She glanced at the name at the top of the screen. The person he was texting so often.

Holy shit.He’d been texting his late wife.

She made sure to keep her expression as locked down as his and not make any sounds while she scrolled up and took a closer look at the messages.

She scrolled even farther trying to find where his one-sided conversation began or where Jackie’s responses ended. But as she slid her finger up the screen over and over, she realized it was hundreds of unanswered texts, if not thousands. The string of messages seemed endless.

After a bit, she noticed about two years ago the texts were sent almost hourly throughout both the day and night.

As she read, she struggled to breathe.

Why?

I don’t know how to go on without you.

I miss you.

I don’t know what to do without you.

I miss you.

I’m lost without you.

I miss you more every day.

I love you.

I should’ve been there for you.

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