Page 132 of More Than Pen Pals

“Do you have somewhere you can stay tonight if the heat still isn’t working in your apartment?” he asks. “Can you stay with Wendy?”

I stretch and rub my eyes. “Yeah, she has a couch.”

He grins. “I know. I spent a few hours sitting on it the other night. Now come on. Let’s get out of here so you can go find your man and tell him you love him.”

My face heats. “Can I say it so soon?”

“Yes.”

“What if he doesn’t say it back?” My chest clenches at the thought.

“He will. Trust me.”

I narrow my eyes at him but don’t ask why he’s so certain. “But me talking to him will mean his dad will carry out his threat.”

“Ash won’t care. And how will his dad know you’ve talked to him?”

He makes two good points.

“I need to talk to Randall first,” I say. “I can’t let these terrible things happen to him with no warning.”

“All right. We’ll call him first thing when we get back to your apartment.” He grabs my hand and pulls. “Now get up.”

I take a quick shower, since I don’t want to take one at home if it’s still frigid there. Then I throw my few belongings into my bag, and we head out.

When we arrive back home, it’s blessedly warm again. I sort through the pile of notes on my table and find Randall’s phone number. My hand shakes as I dial it. Shannon sits next to me on the bed and puts his arm around me.

It rings four times, and the answering machine kicks on. After the beep, I say, “Randall, this is Leslie. I need to talk to you. Will you please call me back as soon as you can? Also, I’m sorry I ran out on you last night. Okay, bye.”

“Do you want to call Ash, even though you haven’t talked to Randall?” my brother asks.

“I don’t have his number.”

“How do you not have his number?”

“I haven’t needed it.”

“Would Wendy have it?”

“She didn’t last week, but maybe somehow she does now. I’ll call her and see. Not that I’m going to call him yet, though.”

Wendy answers on the first ring. “Leslie, is that you?”

“Y-yes. How did you know?”

“I’ve been worried sick about you, as have Ash and Randall. In fact, I think Ash might commit justifiable homicide if he doesn’t track you down soon and find out what his dad said to you. The man is distraught. Where have you been?”

Tears fill my eyes. I love Ash so much. And I love Wendy and Randall for caring about me, too. “When I got home last night, the heat wasn’t working, so we went to a hotel. We just got back. I tried calling Randall but didn’t get an answer, and I was calling you to see if you have Ash’s number.”

“I do. Randall gave it to me last night in case you called.” She rattles off the number and I write it down. “Call him. Now.”

I hang up the phone and it immediately rings again. I snatch up the receiver. “Hello?”

“Leslie, are you okay?” Randall asks breathlessly.

“Yes, areyouokay?”

“Yeah, I was getting out of the shower when … that doesn’t matter. Are you sure you’re fine? Where’ve you been?”

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