She exhales a shaky breath out. “Grayson, I don’t want you to leave. Please, can we just have someone deliver it? I’m sure the delivery kid isn’t going to be working for Chris.”
I shake my head. “What if there’s someone just out of view from the door that’s holding a gun to him, trying to get in here. There are too many scenarios that end with you getting taken from me. I won’t put you in that kind of danger. I’m going to go out to the store, get us enough food for a couple of days, along with a pizza or something. You’re going to hang tight.”
“Can I call Allie or my parents? I still haven’t called my parents since getting back.”
I shake my head. “No. Shaw contacted your parents when we rescued you. She told them you are in hiding until everything blows over. The less they know, the better.”
“So, what am I supposed to do while you’re gone? You won’t let me call anyone, you won’t let me leave, and I’m not tired.”
“You can figure out how to get the TV to work in the bedroom and find something to watch,” I suggest.
She just looks defeated. She turns to walk to the bedroom, and I grab her hand, stopping her. “Let me save you, Finley.”
She sounds defeated. “Okay, Grayson.”
She pulls her hand away from me and wraps her arms around herself, walking into the bedroom.
Finley
How long until things settle down and I’m able to go back to my life? How long until I can see my friends, and I can go on a real date with Grayson? I don’t want to be cooped up in some high-tech apartment. I wantmycondo,mythings, andmylife. The dam bursts, and I crumple to the ground, pull my knees to my chest, and bawl. Grayson left the apartment a minute ago, so I’m all alone. A text comes in to his burner phone, but I ignore it and continue to self soothe.
I’m not even sure how long I’ve cried for. The floor below my cheek is wet, and my face is red and blotchy. I can’t breathe out of my nose, but the tears seem to have finally stopped. I haven’t had time to let go. Grayson hasn’t left me alone long enough to get it out of my system. He just distracts me instead. I sit up and look at the phone.
The number is blocked. I don’t want to know what it says, but it’s like a train wreck. I can’t stop myself.
Restricted:Tick tock, sweetheart. Just a matter of time until you’re back with me. I’ve got a whip with your name on it.
The lack of food in my system, coupled with the lack of water in my body, leaves me weak as I sit on the bed. Do I respond? Do I ignore it?I need some fresh air.I stand on wobbly legs and push open the balcony sliding door. I step out into the warm air and feel the sun beating on my face.Breathe in. Breathe out.Everything’s going to be fine.
Someone knocks on the door, and my heartrate spikes. I stand frozen and listen for it again, a little louder this time. I sneak back inside, holding my breath so the person can’t hear me. I stand on my tiptoes to look out the peephole.
“Damn it. Finley, let me in. I left the key in there.”
I push out a shaky breath and open the door for Grayson, whose hands are full of groceries. He takes one look at my face and drops everything on the ground. He rushes inside and cups my face between his hands, searching my eyes.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“N-nothing. I’m fine.” I pull out of his embrace and duck to pick the bags up off the ground. He does the same and locks the door behind him.
I’m unpacking the groceries, putting stuff in the fridge and freezer as he comes up behind me. Warmth radiates off his chest as he wraps his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“Please, tell me.”
I turn in his arms to face him and sigh. “Everything is what’s wrong. I haven’t had any time alone to process what happened. Every time I start panicking, you swoop in and distract me. When you left, I let myself feel bad. It’s called self-soothing, and it’s good for the healing process,” I state matter-of-factly.
“Are you sure there’s nothing else?”
I nod. “A text came in on the burner phone from Chris.”
He stiffens and sucks in a deep breath. “What did it say? Did you respond?”
“It said time’s almost up, and it’s a matter of time until I’m back with him. No, I didn’t respond to it.”
“Good, don’t do anything with that phone. Don’t answer any calls, don’t respond to any texts, nothing.”
“Doesn’t he know who you are now, though? Wouldn’t it be easy to get your cell phone and start calling you there?”
“If he can find it, then I suppose so.”
