“You’ll get a hit,” I informed him. His eyes shot to mine, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. “I touched the letters and I have a juvenile record.”
“Really?” he said condescendingly.
“Yeah, really.” I repeated. “Among other things, I beat up Josh after the attack.”
His lips tipped up. “From the sound of it, can’t say I completely disapprove.”
Chris grunted from his seat on the other side of Gianna. My guess, he completely approved as any father would.
“Can we go now?” Gianna said impatiently.
Her dad got to his feet, as did Novak, reaching out a hand to shake. I did the same, shaking Novak’s hand firmly. “So, you’ll call Gianna’s dad if you find anything?”
“It’s unlikely we’ll get a hit other than yours, and Josh Larsen shouldn’t have been able to send them. As you pointed out, the handwriting appears feminine. But with the history,” he trailed off, shrugging. He didn’t need to finish. Given the attack last fall, it wasn’t impossible it was related.
“Thank you, Officer Novak,” Gianna said politely despite her apparent eagerness to get out of there.
Her dad stopped us with a hand on her arm as we exited the police station. “Why don’t we eat out tonight?”
“I’m not really hungry, dad,” she responded. “My stomach feels queasy.”
“I’ll make sure she eats something,” I assured her dad.
“Okay.” He let go of her arm. “You’ll be home soon?”
I answered for her. “In an hour or so.”
Her dad gave me a hard look. “Don’t let her go anywhere alone.”
Returning his expression, I said, “I won’t.”
I unlocked her door for her, holding it open. Before shutting the passenger door, she gazed up at me. “Maybe it’s someone playing a prank?” Her hopeful tone made me sad for her. She didn’t deserve this problem after everything else.
“Maybe,” I said noncommittally, closing the door gently.
Neither of us spoke as I drove us to a Mexican restaurant. We both had a lot on our minds. I was already planning on how to spend every moment with her that she wasn’t with her mom or dad. In case the threat was real and not some prank by a vindictive female, Gianna shouldn’t be alone at any time until the police figured out who was sending the letters.
There was also the Norah complication. Not an issue for me, only an insignificant instant of my life. However, to Gianna it might be a problem. I could understand her hurt, with the misery I’d suffered while thinking she was having sex with Gage.
Thank fuck I hadn’t nailed Norah.
We sat across from each other in a booth. The server, a college-age Hispanic guy brought us chips and salsa, taking our drink orders. Gianna leaned back into the padded seat, ignoring the chips and glaring at me.
“Have I ever told you how hot you are when you’re angry with me?”
She didn’t look the least bit amused. “What’s up with you and Norah?”
I ate a chip with salsa on it, chewing slowly to buy time. I’d have to tread carefully since I tended to be blunt and this was a delicate situation. Going for nonchalance, I said, “We hung out once.”
If anything, Gianna looked more suspicious. “I know we were technically broken up, but hanging out can mean a lot of different things with you, Caleb.”
Reaching for her hand, I held it tightly in mine. “I don’t want you hurt.”
Her head tilted and she got a vulnerable look in her eyes. “Did you do something that would hurt me?”
Aw hell, that look on her face killed me. “I didn’t have sex with her.”
“Her roommate said-”
I cut her off. “Her roommate? That little pudgy chick?”
She yanked her hand out of mine, putting both of hers under the table so I couldn’t get to them. “So you met her roommate?”
Realizing my mistake, I said, “Briefly.”
“Yeah, I heard you were busy getting naked with Norah. Just tell me the truth, Caleb.”
“You broke up with me,” I reminded her. The server showed up with our sodas and I ordered a couple random items off the menu for us.
Gianna’s eyes were on the tabletop. “I’m sorry I broke up with you, but I panicked.”
“I know, but you have to understand that I was going crazy for those two weeks.”
Her eyes lifted to mine. “Never mind, you don’t have to tell me anything.”
I wanted her worry about Norah done with, but I didn’t want it biting me in the ass later if the roommate contacted her again or she met Norah at the gallery. “I messed around with her.”