“Hey, what’s up?” she answered brightly.
“Can I stay at your place tonight? I just need some time to think.” Horns blared as I raced across the street, desperate to get as far away from my building as possible.
Sam was silent for a moment. “Of course. Is everything okay?”
“Not really,” I said as I hailed a cab. “Dallon and I had a fight and I’m worried it’s not going to work.”
“What happened?”
The cab stopped and I gave him Dallon’s address before answering. “It’s kind of hard to explain, Sam. I’m going to grab clothes and then head over. Will you be home?”
“Not until late. Just call and I’ll buzz you in. Make yourself at home and we’ll talk when I get home. OK?”
“Thanks, Sam. You’re a life saver.”
My heart was beating rapidly as the cab pulled up at Dallon’s. I knew he wouldn’t be home, but I still felt nervous about sneaking around his place. I didn’t look at the security guard as I passed, scanned my access card for the top floor and then waited in agony for the elevator to arrive. It took me less than five minutes to pack everything I needed. Like I had when I’d moved out of my hole, I threw multiple items in my bag before grabbing all my cosmetics from the bathroom.
I waited until I was in the next cab before texting Dallon that Arnold didn’t have to pick me up. Then I turned my cell off and pulled my legs up to my chest.
***
Sam and Luke’s apartment had a similar setup to our old one, but everything was nicer. The appliances were stainless steel and the counters granite. All our furniture had been Sam’s, so it was like being in a renovated version of our old place with someone else’s furniture thrown in. There were pictures of Sam and Luke everywhere: on the mantle above the fireplace, on bookshelves, on the kitchen counter, and in the hallway leading to the bedrooms. My stomach churned thinking about how normal their relationship was to mine.
Luke was the first to get home, and the first thing he did was order us a pizza. I was already in a pair of sweats and a long sleeved shirt and watching TV on the couch. Luke grabbed us both a beer before joining me.
“You okay?” he asked and when I nodded, left it at that, knowing I was going to be drilled by Sam later.
Curiosity was getting the best of me, so I turned my cell back on, curious to see if there would be any messages. There were a few missed calls which had all gone straight to voicemail, and one text message.
Where did you go? Please talk to me.
I didn’t respond. Talking to Dallon would be a bad move right now. I needed some time to think about what I wanted. I was still angry, and I didn’t want to do anything rash.
Sam arrived just in time for pizza, and we ate and watched The Simpsons before she whisked me into their study to set up the air mattress. The first thing she did after closing the door behind us was pull me into a hug.
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “Everything has just moved so fast and I need time away to think.”
I helped Sam pull the air mattress off the top shelf of the closet and we sat on the ground beside it as it inflated. This trusty mattress had been a bed for more than one drunken friend during our University years, and suddenly I yearned for easier times before when life had been about meeting new friends.
“What happened exactly?” Sam asked, breaking my thoughts.
Explaining in person wasn’t going to be any easier because there was no way I could get into what Dallon was about and what had transpired the night before. No matter how angry or hurt I was, I would never betray him like that. Revealing something like that about myself to Sam was also not a possibility.
“It’s just so intense between us,” I said carefully. “I think I want to get my own place.”
“What changed?”
“Dallon wanted to meet for lunch, but then my boss asked me to go, so I texted Dallon to let him know I couldn’t. BUT, he’d decided to surprise me with a bouquet of roses and we ran into him in the elevator.”
Sam frowned, confused. “So he was mad about that?”
I sighed. “Well, not exactly. He asked Ren if he could have a minute to talk to me alone, and then he tried to prevent me from going.”
Sam covered her mouth with her hands. “I would have killed him.”
“I almost did.”
“So I was right about him being controlling.”
You have no idea. “I was mortified, Sam. He said he didn’t like the way Ren looks at me. I got angry and asked if he thought Ren liking me was the reason I got hired, and he didn’t deny it! Later he texted that he doesn’t think it was the only reason. That was his idea of an apology.”
