His mother nodded. “Any idea who could be doing this?”
“She can’t think of anyone other than her ex and it wasn’t him. At least not the rock. He admitted to the other things, but she knew that.”
“I hope it’s over soon. I want to say I wish it was some kids playing a prank.”
“No,” he said. “Maybe the damage to her car, sure. But not this. This was personal.”
A rock with nothing on it? That could be a prank gone wrong.
Painting “BITCH” on it was more.
How much more, that was the question.
23
PILING ON ME
“Iwas surprised to get your call last night to meet for breakfast.”
“I know, Mom. We haven’t really talked much. I miss you.”
Her mother reached her hand over and laid it on hers in the diner where they’d met. They’d both get to work with plenty of time. It didn’t take long to get served here.
“I miss you too. Is everything okay? It’s not like you to want to meet before work.”
“There is so much I need to tell you.”
Their breakfast was set in front of them. A mound of pancakes and a side of bacon.
She was starving.
What a workout she’d had last night.
Then she’d slept like the dead in Clay’s arms.
He found little amusement in her big spoon comment, but she didn’t care.
She was too happy at the progression of their relationship.
Before she could have an internal argument that it might not be a relationship in his eyes, exhaustion took over and she was out.
Getting up this morning alone in bed hadn’t surprised her.
She’d expected it.
But not finding him anywhere had frightened her.
When she heard the noises in the basement, she got worried, but saw the door open and slowly crept down.
There was Clay, shirtless, his back on a bench, pressing an enormous amount of weight on a bar up and down as if he was trying to push all the evil spirits away.
He turned his head, made eye contact with her without pausing, and she slipped back up and went to the hall bath to shower.
A nice cold shower was what she needed after that stimulating sight of his body in motion in the light.
“That doesn’t sound good. What’s going on?”
“So much I’m not sure where to start.”
