Page 52 of Gin & Jewels
“Yeah.” I took another deep breath. “I’ll find out.”
“Are you sure you want to?”
“What do you mean?”
“What if she is involved? Are you willing to turn her in?”
I closed my eyes and thought for a moment. Seth was right. I didn’t know Cassie at all, and something wasn’t right here. Sure, we’d kissed, but that was all we did. My feelings for her would go away over time—I was certain of it. “Yeah, I’d have to.”
“Okay. Well, this isn’t even my case, so I’ll wait to hear from you.”
“I guess you can cancel that missing persons report.”
“Actually, I’m not going to do anything until I hear from you again. I trust you.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know.” I paused. “Can you let me know who the owner of the car is, though?”
“Yeah, I’ll run the plates now and text you.”
“Thanks.”
“What doyou think of my son?”Shannon had asked as I waited for a plate of food to be served up and she filled her drink order.
“Ahh,”I’d stammered. Even if I didn’t know Brad, what was I supposed to say?
“He’s handsome, isn’t he?”
“Yes,”I’d replied because he was. He was perfect. His beard was a little longer, and I yearned to run my fingers through it, to feel it against my face. To feel a part of him again.
When I’d turned to meet Shannon’s son, I nevereverthought it would be Brad. I was stunned, to say the least, but I was also nervous because I had no idea what would happen next.
For most of the week, Shannon had told me she wanted to introduce me to her single son who was coming to visit her soon. She made sure to tell me that he was single once she asked if I was dating anyone. And even though she said that he usually visited once a month, I never thought it would be Brad. He had told me that he visited his mom monthly, but what were the odds?
Or maybe it wasn’t odds at all? Maybe it was the universe once again bringing us together? Fate, as they call it. Or was it my parents guiding my way because they knew I would want to get a job at a place called Dovie’s because of their nickname for me? Whatever it was, I was okay with it. I missed Brad.
“He’s only here for a few days, but I think that will be plenty of time for you to get to know each other,”Shannon had said.
“You’re really pushing this.”I’d chuckled, trying to make it seem as though my heart wasn’t racing in my chest.
“One of these times, it will be the one.”
“You do this often?”I didn’t like hearing that she was always trying to set him up, but then I couldn’t do anything because once he found out that Keith was involved in the robbery, and one of the reasons he got shot, he’d never want to speak to me again.
“Not that often, but yes. Can you blame me?”
I’d stolen a glance at Brad briefly and then turned back to Shannon.“No. I’m sure he’s a great guy.”
“The best.”
Deep down, I knew Bradwasthe best, as Shannon had said. I wanted to rush into his arms because I knew I would feel safe with him. The problem was, Keith was waiting for me in the parking lot, and I couldn’t chance him seeing Brad.
I’d tried to rush out of there but failed.“Are you running again?”he’d asked.
“I didn’t run before,”I’d pointed out. I had wanted to tell him everything, but once again, I was stuck between him and my brother.
“Then how did you end up here?”
My chest ached to answer him, to tell him that my own brother had drugged and kidnapped me, but I knew that once he found out the truth, everything would change.