Sam shook her head in disbelief. “What a pompous douche.”
I smiled, remembering my nickname for him. King Douche. He’d earned it again.
“Meanwhile, we ran into his old flame last night, and he was pretty friendly toward her but doesn’t see anything wrong with that.” My cheeks heated slightly, knowing I hadn’t told Sam the whole truth, but it was as close as I could get.
“He likes you, Amy, so don’t worry about that,” Sam said, putting a hand on my shoulder. “And he isn’t the first man to be possessive, but he needs to learn how to control it. Doesn’t he understand that he could affect your job? It’s your job.”
I could tell Sam was thinking about what she’d do if someone were to embarrass her like that at her work. Sam’s career was one of the most important things in her life, more important than Luke, I suspected.
“It’s also incredibly insulting that he implied you didn’t get the job on your own merit,” she added, getting riled up again.
“Oh, I know,” I said, focusing on the expanding mattress. “That’s why I need time. He said I was talented, yet he jumped to this conclusion. Now I’m starting to worry he was right. I mean, does it make sense a stranger would take such an interest in my future? And he did ask me for lunch.”
Sam grasped my shoulders. “Don’t let an insecure man make you feel this way. You are talented. Your boss—Ren—picked up on that and hired you for that reason.” She shook her head angrily. “First you were feeling like Dallon was the one with everything to offer, and now that you’ve gotten this great opportunity, he’s threatening to wreck it by making you feel like you got it for the wrong reasons.”
Tears filled my eyes again. “This job… It means a lot to me. I feel like I’ve finally got a goal, like I’ve finally figured out what I should do with my life and I can make something of myself.” I hesitated before adding, “My parents actually said they’re proud of me.”
“Exactly. Don’t let him ruin that for you. You’re better than that.”
“I think I gave him the wrong impression of who I am,” I said quietly.
“What do you mean?” Sam turned off the mattress pump and looked at me curiously. Suddenly the room felt very silent. I scrambled to think of a way to explain it.
“Dallon has called all the shots. Everything he’s wanted, he’s gotten. I think it’s led him to believe that I’ll do whatever he wants.” I blushed and continued quickly, “Even when it comes to my work life.”
Sam smiled a half-smile. “Then there’s only one thing you can do to fix that: don’t let him.”
I nodded. I’d already mad
e that decision by coming here, but Sam’s confirmation gave me the courage I needed.
After putting sheets on the bed, we returned to the living room where Luke was now watching baseball. I took my phone out of my purse and re-read Dallon’s message, suddenly feeling guilty for letting him worry.
“I’ll just tell him I’m all right but I need some time,” I told Sam.
She didn’t look impressed. “Fine. And then turn off your phone.”
I texted back a quick message and hit send, hearing the resulting beep as if his phone were in the room with me.
Then there was a knock on the door.
Chapter Twenty-six
Sam and I looked at each other, and a slow, awkward smile spread across her face. I nodded, and she opened the door to reveal Dallon looking grave, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
Dallon King and his boundary issues.
“Don’t come in, I’ll go out,” I said and joined him in the hall, pulling the door closed behind me. I stalked away down the hall and into the staircase so we couldn’t be overheard. Spun around to face him, arms crossed.
“What are you doing here, Dallon?”
“It’s nice to see you too,” he said dryly. “I was worried about you. Or is that not allowed?”
“Worried about me or worried about what I’m doing?”
“It’s the same thing,” he said, glaring as if offended.
I put my hands on my hips. “No, it’s not. You said that the lines are blurred for you. You can’t control me in real life, Dallon. It’s my life. It’s my job.”
“I know.” He raked a hand through his hair. “I know I went too far. After our fight last night, I thought you might run.” He paused. “I’m sorry for what I said.”
“I’m not.”
He stiffened. “Why not?”
“Because it was the truth. It was what you really thought.”
He swallowed hard.
“How did you find me?”
He had the grace to look guilty. “Your cell. I installed GPS software on it.”