“What’s going on?”
Before answering me, he cradles my jaw and plants a soft kiss on my lips.
“Vorheis just called me.” He pauses, taking a breath. “Matt confessed to following you, but denied having anything to do with the other incidents. They arrested him for reckless driving and attempted vehicular assault.”
I can’t say I’m surprised. As soon as they showed me the proof that Matt was the driver, my gut was telling me he wasn’t the one responsible for vandalizing my car.
“And Ben?” I hesitate.
If Ben is behind anything, it might break my heart a little.He’s been a hard worker, and he’s a sweet kid. I would hate to be wrong about him.
Dominic drops his head as he rubs the back of his neck. “All clear. According to the GPS on his cell, he was home when your car was vandalized and Paisley and Faith said they were with him the entire time when the flower and photo were left on your car.”
It’s both good and bad news. I didn’t want it to be Ben, but all that means is we still don’t have answers.
I look at Dominic. At the worry creased on his forehead, at the hollowness under his eyes. He’s stressed, and I can’t help but feel responsible.
“So, what now?”
He shrugs, the kind of shrug that looks defeated. “Back to square one, I guess.” He moves toward the living room and slumps onto the couch, resting his forehead in his hands. “On top of that, the Delmar case keeps getting colder and colder. All our leads have dried up.”
I wish there was something I could say to make things better, to ease the burden he’s carrying, but I come up short. Some cases take years to solve. Some never get solved. There’s nothing I can say to make him feel better about either situation. It’s a helpless feeling.
“You know what we need?” I jump up to stand.
His neck rolls to meet my eyes. “What?”
I extend my hand out to him and he grabs it, letting me pull him up. “Breakfast.”
He smiles, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. “You’re right, Ellie girl.”
We spend the day together, avoiding discussing the heaviness surrounding us. We’re just going through the motions—holding our breaths until something comes along to knock the wind out again.
I woke up this morning, determined to be brave, and tellDominic the truth. After he told me he loved me, the words were on my tongue, desperate to come out. I love him. Of course I love him, I’ve always loved him.
But as much as I want to tell him, now isn’t the time. Not with how sullen he’s been, not with how unsure our lives feel right now. When I tell him I love him, I want the moment to only be about us. So, until the timing is right, I’ll wait.
CHAPTER 55
Elyse
DO YOU REMEMBER?
PRESENT
The house feels too quiet once Dominic leaves for work.
As much as I hate it when he’s on nights, I feel oddly energized despite the sun beginning to drop behind the mountain. I grab my laptop and a fresh notebook from the kitchen counter and set up at the dining table, switching on a nearby lamp and lighting my favorite candle.
One of the weddings I have booked for June has a massive budget, and with everything that’s been going on, I haven’t had the bandwidth to give it the attention it deserves. But tonight I’m forcing myself to drown everything out, and focus on it.
The latest developments on my case have made it hard to focus. Every new discovery is dead end after dead end.
Throwing myself into something creative is just what I need to stay distracted until Dominic gets home.
I scroll through the bride’s Pinterest board for inspiration, jotting notes as ideas start forming. With one click, I queue upone of my throwback playlists, low but just loud enough to fill the silence. The rhythm helps steady my thoughts, and soon I’m sketching centerpiece arrangements and brainstorming color palettes.
The notes of a familiar song drift through the room, and I hum along, my pen moving quickly across the paper.
