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“I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will be. I’m just not ready to let you go yet. I don’t know when I’ll get to talk to you again.”
“I’ll sneak away as much as I can.”
“Temporarily. Soon, we’ll be together again, and nothing will come between us.”
“How are you so forgiving? I hurt you, Ryder. My mother is evil and threatening your family. I don’t know how you’re able to move past that?”
“Stay present with me, baby. That’s all in the past. Well, not your mother, but we’re working on that. Keep thinking of all the things we’re going to do once this nightmare is over. Make a list, and we’ll make it happen. I don’t care how big or small.”
“I like that idea.”
“Me too, sweets. Me too.”
“I’m getting ready to pull into my driveway.”
“Damn, you were close to home. Okay, well, sleep well and I’ll talk to you soon. I’ll hopefully have more for you in a day or so about the PI.”
“I love you, Ryder Kincaid.”
“I love you too, Jordyn Astor.” I end the call and drop my phone on the couch next to me. My girl is home, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let someone keep me away from her.
CHAPTER SIX
Jordyn
It’s been three weeks since I’ve seen Ryder, and that streak will be broken in a few short hours. I haven’t told him yet about my plans for this weekend, but I know from our chats that he has no plans. I hope it’s a pleasant surprise.
My best friend and former roommate, Gianna, is going to visit her grandmother in Birmingham, Alabama. She didn’t want to make the trip on her own and asked for me to ride with her. That’s the story. It’s not all untrue.
Gianna is going to Birmingham to see her grandma, but her cousin Talia is going with her. They did also invite me, but another idea popped into my head. After some brainstorming with my bestie, we devised a plan.
Gianna will take my cell phone with her. My mother can track where I am like we know she will. Gianna rented a car for me. My car will stay parked at her apartment all weekend. I don’t have to worry about my mother calling to check on me. She never does. At the most, I get a snarky text message here or there. I was in Paris for two years and talked to her a handful of times at best. This is ridiculous. I’m sneaking around like a damn teenager, but with a mother like mine, knowing what she’s capable of, we have to do it this way until we can find something to stop her.
What’s even more ridiculous is that my mother is still refusing to let me get a job. Why bother paying for my education and allowing me to go to Paris—no, insisting I go—if I’m not allowed to utilize my education?
Oh, that’s right, it’s for bragging rights to all her socialite friends.
That’s okay, though. I worked while I was living in Paris and saved up every penny. My parents paid for everything. I was forced to go when I wanted to stay in the States with Ryder. So I lived frugally and saved money from my allowance as well. My father is still giving me a stipend, and that, too, gets pulled into a separate account.
I may have to run, and I need money to do that.
Shaking out of my thoughts, I focus on the here and now. On the present, and that is Ryder. We have a plan. We’ll leave together in the first rental, and drive to the mall for me to slip into the second, and I can hightail it out of town.
Toward Willow River.
Toward Ryder.
It’s the perfect chance to spend the entire weekend with him. Gianna will respond to any messages. She’s even going to take a picture so I can tell her how to reply. It’s perfect, and it’s been hard for me to hide my excitement.
“Are you packed?” My mother appears in the doorway of my bedroom at my parents’ place.
“Not yet.” Lies. I’ve been packed since we finalized the plans, but she can’t know that I’m excited.
“I swear, Jordyn. You are so last minute. You can’t have Gianna waiting on you.”
“We’re not leaving for a few hours.” Trust me, Mother, I’ve been counting down the seconds.
“Still. You should pack so you can go over everything and make sure you didn’t miss anything.”
“We’re just going to her grandma’s.”
“Always be prepared, Jordyn. I taught you better than that.”
“I know. I’ll pack now.” I was prepared for this conversation. You don’t grow up with a control freak like my mother and not learn her quirks. I disappear into my closet and pull out my suitcase and begin to pack.
“Make sure you pack options. You are representing the Astor name every time you step outside of this house.”
