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I think about arguing with her further, but she looks like she’s not going to put up with that. So I sit down again next to Liz.
“My apologies. Please continue,” I say obligingly. I’m surprised at how well I’m able to control my voice.
“Thank you.” She smirks. “Now, as I was saying. I occasionally work with a police detective friend, and I have contacted him. He’s going to discreetly open up a case and will be in touch with you shortly. However, I’m still going to put around-the-clock surveillance on Mrs. Ellington. She won’t have the opportunity to get near you, Liz.”
“This is all my fault,” Liz whispers. “That poor woman thinks I’m having an affair with her husband.”
I take Liz’s hand. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. She’s not well and needs help.”
“I need to talk to Trent about this. I have to explain to him that she’s not stable,” Liz says. “What if she tries to harm him?”
“Ms. Blakely, I must caution you against saying anything to him,” Peyton warns. “There’s no reason to think she wants to harm him. You’re the target. We can’t run the risk that he’d inadvertently alert his wife that we are watching her. It’s not like he isn’t already aware of her mental instability.”
“But he could be in danger, too,” Liz insists.
“We will have surveillance on her. If we find a reason to suspect he’s in danger, we will step in.”
Liz is being targeted, and all she’s worried about is Trent. It’s enough to piss me off. It seems like that fucker’s name comes up in every damn discussion lately.
Peyton stands and gathers her photos. “Don’t worry. We’ll work with the authorities on this and get Mrs. Ellington the help she needs. Please continue to be diligent and aware of your surroundings, but I believe we are nearing the end of all of this.”
I take Peyton’s hand in a firm shake and lead her to the door. “I appreciate your help and look forward to the next update.”
After seeing her out, I turn around to talk to Liz, only to find she’s no longer on the couch. I hear the door to her room click softly closed. I guess that’s her way of saying that she doesn’t have anything else to say to me.
She’s so aggravating with her hot and cold. I don’t understand it. After the amazing night together, I thought we were finally on the same page. I thought we’d be able to return to how things used to be. Now we’re barely on speaking terms again, and she wants to move out.
If she wants to move on, then so be it. I will, too. I’m not going to spend my time pining for someone who doesn’t want to be with me.
Chapter 17
Ethan
My relationship with Liz has been super rocky. She talks to me when we are together, but the topics are always neutral. Anytime I’ve tried to be more serious, she’s steered the conversation in another direction. It’s been that way ever since we slept together a week ago.
Liz has been in her room most of the day, most likely avoiding me. She came out for a couple of hours to play with Matthew but retreated back into her room once he went down for a nap.
Tonight I’m going to hang out with my brother Dax. We’re supposed to meet at a bar for a drink. I’m halfway wondering if it’ll be another damn intervention. I don’t think I can handle my brothers bashing on me again.
I finish getting ready and head out to talk to Liz.
She’s in the kitchen, getting a snack. Her eyes run up and down my body as she sees me. “Hey. You look nice. Are you going out?”
“Yeah, just going out with . . . well, yeah. I have plans. I’m going to be out pretty late, so don’t wait up.”
Her body tenses up, and she quickly averts her eyes to avoid looking at me. She isn’t fast enough, though. I catch her wince. Good. I don’t even feel the slightest bit guilty for implying that I’m going out on a date.
“Do you think you’ll be coming home tonight at all? I can save you some dinner,” she asks hesitantly.
Now would be the time to tell her I’m going out with my brother.
Then again, why should she care anyway? Why would she care if I went out and screwed an entire cheerleading team?
“Depends on how things go, if you know what I mean. But, yeah, I doubt I’ll be home tonight. Don’t worry about saving me dinner.”
She tries to hide the quick flash of pain and sadness in her eyes, but she’s not fast enough. My chest tightens painfully as a stab of guilt hits me. I have to remind myself that she wanted this. She’s the one who turned me down. It’s not like I’m lying to her. If she assumes I’m going out with another woman, that’s on her.
So why do I feel so bad?
