Jace jumped out and pulled his driver from the bag before heading over to the tee. "So youre saying Im gonna get a nice fat paycheck for being on this new board," Jace drawled.
"Yeah, thats what Im saying," I replied, pulling the driver from my bag.
"Good. Because Im gonna propose to Bethy and my family is gonna shit a brick. I can kiss my monthly income good-bye. I need to start using this education my father paid so handsomely for. "
I stopped walking. Had I just heard him right? "Did you just say propose?"
Jace looked up from his stance over the ball and nodded.
"Wow," was all I could think of to say. I hadnt expected that.
"I love her. Shes it for me. "
I stood there silently as Jace hit the ball. He stepped back and glanced over at me. "She doesnt know yet. Im trying to think of a romantic way to do it. "
This golf game had just gotten a lot more interesting.
I texted Della before my three oclock meeting but she didnt respond before the lawyer arrived. Once my meeting was over and there was still no response, I dialed her number. I hadnt seen her all day. Neither had anyone I asked. Something felt wrong.
"Im sorry, but the number you have dialed has been disconnected . . . " I jerked my phone back and looked down to make sure Id dialed Dellas number. I had.
I grabbed my keys and walked past Vince without a word. My mind was running wild. Why would Dellas phone be disconnected? Had she forgotten to pay the bill? Was she okay?
As I got to the house, every bad scenario ran through my head. The car Id given Della when shed come back to Rosemary with me was sitting in the drive. She hadnt left the house today. My heart raced as I ran up the steps and swung the door open.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
"Della? Baby? You okay?" I called out as I walked down the hall toward the living room. I glanced into the kitchen as I passed and almost continued on when I saw a single piece of paper and a pen lying on the counter. They hadnt been there that morning.
"Della?" I called out again, walking on toward the living room and out onto the balcony. The bedroom was empty. It was also bare. There were no heels lying by the door or jewelry on the dresser. I stood in the doorway, afraid to walk inside and look in the closet.
I turned and headed back to the kitchen. The note would explain this. She could have cleaned up before she went shopping with Blaire. That made sense.
Reaching for the paper, I picked it up and began to read. With each word, my world began to slowly fall away. The small, ripped piece of notebook paper held the only words that could completely destroy me.
I let it fall to the floor as I stood frozen. I didnt want to touch it. I didnt want to see it. The words were imprinted in my head. Id never be able to make them go away. I couldnt move. I couldnt breathe.
Page 16
Della
Tripp hadnt said much when he came to get me. He had just asked if I was sure, and when Id said yes he had taken my bag and put it in the compartment of his bike before handing me a helmet and a leather jacket. I put both on.
We had been riding for about two hours when he pulled into a gas station. My legs were slightly numb. I wasnt sure I could walk when I got off that thing. Tripp got off and then took my helmet and hung it on the bike. I didnt ask him why he wasnt wearing a helmet but I was glad he had one for me to wear. He then held his hand out to help me off. I managed to sling my leg over the bike and held on to both his hands as I stood up.
"Ouch," I said with a weak smile.
He grinned. "Yeah, youll get used to it," he told me, then nodded his head toward the store. "Go in, use the restroom, and get yourself something to eat and drink. Well take a little break before we go any farther. "
I had focused on the road and the cars we passed. Id managed to fight off any thoughts of Woods. But they were there in my head, teasing me. They wanted to haunt me. They wanted to break me. He would know soon that I was gone. "Where are we going?" I asked, trying to think of anything other than Woods.
"Not sure. Were just riding. I thought you might need that right now. Im heading north. I figure well find somewhere interesting by bedtime to stop at. "
This was what I needed. I nodded. "Okay. "
"I gotta fill up," he told me, and I headed inside the store. I would need to call Braden now. I hadnt told her I was leaving Woods. She wouldnt have seen it my way. But once Woods knew I was gone he would call her first. She would be worried. I should prepare her. I slipped my phone out of my pocket and remembered Id had it switched off. I didnt want to be traceable. I would reactivate it in the next big city. A new number. One no one knew.
After using the restroom I grabbed a bottle of water and some Cheetos, paid, and headed outside to sit at a picnic table that sat in a grassy area.
Tripp glanced over at me before he went inside and did the same. By the time he came outside I was finished with my bag of Cheetos. He dropped a candy bar, a bag of peanuts, some beef jerky, and a bag of gummy worms on the table. "Eat some more," he said before picking up the beef jerky and taking a bite of it.
I reached for the candy bar and broke it in half before eating it. We ate in silence. I was afraid to try to talk to him. He wanted to know why I was doing this. He didnt think I should. I could tell by the way he was acting.
"He didnt know you were leaving. Didnt even have a clue. That sucks, Della. It really does. The dudes gonna take this real hard. "
I stopped eating and stood up. "I cant think about that right now, okay? I need to think about other things. Not that. Its what was best for him. Thats all I can tell you. Please, lets not talk about it. "
Tripp let out a weary sigh, then nodded. "Fine. We wont talk about it. Not right now, anyway. Eat some worms, theyre good for you," he said with a smirk as he pushed the bag of gummy worms toward me.
"Im not hungry. " I wasnt. I felt sick now.
"Fine. Ill take this with us. Youll get hungry again soon. You barely ate anything. "
"Can I use your phone to call my friend Braden?"
Tripp nodded and pulled his phone out of his pocket to hand it to me.
"Thanks," I replied as I took it from him.
I walked far enough away that he wouldnt hear me. I was going to lie to Braden some, if only to keep her from telling Woods the truth.
Dialing her number, I held my breath, hoping that I could find a way to tell her and make it believable. She would go straight to Woods with my location and reason for leaving if she knew the truth.
"Hello?" Bradens voice sounded curious. She didnt recognize the number.
"Its me," I said into the phone.
"Della? Where are you?"
"Im traveling the world. Living life. Woodss life isnt what I want for myself. I need adventure. "
Braden didnt respond. She was thinking. I knew the look on her face even though I couldnt see it.
"What happened? Stop bullshitting me and tell me where you are and whats wrong. " I was a horrible liar and Braden knew me better than anyone.
"Im traveling. Im not alone and Im okay. I just need some time. Ill check in when I can but I need time to move on from things. This is why I got in your car and took off to begin with, anyway. Woods changed that but it was only temporary. I need to do this for me. "
"Im still calling bullshit. I dont believe you but I wont push. Call me when you can, and be safe. Can I trust who youre with to keep you safe?"
"Yes," I replied.
"You wont tell me who it is?"
"No. I need you to not tell Woods that you talked to me. Tell him nothing. He will come after me and I dont want him to. "
Braden let out a small growl of frustration. "He loves you, Della," she said.
"And I love him. But its time I lived. I cant be locked up in that small town. "
"I hope youre not making the biggest mistake of your life," she said in a defeated tone.
"It was the best chapter. I
ll have more chapters though. "
"I love you," Braden said.
"I love you, too," I replied.
"Call me soon. "
"I will. "
I hung up and walked back over to Tripp, who was watching me.
"Thanks," I said, handing back his phone.
"Did you have yours turned off so he couldnt track you?" he asked, standing up.
I nodded.
"Damn, girl. You didnt leave the boy a bone, did you?"
"Can we go? I just want to ride. "