Nope. I shook my head and held a hand to his chest, pushing him back a step. “Jake.”
He had a twinkle in his eye. “But I promise you, as an oath from Jake Alexander Monroe to you, Jo…slyn…”
“Really?”
“Joslyn Jo.” He winked at me. “Why don’t you ever use your full name?” He put one hand over his chest. “I solemnly swear, that I am here, in the attendance of your company, not as a future fling, one-night stand, or one-year stand”—a second wink—“but as a person with the sole agenda of becoming friends.” His hand lowered, as did his voice, and he moved back to me. “I just want to be your friend again, Jo. For real, I miss that most of all.”
“Just friendship?”
“Really.” He touched his finger to his mouth, and then he made the shape of a cross in the air. “My promise, before God and all.”
I groaned, but I couldn’t hold back the grin that was fighting to be let out. “I have a feeling that your promises aren’t going to hold up.”
“Yeah, well…” He shrugged. “Everyone sins, right? That’s what confession is for.”
I shook my head. “Just friends, right?”
“I promise.”
It wasn’t going to last.
Jake stepped close, lifting his arms in the air before circling them around my body. He waited before I nodded, then hugged me tight to him. I breathed him in. Pine and vanilla—his old scent. A month ago, my alarms would’ve been going off but not anymore now.
Something had changed.
Still holding me, he rocked me back and forth and asked close to my ear, “You okay?”
I clasped on to him and whispered back, “I think so.”
“Good.” One more tight squeeze, and then he let me go. He tapped on my chin. “You’re back at your old job, huh?”
Laughing, I hit his arm. “I am. Want to walk me home?”
He made a tsking sound and shook his head. “You’re a little slow on this friendship thing. Walking home with you is a requirement of being the best bud.” He cocked his head to wink down at me. “Especially if there’s wine at the end of the walk.” He held his elbow out, and after a slight hesitation, I linked mine with his. My apartment was a few blocks away, and after a really long time, I was glad that Jake was with me. As we headed down the sidewalk, I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder.
Was Kian still out there? Was he watching?
More importantly, what did he want with me?
The liquor store was on the way home, so we stopped to get wine in case there wasn’t any at home. I couldn’t remember, and when we got to my apartment, Erica squealed over the wine. She didn’t seem excited to see Jake, but didn’t say anything. As soon as there was an opening, I excused myself and slipped away to my bedroom. Grabbing my phone, I perched on my window frame. There was enough room, so I could completely sit there. I pulled my knees to my chest, and then I opened my phone.
I needed to call Snark and report Kian’s arrival, but when I opened my phone, instead of seeing the blank screen that I usually did, there was a text message.
I didn’t recognize the number.
I’d like to talk.
That was it, nothing more, but I knew whom it was from. A little flutter started in my chest.
“They’re going to blame everything on you.”
Hearing Snark’s reminder, I ignored Kian’s text and sent Snark a text instead.
Need to talk. He texted me.
I held the phone, waiting, and it buzzed seconds later.
Same booth. Now.
I knew if I made up an excuse to leave the apartment, Jake would go with me. He’d even go to hold tampons if I used the feminine hygiene route, so I went a different way.
I ninja-ed my way from my bedroom. Literally.
I faked being sick, even pretending that I had to vomit suddenly from the doorway. My performance was Oscar-worthy. I grabbed my stomach, held my breath long enough to start seeing some stars, and made a mad dash to the bathroom. After that, Erica did all the work. If there was one thing my roommate hated, it was puking. She was the one to ban me to my room for the night, and once that was done, I was good to go.
Still. To be safe, I locked the door and shoved a chair underneath the doorknob. Heading for the window, I climbed onto the fire escape and left a quarter between my window so it looked closed, but wasn’t. It would shut, but it wouldn’t lock me out.
Hurrying down till the last step in the stairs, it wasn’t close enough to jump, so I climbed the rest of the way. My building was old, so there were grooves in the brick wall, big enough where I could put my hands and feet. Once my feet touched ground, I grabbed a cab, and when I got to Mel’s Diner, Snark was already there. Again.
Sliding into my side of the booth, I didn’t ask. I grabbed his cup of coffee and put some creamer in there.
“Hey.” He dropped a newspaper he’d been reading. “That’s mine.”
“Not this time.” I placed my phone onto the table.
Snark’s gaze fell to it, and the issue about the coffee was dropped. He pointed to it. “That’s how he contacted you?”
“He texted me.” I slid the phone to him.
He picked it up and read the text before writing down the phone number and giving it back. “That was it?”
I opened my mouth, ready to tell him about the visit, but I couldn’t. The words died in my throat, and I lifted the coffee to take a sip instead. What was I doing? Even though the liquid was likely burning my throat, I didn’t feel it. I was withholding information from him, information that I knew he would freak out about if he knew. Gripping the mug tighter, I forced myself to lower it back to the table. I couldn’t tell him. But why? Why couldn’t I do it?
“Jo?” His eyebrows lifted. He folded his hands in front of him on the table and pinned me down with his gaze. “Was that it?”
“Yes.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “You sure?”
My throat felt pinched, and I swallowed painfully. “Isn’t that enough? You said he’d get in touch with me. Wh-what should I do if he gets in contact with me again?”
“Like if he tries to see you?”
I glanced away. “Yeah. What then?” My fingers curled tighter around the mug.
“Well then, we’d have a different situation on our hands.”
I swung my gaze back. “What do you mean?”
“That boy sliced and diced your foster father. He’s a whole different creature than what the media has said he is, and his team knows it. He knows it. And you and I both know it. If he does find you, do not talk to him.”
I jerked my head up and down. “Okay.”
“You’ll let me know if that happens?”
My eyes fell down to my lap. It was like he already knew. I could hear the suspicion in his voice…but, no, there was no way he could know.
I put my phone into my pocket. “I will.”
He pointed at where I had put the phone. “Do not text him back.”
“I won’t.”
Reaching over, he took my coffee back. “This is mine.”
“Okay.” I let out a soft laugh.
A waitress came over with her pad and pen ready. As she asked for my order, I looked to Snark, and he nodded. He said, “Go ahead. Get something to eat, and I’ll give you a ride back home.”
“Really?”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s too damn late for you to be traveling alone anyways.”
“Thanks.” My lips twitched, a grin forming, as I gave my order.
When the waitress left, Snark didn’t bring up the text message. He didn’t push to see if there was anything I was holding back, and I was thankful. Leaning back in the booth, I relaxed for the first time all day.
It wasn’t until he pulled into my alley when he brought Kian up again. His hand was resting on the steering wheel, and I’d just unbuckled my seat belt when he asked, “You sure there’s nothing else?”