Page 100 of Meant to Be
“Sydney, thank goodness. Why didn’t you tell me there was an incident in Virginia? I had to hear it from Mitch.”
She felt hope rise at the off chance that Mitch’s call to her parents meant something. “Why did he call you?”
“He said he was worried because he couldn’t reach you, which, at first, I thought was a lame excuse, but then he told me what happened in Virginia. Why didn’t you tell me? This mad man is still after you?”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Sydney, I’m your mother. Worry is all I’ve done since the day you were born. Does Detective Fletcher know you’re in town?”
“I didn’t tell him.” But Sydney was confident Mitch had. Mitch might have major trust issues, but he kept his word.
“Do you think you’re safe at Julia’s? Maybe you should call Patrick to stay with you two.”
“Patrick is here.”
“Good. I feel better about that.”There was a pause.“I don’t think much of Mitch as a love interest, but he sounded worried. If it was truly his job to protect you, you should contact him just to let him know you’re okay.”
That was unexpected. She wanted to tell her mom Julia had confiscated her phone, but there was no way to say it without sounding like a pouting child. “I will.”
“When will you be stopping by to visit us?”
“How about breakfast?”
“I’ll have Anna set an extra plate. Be safe, Sydney.”
“I will, Mom. I love you.” Sydney clicked off the phone. “She wants me to contact Mitch.”
Julia shook her head and waved her index finger side to side. “I don’t believe you. Tell her, Patrick. Her mom wouldn’t do that.”
Patrick studied Sydney as if he’d be able to see the truth or lie in her statement. “She might. I take it he told her about what happened in Virginia?”
Sydney nodded.
“I can’t believe he interrogated you.” Julia acted put out, as if she was the one Mitch had accused.
“He questioned me, and with good reason.”
“Why? You didn’t do it.”
“No. But by questioning me, he shows he’s thorough.” Patrick turned his attention to Sydney. “He didn’t listen to you, or am I assuming too much by thinking you told him I’d never hurt you.”
“I told him he was wasting his time, but he went to see you anyway.” Sydney remembered when he came back. How he’d taken her up on her offer to be friends with benefits. Her body heated, thinking about all the ways he’d touched her. “He talked to Jagger too.”
The minute it was out of her mouth, she regretted it.
Julia’s eyes blazed with fire. “Why?”
“He’s in Charlotte Tavern and he’s from New York.”
“So?”
“Julia, how many people in New York have ever heard of Charlotte Tavern? It doesn’t take a detective to realize that whoever it is followed Sydney,” Patrick admonished. “Did he talk to Drake Carmichael?”
Sydney frowned, “I don’t know. I can’t imagine he would. I’d known of him but never met him until I went to Virginia.”
“Drake wouldn’t need to stab anyone. All he’d have to do is give a death stare with those steely eyes of his.” Julia finished off her wine while simultaneously reaching for the bottle.
“How do you know about Drake’s steely eyes?”
