Page 70 of Surviving Slater
"He keeps hurting you over and over again. You need to stay away from him, he isn't the one for you. Find someone who can love you."
His words were direct and painful even though they were true. Slater wasn't capable of loving me or anyone else, and I needed to accept it.
I steered him off the subject of Slater and asked about his new job. He couldn't give me a lot of details but he said he was enjoying his new assignment. And from the sound of his voice, he seemed quite happy.
"I have to go," I said to him. "Thanks for the call."
"You're welcome. I'll call you again next week. But if you need anything or even if it's just to listen, call me."
He was so damn sweet.
"Thanks, I will."
I looked down at my phone for a few seconds. His advice was hard to swallow but in the long run it would be better for me. It was time to get over Slater and there was only one way for me to make peace with it and let it go.
I needed to know who Shannon was and what happened to him to scar him this bad. If we weren't over I wouldn't have contemplated this, knowing it would end whatever we had. But it was already over, so there was nothing to lose.
My fingers drifted over the keys as I fought through the last of my conscience that told me it was a bad idea. I called Connor before I could back out.
It rang a few times before he answered.
"Connor," he said in the business tone I'd gotten used to.
"Hi, Connor," I said.
"Jordan," he said. "Everything okay?"
"Yes. There's nothing wrong," I assured him. "I wanted to ask you if you could help me with something."
"What do you need?" he asked.
I wet my lips.
"I need to find out more about Slater's background," I admitted. I wasn't sure what response I was expecting. Would he refuse? Would he lecture me?
Saying the words aloud made me feel guiltier than I had already felt before.
"Are you looking for something specific?" he asked, and now I had his full attention.
"He mentioned a girl named Shannon."
"Shannon," he repeated. It sounded like he was writing it down. "Was she an ex-girlfriend?"
"I'm not sure. I think she might be his sister."
"A sister?" he asked.
"Yes. Slater had a sister but no one knows what happened to her."
"Okay. I'll get my guy on it," he told me. "And, Jordan?"
"Yes?" I waited for the lecture.
"Are you sure you're ready for what I might find?" he asked.
"Yes." I wanted the closure that this would give me. "I was expecting a lecture from you."
"I have no room to talk," he said. His voice was tired. "I'll get back to you as soon as I have any information.'
