Out of the Storm(32)

When I approach our building, instead of going inside, I head to my car. Theo's phone rings and rings. He's not answering. Why would he not answer me? My mind immediately goes to all the horrible places and ideas. If Charlie was waiting on me, what if he had someone waiting for Theo once I left? Hanging up, I press send again. This time, he answers on the second ring. "I'm sorry," he says.

Breathing out a sigh of relief at the sound of his rich voice, my brows furrow. Why is he apologizing to me? Shouldn't I be the one doing that? "Why?"

"For not answering the first time. I actually do have a real job that requires me to communicate with people via phone. I've not gotten any work done in the past twenty-four hours. I was returning some calls."

Yeah. Because of me he's not gotten anything done. Because of me his life is turned upside down. "I'm sorry."

"Why?" he asks, and I swear if I could hear a smile, I'd say I just did. Something about the way he asked that. It was playful laced with sexy.

My stomach flips. Pulling my keys from my bag, I press the unlock button. "It's my fault you've not been able to work."

"No, it's Marco's fault."

I forgot about Marco and how he fit into all this. The few times I've met him he seemed like a nice enough guy. "I wanted to let you know I made it back to the office, but I have to run an errand, so I won't be around."

"Where to?"

Ugh. Lying to Charlie was easy, it didn't hurt, and it didn't even bother me. This, though. This feels so wrong. "Just a bunch of boring places. The bank, drop off dry cleaning, etc."



       
         
       
        

"Jules."

"Yeah?"

"Try again." Opening my door, I slide into my seat and press the lock button as I glance over my shoulder to make sure there isn't a boogey man in my backseat. "You're supposed to be going to the office to establish my account. You're supposed to be getting back to work so Charlie doesn't suspect anything. This doesn't make sense."

"I've already seen Charlie." If I tell him about how all that went down, I fear Theo may try to kill him. So, I hope he doesn't ask about that.

"Really? How did that go?"

"Better than I expected." Truth. I can't believe I actually won that little battle. But nonetheless, I'm scared shitless. How I wish I could tell Theo that.

"He didn't suspect anything?" Why must he keep prodding?

"I don't think so." Something about that statement seems like less of a lie. Maybe because of the think I threw in there. But no matter how it's phrased unless it's a yes, it's a lie. A boldfaced lie. And if Theo had a clue, I have no idea what he'd do because I don't know him well enough. I just know enough to know he protects the ones he loves. No, not me. Because he doesn't love me. And I don't love him. It's too soon. But Marco. I'm not sure what he'd do for Marco. And I know he does care about me. So maybe I'd have some impact on his emotional reaction.

"I'm going to come in and work the rest of the day from the office. I'm actually already on my way."

"That's the rumbling thunder I've been hearing coming and going from your end of the phone, then?"

He chuckles. "That's Maggie."

"Maggie?" My heart sinks a little bit. And twists. And loops. And fuck that hurts.

"Relax. My car. I call her Maggie."

For some reason, I didn't even realize I was holding my breath until I released it into the phone. "Whew."

"Were you jealous, agap?"

"I am not sure what I just felt, but I didn't like it. It wasn't pleasant."

He breathes into the phone. Neither of us says anything. The moment is so intimate, and I don't want to break it. Except I see Charlie coming. Putting the phone in my middle console compartment, so it is no longer visible, I start my car, then put it in reverse and back out as quickly as possible. He's going to see me. I'm already going to be late because of the time I was sitting in the parking garage pretending my life was normal with Theo.

Once I'm out on the street, the Bluetooth picks up. "Jules?"

"I'm here. Sorry. I had to turn the car on. It seemed like a good time." Liar. 

"What are you doing after work?"

"Going home." Maybe I should tell Theo I broke up with Charlie because then he could come over. Or I could go over there. It's not a secret anymore. "Or I could come to your place."

"Both places are too risky." If I tell him about Charlie, he's going to lose his mind. He's going to go nuts. I can't do it even though I think I should. "What do you have in mind?"

