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But he’s not here as I’m scanning it now.
This hotel room? I have the same unease as I did in the one this morning.
Like TJ was here, but that’s impossible.
The service cleaned the room. My luggage is still on the chair. The dress Redix got me still hangs in the open closet. The gift box, too, it’s sitting on the desk… but the car key is gone.
And so is Redix.
I call him. And three more times that night. It keeps going to voicemail. Finally, at two a.m. I leave him a message:
“Hey. Are you okay? Call me, please.” I pause, staring at the rolling black ocean. “I love you.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Dear Candy Cade,
I’m so sorry.
This fucking journal. It’s not working.
This swanky suite. I don’t want to be alone in it.
I had to get out of there. I had to take the car I gave you and drive so damn fast off that island and to Atlanta because I’m never going back there again.
What the fuck was I thinking?
I had my shit together. I had you. I had everything I’ve dreamed of for us, for so damn long.
And then it happened.
I was shaking hands, thanking the foursomes lined up in golf carts for their support. The tournament was going great. I even dressed for it. I wore a damn navy polo with white shorts to look the preppy part, like a man you could donate your thousands to.
I’d do anything for those crisis centers.
Then a hand grabbed mine. I glanced at his eyes before I looked down at his choking grip. It was trying to hurt me. And I saw it.
The tattoo.
The mudflap girl.
Our grasp strangled while I looked back at him but didn’t recognize his face.
But fuck me, Cade. He had your necklace on.
It was him. The guy who drove. The guy who held me down.
I jerked my fist away, about to punch him with it.
Then I realized Gentry sat beside him. And TJ, looking like shit warmed over, sat behind them on the cart.
All three stared me down, and I was back on the beach with them, memories flashing like lethal grenades in my mind.
“We always enjoy your hospitality, Mr. Dean.” Gentry always sounds evil.
“How’s your wife?” I asked him. “I can tell she wants my hospitality.”
Fuck them. I didn’t let them see it, Cade. I glared back, ready to rip them apart. I swear I can now.
