Page 30 of Jealous of the Clouds
“I love you too.”
We sat in silence for a few moments. It was getting late and, although I wasn’t tired, I knew Camille probably was.
Then something occurred to me. “I can’t let you go alone.”
She waved a hand at me in dismissal. “I’ll be fine. I’m stronger than I look.”
“It’s not that.” I breathed in, feeling a little shaky.Is this my life now?“What if he’s there, lurking around outside…or even in? I can’t allow you to go into that by yourself. Besides, Mrs. Davis is uncooperative with me at best. I can’t imagine you could get her into her carrier by yourself, at least without losing a lot of blood. No offense intended.”
“None taken. I know cats. I’vehadcats.” She leaned forward. “I doubt I’ll get murdered picking up your kitty and toothbrush, but I appreciate your wanting to be with me. We’ll make it quick.” She looked over at an old marble clock that must havebeen from the 30s or 40s on a bookshelf and cocked her head. “Is it really after two? I need to get to bed. I’ll grab you some bedding.”
I stood. “I can get it. Linen closet outside the bathroom?”
She nodded. “Help yourself. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I sat for a while, wondering what the morning would bring.
I pulled out my phone and, against my better judgment, turned it on.
There were fifty missed calls. Seventy-one missed texts.
All from Josh.
I stood, weak in the knees, to make my way to the linen closet, even though I was certain I wouldn’t get much sleep tonight. And that was a damn shame because the nightmares now existed in my waking life and not my sleep.
Chapter 11
I woke to the room fully illuminated. For just a moment, I panicked, thinking I was late for work or school.
The storm the night before had brushed away all the clouds. I squinted at the blue sky and golden illumination pouring in from the big windows. It took me a moment to realize where I was—my friend, Camille’s. It also took me a minute to grasp my situation—on the lam from a very bad boyfriend. Very bad? Try lethal.
Would I ever be free again? Or would I need to be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life?
I pulled the scratchy wool blanket up close to my ears, snuggling down in hopes of reclaiming my sleep and the dream I was having, something escapist and pleasant involving Colin Farrell.
Futile. Not only the high-intensity sunshine staring me in the face prevented me from returning to oblivion, but also to my reality.
What fresh hell would today bring?
Something hard nudged against my back. I reached beneath me to pull out my phone. I held it in front of my face, squinting. The same impossibly large number of texts and calls, all from Josh, still remained. I dropped the phone, startled, as a text notification sounded. I picked the phone back up.
I couldn’t avoid it. It was right there on the home screen.
WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU AVOIDING ME???? I WON’T STAND FOR IT…
The text continued, but I’d need to open my iPhone to get to it. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. Just seeing as much as I had made mybreath come quicker, my gut to churn. Despite the sunshine, the day had turned darker, as though a bank of clouds had moved over the sun, blotting it out.
I breathed in deep, took my phone in hand and, looking only close enough to accomplish what I needed to, deleted all of Josh’s texts and calls, not just from recently, but from all time. I also blocked him, so any future messages would not reach me. There was nothing he could say or text that I wanted to hear.
I wished I could banish him from real life just as easily. Why does life not offer a block function?
I wanted nothing to do with him.
Still, it wasn’t as simple as me freeing myself from his clutches. I couldn’t be that selfish. I had a responsibility toward other men who might find themselves drawn into his orbit.
I not only needed freedom. I needed to know he couldn’t hurt anyone else.
Was Reggie the sole victim? Or had there been others?
