Jesus, this is Fox Grove. I moved away from the city to a quiet town with “low to no crime” to avoid things like this. Well, not THIS exactly but ... what the fuck!
Pulling out my cell phone I dial the one person I need right now.
He picks up immediately. “Good morning, baby. How are you?” Concern is thick in his voice, and I know he will be even more worried when I tell him my news.
“Hey, yeah. Thank you so much for the flowers and the card. They’re lovely,” I try to say calmly, even though the longer I look at my car the more panicked I feel.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t wake up next to you today, but I just needed you to know I was thinking about you—I am always thinking about you,” he rasps.
“I miss you,” I choke out.
“I miss you, too, beautiful. Why don’t you come down to the station and hang out for a little while? You can bring some work here if you need to,” Remington suggests hopefully.
“Remington, I was going to come. I was actually just on my way but—” I pause.
Hearing my distress, Remington is on high alert. “What’s wrong, Lainey? What happened?”
Holding back a sob I say, “My car, when I came outside, Remington, someone spray painted my car.”
“What the hell!” he shouts, and I hear a chair screech, and other guys in the background can be heard voicing concern.
“It’s red and says ‘whore’ all along the side of my car, in huge letters,” I whisper to him.
“Baby, listen to me. Donottouch anything. Go back inside, lock the door, and I will be home soon,” Remington tells me with a demanding calmness.
“You can’t come home! You’re working. I will try to call my insurance and figure it out. Have it towed or something.” I do not want to be a burden to him, and this isn’t his problem; the problem is me obviously.
“No, Lainey. This is a crime, and we are going to be reporting it. Sit tight, I’m on my way. Go inside, promise me,” he demands again.
“I promise.” I nod, even though he can’t see me.
“Good girl.” His reply has a shiver running up my spine as I shut and lock the front door.
Less than ten minutes later I am looking out the front window and Remington comes flying up to the house in his black truck. He quickly gets out, Eli tumbling from the passenger side as they rush over to examine my car. A look of pure anger ignites both of their handsome faces. Remington’s rage makes him seem even larger and holds a fury that Eli can’t match.
He looks up at the house and locks eyes with me through the window, which has his feet quickly moving my way. I open the front door and his arms are around me instantly. I am so sick of crying, but I can’t stop the tears from coming. The past twenty-four hours have been too much.
“I’m here, I’m here,” Remington rumbles into my hair, kissing my temple and stroking my back. “It’ll be okay, baby.”
“Why would someone do this?” I ask, pulling back to look up at Remington as Eli joins us in the house, closing the door behind him.
“Hey, Lainey,” Eli says, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. “I am so sorry.”
“Thanks, Eli. I appreciate you coming, too.” I never expected anyone else to come, or care.
“The whole station wanted to storm over here, but we told them we’d keep ’em updated,” Eli says.
I bury my face in my hands and groan. “Oh my God, they all know? This is so embarrassing.”
Remington winds his hands around my wrists, and I look up at his face. He looks angry and I start to worry. “Lainey, you listen to me right now.Youhave nothing to be embarrassed about. This is not your fault. This is my fault.”
Now I know his anger is more toward himself than me, but I don’t understand why.
“Why would this be your fault?” I ask Remington and glance at Eli, who’s rubbing his jaw and looking at his best friend with concern.
“Baby, there is onlyoneperson that I can think of that would vandalize your car. And seeing what they wrote only confirmed their jealousy and hate.” Remington looks at me, waiting for me to connect the dots that should have been so obvious to me in the first place.
“Cora,” I breathe out angrily.
