Page 18 of Protect My Heart

My heart tightens into a sad little ball. I was a damned fool. I let myself be swayed by a six-pack and some addictive smelling pheromones.

I wrap myself in my sheet and go in search of my phone. I can’t help it if I glance around my small apartment as I go, looking for any sign that he left me a note. But I see nothing.

More tightening in my chest and I wince.

Stupid, stupid me.

I eventually find my phone; it’s still in my purse that I dropped by my front door last night.

I’ve got a missed call from my dad and Jade. Then a text from Jade.

JADE: Call me when you can.

I push the button to put the call through and it barely rings before she answers.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“Uh, yeah, I guess. I mean I’m a little pissed that he went on with that whole romantic charade just to get me naked again, but what can I say? I’m a fool who got tempted by the sight of a perfect pair of shoulders.”

“Wait, what?” Jade asks. “I’m talking about the fire, Daph.”

Suddenly I can’t breathe. “What fire?” I ask.

“There’s a big wildfire out on county road one-forty-four. They called everyone in.”

The panic is practically crawling up my throat. “Are there injuries? Fatalities? Jade, what aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing like that. I just know you worry any time that Garrett is on a call. I figured it might be even worse with your man out there.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to deny those words. To tell her that Fletcher isn’t my man. But it would be a damned lie. I have no idea how he truly feels about me. It makes no sense, but I know without a shred of doubt that I’m in love with him.

When did it happen? That first look when our eyes locked through my balcony door? His quiet greeting as we passed each other on the ice cream aisle? That sweet, gentle kiss I ridiculed him about from the BINGO game? Maybe all of those moments.

A soul whisper.

That phrase pulls at me. It feels like something my mama used to say, but my memories of her are so fuzzy. Like hazy pictures. Or trying to see through dense fog.

“Jade, I’ll call you back.” I hang up and quickly call my dad.

“Hey baby girl,” he greets. “I guess you heard about the fire?”

“Yeah, do you have an update?”

“They’ve got it about eighty percent contained so it’s looking good. Thankfully no structures were damaged since it was mostly a field.”

Some of the panic unbunches around my shoulders. “Daddy, does the phrase ‘soul whisper’ mean anything to you?”

“Yeah, darlin, your mama used to say that.”

“What does it mean?” I ask.

He blows out a breath. “She had this theory that when your heart meets your other half, that your soul whispers to you to let you know. She said for some people the whisper has to come louder, but for others they just know.”

“Is that how it happened with y’all?”

“I just knew. The moment your mama smiled at me in the third grade with her pigtails and freckles, I was a goner. It took longer for her.” He chuckles fondly. “She could be so stubborn sometimes. You’re a lot like her, actually.”

“I think I heard it, Daddy,” I say.