“I get where you’re coming from,” I say to him eventually. “I really do. Maybe from your perspective, she’s not worth all this.” I pause and then look up at him. “But man, when was the last time you saw me give a shit?”
He looks at me, eyes narrowed. “I don’t know,” he admits finally.
“I haven’t given a shit about much of anything in a while. Business is booming and I have pretty much no problems.” I shake my head slowly. “And yet, I haven’t been happy.”
“I’ve noticed that,” Chuck admits.
“Women, money, it all comes easily to me. But Sadie, she’s different. I don’t know what it is, but I feel something around her.”
“But she’s gone,” Chuck says, still frowning.
“Maybe,” I admit. “But if she’s worth all this, at least to me, shouldn’t I pursue it?”
He sighs and shakes his head. “I don’t know, man. For me, it’s not worth any of this, but what do I know? I’m just a single asshole.”
I grin at him. “You’re definitely an asshole. I’m just saying, I can’t give up so easily.”
“All right. If that’s what you want, obviously I got your back.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Now, let’s talk about something that’s not so fucking boring,” he says, a big grin on his face.
I agree, and we change the subject easily. We have a decent lunch, Chuck grabs the check, and I decide to head back home.
I keep thinking about Sadie as my driver drops me off at my apartment. Once inside, I check my messages and my email, but there’s nothing from her of course.
I need to figure out what to do about this. So far, the only thing I can think of is to hire a private investigator and have him track her down. Maybe that way, he can get a message to her in a way that I can’t.
But I don’t know any PIs, and I’m not sure there are many that will be willing to go up against the Tillman family. I’m sure if there’s a PI out there worth his salt, he’ll know all about the Tillmans and be smart enough to stay away.
Still, I have to try, and so I end up spending the next couple hours making phone calls, trying to track down someone who’s willing to help out.
I almost don’t hear the knock at my door. I’m so consumed with finding a PI that I nearly totally ignore the knock. Only when it comes a second time do I finally snap out of my trance and quickly head to my front door.
I pause for a second before opening it. I don’t know who to expect, but I’m tired and impatient. It’s probably just the doorman with my packages or something.
I don’t expect to see Sadie standing on my doorstep, looking out of breath.
“Hey,” she says.
I stare at her. “Sadie.”
She smiles. “I’m sorry I haven’t called.”
“It’s okay.” I step aside. “Come inside.”
“Okay. Just for a minute.” She steps into my hallway and I shut the door behind her. She looks gorgeous, so goddamn attractive, just like I remembered.
“Where have you been?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disappear. It’s just, I got caught after the last time I saw you.”
Of course. I step toward her and take her hips, pulling her against me. She wraps her arms around my neck and I kiss her deeply, feeling so fucking relieved.
Some part of me did believe that she simply didn’t want anything to do with me anymore. That was something I didn’t really want or maybe couldn’t really handle. But that’s not the case. She didn’t ghost because she just didn’t want me, she ghosted because she had no other choice.
The kiss finally breaks off and I can feel my heart hammering. “What happened?” I ask her.
“My older brother, Michael. He was awake when I got home.”
“Shit,” I say. “Your own brother dimed you out?”
“He didn’t mean it,” she says, brushing me off. “He wanted to do what he thought was best for me.”
I nod slowly. Her family structure is complicated, and I know she doesn’t get along well with her older brother. I decide not to press it.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I say to her.
“I can’t stay long. I’m out on a shopping trip and I ditched my chaperone to come up here.”
I grin at her. “You’re going to get in trouble.”
“Probably.” She shakes her head. “I don’t care. I’m sick of being a prisoner in my own family.”
I grin and kiss her gently on the lips. “I’m glad you’re here.”