Page 30 of Dart to Me
“Ignore it,” she suggests, her hand sliding down my chest.
I glance at the screen and freeze. Miles. Why would he be calling her?
Ellie notices my expression. “What is it?”
I hesitate, then show her the screen. Her face hardens instantly, all the softness of moments ago replaced by a mask I’ve come to recognize as her armor.
“Don’t answer it,” she says, her voice tight.
But we both know I have to.
I swipe to answer. “Hello?”
Ellie is already getting out of bed, wrapping herself in my discarded shirt from last night. Her movements are stiff, deliberate.
“You aren’t the person I want to talk to. Put Ellie on the phone.”
It’s not Miles. It’s Rick.
“Where is he?”
He tsks me. “Don’t be stupid like Miles and try to protect her. That little bitch put me in prison. I’ll go through you just as easily as I went through Miles. Your choice.”
“She’s not available,” I say, my voice steady. I watch Ellie freeze by the window, her back to me, shoulders tense.
“Wrong answer.” Rick’s voice is eerily calm. “I’ve waited over two years for this conversation. Two years in a cell thinking about what I’d say to her. Do to her.”
“The police would be interested to know you’re contacting her.”
He laughs, a sound that raises the hair on my arms. “Go ahead. Call them. I’ll be long gone by the time they trace this. But I’ll find her, eventually.”
Ellie turns, her face pale but determined. She holds out her hand for the phone. I shake my head, covering the microphone. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I do,” she whispers. “He won’t stop otherwise.”
I hand her the phone, but move closer, positioning myself where I can hear both sides.
“Hello, Rick.” Her voice is cool, detached.
“There she is.” His tone shifts, almost tender in a way that makes my skin crawl. “Did you miss me? I missed you. Thought about you every day.”
“What do you want?”
“Just to see you.”
Ellie’s knuckles turn white. “There were no ‘old times.’ You can’t accept boundaries and no means no. Not my fault you were also stealing and embezzling. Brought that on yourself.”
“Is that what you tell yourself?” His voice hardens. “That I’m just some obsessed stranger? We had something, Ellie. Before you decided to ruin my life.”
I can see her trembling now, but her voice remains steady. “You ruined your own life, Rick. Where’s Miles?”
“Miles is fine. For now.” Rick’s laugh is hollow, a sound that makes my blood run cold. “He’s taking a little nap. You know how he gets when he drinks too much.”
I watch Ellie’s face drain of color, her free hand reaching blindly for me. I take it, squeezing gently.
“What have you done?” she whispers.
“Nothing permanent. Yet.” There’s a rustling sound on the other end, then a groan. “Hear that? He’s waking up. Say hello, Miles.”
