Before I can call Drew, his name pops up on my screen with a loud ring. It scares the shit out of me and I nearly drop it before I can answer it. Tears start to surface at how relieved I am to hear his voice. He reassures me that everything will be okay and that he’s on his way home.
But just in case, I head back into the mudroom and lock myself in there until he’s back.
“Court?” I hear him yell ten minutes later.
I unlock the door and pop my head out. “In here!”
“Babe, what are you doing in here?” He opens the door wider, looking around.
“I think she’s in the house,” I whisper. “I heard a noise in the bathroom.”
“When?”
“Right after you called.”
He gives me a look and then says, “Hold on.” He shuts the door and I can hear his footsteps moving away from the mudroom. After a minute, he returns, peeking around the door. “What kind of noise was it?”
“Like a loud banging, I guess. I read the card that said she was watching me then I heard the noise coming from the bathroom.”
“A noise like your curling iron hitting the floor?” He holds it up for me to see. “It fell off your hook.”
My shoulders fall when I realize I’m overreacted for nothing. I can’t believe I let her stupid note get to me. It’s exactly what she wanted.
“I’m an idiot.” I deadpan, taking the curling iron from his hand. “I walked right into her trap.”
“Sweetheart, you couldn’t have known.” He’s trying to make me feel better, which is sweet, but nothing could make me feel better right now. I feel so stupid.
“She was here.”
“Yes,” he confirms. “She was parked in the driveway when I was heading out to the gym. I told her to leave or I’d call the cops. She called my bluff, so I started to call and that’s when she left. She knows I’m not messing around.”
“Well, according to her note, she’s ‘watching’ me and I need to ‘prepare’ myself.” I roll my eyes back, clenching my teeth.
“I’ll take it to Logan and he can add it to her growing file. The more we get on her, the better for our case.”
“And then what?”
“Then we can press charges and she doesn’t win.”
I exhale a breath of relief although I’m not really sure I’ll ever completely feel relief.
“Logan is working closely with the LVPD and they’re looking through surveillance footage to make sure we find the guy helping her.”
“And what if they don’t?”
“They will.” He cups my face and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I won’t let you down, okay? I promise.”
I mold my body into his chest and feel comfort in his arms. The more I think about the fear she’s put in my head, the angrier I become. I’m not a pushover and I can’t believe I let her threats get to me. If she wants a war, she’s going to get one.
Drew and I spent the rest of the night together, which makes everything feel better. Falling asleep in his arms put me back at ease, and by Wednesday morning, I wake up refreshed and ready to kick the day’s ass.
Travis makes sure to keep me extra busy today, which is great for my mind, but not great for my feet. These new platform shoes are squeezing my feet and making my heels sore as hell. Once I finally sit down at my desk, I slip them off and send Kayla a text.
C: Are you busy tonight? I need a pedicure BADLY.
K: I’m volunteering at the shelter until 6. I can meet you after?
C: Perfect! That’ll give me time to stop for a coffee first.
K: Like you needed an excuse anyway. I’ll take a skinny latte, not that you asked.
C: Ha! Sorry! My brain is mush today. I’ll meet you there around 6:15 with coffee in hand!
I decide to call Viola on my lunch break and see if there’s any chance she can get away for an hour or two tonight.
“Hey!” she greets as soon as she picks up. “Everything okay?”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, fine. Any possibility you’d be able to come with Kayla and me to get pedicures tonight?”
“Tonight?” she asks and I hear the high pitch in her tone. I know she’s devoted to her kids and tucking them in every night, but I’m starting to forget what she looks like.
“Yeah, around six.”
“Ginny, I said don’t touch that!” she screams into my ear and I pull the phone away at the sound. “Ginny Rose! One… two…” she starts to slowly count until I hear Ginny screaming her lungs out.
“Did I call at a bad time?” I cringe at the loudness of the chaos happening in the background.
“No. It’s just lunchtime.”
I laugh. “Well, okay. Sounds a little crazy.”