"We could meet at a hotel. You'd need to remember to turn your phone off this time."

Shit. Shit. Shit. "Yeah, maybe. I am getting another call. I have to go. I'll call you later." Before he even says bye, I hang up. Charlie's clearly tracking me. The last thing I need is for him to know where I am right now, who I'm meeting with, and try to ruin my opportunity to take this deal. My future depends on it. But at the same time, I don't want to have to power on my phone if I need help quickly. I'll just shut it off before I go into the diner. But one thing is for sure. I can't think straight when I'm around Theo, and I certainly can't do what I'm about to do with him in my ear. It's just too hard.





Glancing at the screen of the phone, I can't believe what I'm seeing. She hung up on me. This woman. She keeps saying I underestimate Charlie, but she seems to underestimate me. Because I know precisely how long it takes to get from my place to our building on the subway. Then, I know exactly how long it takes to get from the subway inside our building, up an elevator, and to an office. There is no possible way that she saw Charlie in the office. There's no fucking way she made it into her office. The only reasonable explanation is she either saw him in the parking garage. Or she didn't see him at all. Or he was waiting for her on the subway.

Sliding my fingers through my hair, I take a deep breath. Let's think this through. Last night, I thought I was jumping the gun, over exaggerating, but I wasn't. Her hanging up on me was odd. And just like last night, I have no idea where she's going, how to find her, or what to do. The only thing I know is I don't buy for a single second she's going to the bank and to drop off dry cleaning.

I'm only a block from the office when I see her car pull out. Dammit. Why must I be in this car? One she knows. And I've told her to watch her back. Surely, she'll notice if I'm following her. And I can't exactly call her back if I am going to do that because she'll hear Maggie. Again. My lips curve into a lopsided grin. She was jealous. And in that moment, when she told me that, I actually contemplated whether it was possible to be in love with someone in less than twenty-four hours. Even though I'll never admit this to another human being, I've watched my fair share of Disney movies with my sister, Lily. Cinderella fell in love with the prince after a few dances. They lived happily ever after. The prince hadn't even had a chance to be inside her, to watch her eat, to listen to her laugh, to see her scared, to want to protect her with every fiber of his being. Just a couple of dances and a magic slipper that, for some reason, didn't turn back to what it was like all the other shit.

My phone rings, and I swipe to answer without even looking down at it. I use my earbuds in the car because of the stick so I can be hands free. "Just curious what bank and dry cleaner you use."

"Um. None of your fucking business."

"Marco?"

"Were you expecting someone else? Your caller ID is broken?"

"Smartass. What do you want?" I try to keep my distance from Jules, but the farther she gets, the harder that becomes as the cars in between us turn and go different directions.



       
         
       
        

"Meet me at the Chinese place we like on Pembroke."

"Now's not a good time, Marco." I sigh. "Besides, I thought you had lunch with your new girlfriend. And I've already eaten."

"We don't have to eat. I'm just near that place, so if we could meet there, that'd be good."

"We don't need to meet. Just tell me what the fuck you need to say right now."

"Can't over the phone. Needs to be in person. Be there in thirty."

"No. I'm doing something right now." Jules is headed in the same direction as me. That's odd. I don't want to follow her, but it's looking like there is no other choice. Maybe I should turn off before she sees me, go an alternate route. "Marco?" Nothing. "Marco!" Picking the phone up, I glance at the screen. The motherfucker hung up on me again. I swear to God I'm going to rip his ass a new one when I have the chance. He has no regard for my life. Or that I may be in the middle of trying to save his.

Maybe I should call Jules. Scrolling through my call log, I press her contact, then hit the green phone button before tossing it back in the passenger side seat. It rings a few times before my breath hitches, waiting to hear if she's picked up or sent me to voice mail. "What's up?"

"Where do you bank and have your dry cleaning done?"

She is silent. There's nothing there. What is this? Hang up on Theo day? "Don't hang up on me again. It freaks me out, Jules. Especially after last night."