Page 157 of Black Light: Cured

A iden

PACING THE FLOOR OF MY RENTAL UNIT, I STARE DOWN AT MY LAPTOP, STARING AT THE SCREEN AS I

watch the progress of the mail truck. How stupid was I to lose my phone in Dallas? It was the only

thing keeping me sane. Granted, listening to her voicemail on repeat wasn’t doing me any mental

favors.

Somehow, I didn’t think me leaving would hit her that hard. I guess I got it in my head that she

didn’t care for me as much as I did for her but listening to her passionate cries had me rethinking

every course of action. It was stupid to just leave her like that.

But if I told her in person, then how would she have been able to say no if she didn’t really want

to go?

I’m all for manipulation, but not like this. Not when it’s our lives, our careers. Not when she

already told me she didn’t want to leave. To push the issue would be to throw out everything she’s

said about her connections in the city. She doesn’t want to leave D.C.

That knowledge still sits heavy in my gut. There are so many things out here that I think she’ll

enjoy, but not at the expense of her own life.

When the bell rings, I’m nearly beside myself. I need to hear her voice again, even if it’s just from

that stupid voicemail. It’s something I can hold onto, something I can play back when I start to doubt

myself. Because, as much as this hurts her now, coming with me when it’s not what she really wants

would hurt her more in the end.

She’s so distraught, so hurt, and it kills me that I caused that. Doubt niggles at my brain as I tear

my package out of the delivery driver’s hand and rip into it to grab my new phone. Once everything is

set back up, I look through both the missed calls, texts, and voice messages. Great. Now everyone

knows. Pretty much everyone from Black Light has called me or texted me, letting their opinions be

known.

It’s all well and good for them to chastise me, but they never gave it a second thought when they

put themselves on her books after a long day. They didn’t give two shits about her well-being when

they stopped her outside of a scene and asked for help with various aches and pains.

They used her.

They may not have seen it as such since Lila allowed it, but I saw it.

I would have stepped in and stopped her, but she’d insisted. And now, the high and mighty