Page 29 of Echoes of You

I shuddered. “Will you erase the text chain and his number from my phone? I don’t want to even see his name again.”

Nash studied me for a moment. “Do you have your texts in a cloud account anywhere? Just in case we ever need a record.”

My hands fisted in the blankets, but I nodded.

“Then I will delete these with pleasure.” Nash’s fingers flew over the screen of my phone and then stilled. “Does he have you on Find My Friends or any tracking apps like that?”

A chill skittered down my spine. I could still hear Adam’s voice in my head.“Don’t even think of fucking around on me. I know exactly where you go.”I shook my head, trying to clear it. “I kicked him off Find My Friends when I left.”

“Good. Do you mind if I look through your apps and settings really quick to make sure there’s nothing else he might’ve used?”

“Sure.” It wasn’t like I had state secrets in there.

Nash scrolled through the device, tapping here and there. After a few minutes, he handed it back to me. “You should be good. I don’t think there’s anything else on there.”

Because Adam had been so sure I’d never defy him. He’d trained me that way. The thought pissed me off. All I wanted was to finally be free of that kind of control. That kind of fear. To stop walking on eggshells every moment, just waiting for the snap.

“Mads?”

I lifted my gaze. “Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah. I do feel…lighter.”

Nash grinned. It wasn’t his typical full-wattage smile, but it was something. “That’s the feeling of losing two hundred pounds of douchebag.”

I chuckled. “A douchebag full of bullshit. That’s extra heavy.”

“I bet.” Nash’s gaze swept over my face. “What do you want to do today?”

I blinked at him. “Don’t you have to work?”

“I’m going to get someone to cover for me.”

I shook my head. “You’re going to work. You’ve already done more than enough for me.”

“Are you trying to kick me out?” Nash asked with mock affront.

“Yes, I am. Because I have to get ready for a job interview.” I’d gotten an email from Sue last night to set up a meeting for today.

Nash’s brows rose. “Already? Where?”

“At The Brew. Everywhere else I looked wasn’t hiring, so I hope like hell they’re willing to take me.”

Concern lit Nash’s features. “You know if you need to borrow some money, you can.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something I shouldn’t. Handouts weren’t something I’d ever be comfortable with. But the Hartleys were all generous to a fault. Nathan, Nash’s dad, had started an outdoor company that had made the family boatloads when he sold it to a larger conglomerate. It had left all the kids in the family with trust funds that would’ve easily been enough to live on, but they all worked jobs like the rest of us.

“I’m good. I have some savings. I’ll just breathe easier when I have a paycheck.”

“Mads, you know I barely touch the trust. I’d be happy to use it to help a friend.”

“Except to buy your toys,” I muttered.

Nash didn’t have some crazy mansion or anything like that, but he did like his machines. Motorcycles, ATVs, bikes, and other ridiculous outdoor gear. He would get the top-of-the-line equipment for whatever crazy hobby he picked up.

“Yeah, yeah, but there’s plenty left over, and there’s no one I’d rather give it to.”

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