Page 43 of Playing For Keeps
I ease down next to her. “No. I want to be completely alert in case Dori is found, so I decided not to.”
“That makes sense, but you may want to reconsider.”
“If it gets worse, I’ll think about it. Until then, I’d like to have a clear head.”
Mel studies me as I stew in a mix of blended emotions. None of them are good.
“Dori’s going to be found.” Mel tucks her hair behind her ear. “Jami, you look like you're in agony. Why don’t you take one painkiller?”
I do a mental scan. My shoulders and chest are tight, making my torso throb. I haven’t had this much discomfort in a long time, but I think it’s the stress causing most of it.
I rest back in my chair and purposely try to loosen my muscles. “My head needs to remain focused, so I’m not taking anything.”
She gestures to my chest. “How are you doing overall?”
“I’m still having a lot of residual issues. Mainly shooting pains, prickling type sensations, and my arm goes to sleep if it’s in a weird position.”
“Dori didn’t tell me that. She said you’ve been doing well.”
“Dori doesn’t know.”
“Why? You know how she feels about keeping things from her.”
My insides harden. “I wasn’t hiding it from her, but the last thing I want to talk about when I’m on the phone with her is my injury. I’d rather hear about her and how she’s doing.”
“That won’t matter to her. She’ll be upset you didn’t tell her.”
I shake my head because all this talk could be irrelevant if we don’t find her soon. “Tell me how I can help you with Jonah so we can get back upstairs.”
She sighs, and annoyance fills her words. “You can’t. I just need him to take it down a notch or ten. He can’t behave that way and think it’s okay.”
“I’m starting to think Hunter and Jonah are the way they are with women because of their sick mother. They never had a role model to teach them how to act in a relationship.”
Melanie folds her arms over her chest, glaring at me. “Don’t tell me you’re giving him a pass?”
“I’m not. It was just a thought.” I bend over my legs and rest my elbows on my thighs, gazing at her. “Are you really considering a long-distance relationship?”
Her cheeks redden. “I was, but I’m not now. If he’s this way today, just think how awful he’ll be when I’m across the country.”
“I bet it would be similar to today.”
The last year with Dori and Hunter rolls around in my head. Will Hunter really let Dori go without a fight? My stomach tightens.
Mel’s leg bounces up and down. “Come on, Dori. Activate your damn bracelet.”
My guts twist, causing a wave of nausea to pulse through me. “Because she hasn’t, I’m worried she doesn’t have it or is in no shape to send her location.”
“I know, but we can’t think that way.” Mel locks her stare with mine. “Do you think you and Aiden will ever be friends again?”
“I don’t know. Right now, I’m livid with him, and it’s clear he feels the same about me.”
“I can’t believe he let his dad run his life like that.”
“He’s always had a strange relationship with his dad.” I shake my head in disgust.
“But why side with him when he knows how corrupt he is?”
“He says his dad’s been abusing him. If that’s true, there might be some deep-level trauma Aiden’s dealing with.”
