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I’m not sure what he’s talking about until he reaches into his pocket and takes out his phone. I guess it was on vibrate. “I would’ve turned it off,” he says, “but—”
“Loki?” I guess. “You want to be ready if there’s any news?”
“Exactly.” He sighs. “It’s James.”
“You can answer if you want,” I say.
“I feel like Ihaveto,” he replies. “Lately, he’s been acting strange. Withdrawn. Even more so than usual.”
“It’s fine,” I tell him.
He answers, bringing the phone to his ear. His demeanor changes, reminding me of the date with James, whenhisbehavior changed while on the phone with his dad. Fletcher becomes a father with concern etched into his features. I can tell he loves his son, despite the complications, despiteme.
“No, I won’t be home for dinner,” he says. “I’m…” He glances at me as if to saysorry. “Working on some gym stuff.”
It’s not like I can get annoyed about this. I’m the one who said we didn’t have to tell Mom. There’s no reason James should know, either. Still, I can’t help but wish for a life where we can be together openly, without shame or doubt.
“I’ll see you later,” Fletcher says, then hangs up. He places his phone on the table, leans back in his seat, and sighs heavily. “Lying to him doesn’t feel good. I know he can be an ass. He has his issues.”
“He’s still your son,” I say.
“You’re the last person I’d expect to stand up for him.”
“We had a bad date,” I say. “He was rude, but it’s not the end of the world. It’s not like he’s a monster or something like that.”
“No, I’m the monster,” Fletcher says.
I shake my head, struggling to determine what he could mean by that. Maybe he’s referencing his old job and stuff that happened overseas. “I don’t understand,” I tell him.
He gestures at the chandelier. No, the restaurant in general. Really, he’s gesturing to our date, the fact we’re sitting here together. “Look at us. James would freak if he knew I was here.”
“Would he, though?”
“I think he would.”
“But why? We literally went on one date. We metonce. Maybe he thought there would be a second chance when he sent me those flowers, but surely he gets the point now. Surely, he understands there was never anything between us, and there never will be.”
“I don’t know.” Fletcher runs a hand through his hair, making me wish I was doing it instead. I want to lean forward, trail my hand all over his body, and forget about the complications forever. “He said something that—” Fletcher cuts off when his phone vibrates on the table. “It’s Charles Malone, the PI.”
“With news about Loki?” I ask.
“Could be.”
I wave a frantic hand. “Then answer it.”
He picks up the phone. I don’t have to ask what Charles Malone says to know it’s serious. Fletcher changes entirely. He frightens me a little. It’s not something specific about him. It’s more about hisaura. If I were painting him in an impressionist style, he’d be surrounded by dark energy. He looks at me as if I’m not here, as if he’s seeing through me, witnessing something horrible.
“Where?” he says after a pause. “Yeah, I can be there. That’s lucky. I’m not far.” He hangs up and pushes his chair back. “I’m sorry, Samantha. I’ve got to go. Charles Malone has found where they’re keeping the dogs. It’s not far from here, luckily. It would’ve been an hour’s drive otherwise.”
That’s how long it took us to get out here, far enough from the area, so the chances of seeing James are low.
“Let me call you a cab,” he says.
“What?” I sit up. “No way. I’m going with you. I want to make sure Loki’s okay, too, and maybe you’ll need backup.”
He smiles indulgently, but the smile drops when I do something I never dreamed I’d be able to. Something about the date with my man has unlocked doors inside of me. Maybe they haven’t been thrown open all the way. Perhaps nerves are still inside me, but I can slam my hand on the table, lean forward, and stare seriously at him.
“Don’t smile at me like that. I’m not a little trick pony. I’m not a joke. I’m not talking aboutmerunning in there with guns blazing, but what if you need emotional support? Or backup in a different way? I don’t want to leave you.”
