“What are you talking about?” Am I still dreaming somehow? What is this?
He tries to step inside the cabin, but I’m not moving. I refuse, keeping him in the doorway. This is my home. My space. The only thing in the world, thanks to our divorce decree, that is just mine.
“Why did you change the lock?”
“Why do you still have a key?” I demand right back.
“We had one in the junk drawer in the kitchen. I forgot about it until I got your text. Are you guys okay? Where’s Taylor?”
“My text?” My brows knit together as I replay my evening. Taylor and I made Alfredo and ate it while watchingPride andPrejudiceon DVD. Then we played a game of Uno before reading until it was time for bed. “What text? I didn’t text you.”
He scrutinizes me, as if I’ve lost my mind, then steps back, pulling his phone from his pocket. Within seconds, I’m staring at a text that definitely didn’t come from me, except that…it did. It’s from my number, both according to the contact name and our earlier texts in the same conversation.
Can you come to Foxglove? Emergency here. We need you.
I shake my head, switching my attention from the message to the phone in my hand. I open my text messages, trying to prove I didn’t send it, but there it is.
The same message greets me. The last text message sent from my phone, around noon yesterday.
“I didn’t send this.” I rack my brain for possible explanations, but then it hits me all at once. The only explanation that makes any sense.I’m going to kill her.“Jesus, it must’ve been Greta. She was here and she was worried about us being out here alone with the storm on the way. But I’m fine. There’s no emergency. You really shouldn’t have come.”
His eyes are wild as he watches me, like he can’t believe what I’m saying. Like he thinks I might be lying. Does he really believe I would do that? I’m not a monster. He rests his hand on the doorframe next to his head.
“Well, I did come, though. I came all this way. I’d like to see Taylor. Please.”
At least he says please, but that doesn’t make any of this easier. He can’t stay here. I’m not ready.
“You can’t. It will just make this harder. Please, Lewis. You have to… Wait a sec.” My brain is still catching up. “Why didn’t you just call me?”
He scoffs, staring at me in disbelief, then turns his phone back around. Moments later, I’m staring at his call log.
It’s nothing but calls to me.
“What is this?” My entire world feels like a dream sequence right now.
“I’ve literally been calling you all day long, Corinne. You didn’t answer. Not once. Now, it’s after midnight, and I’m exhausted. I bailed out of a meeting. I haven’t eaten. I know you don’t have to, but please just… Come on. Let me stay. At least for the night. I’ll check on Taylor, get some rest, and then I’ll be gone and out of your hair. I promise.”
I’m barely listening to what he’s saying, barely comprehending as I stare at his call log. It’s not… This isn’t real. It can’t be. My phone didn’t ring a single time. Service is spotty here, but missing every single one of these calls from him today would’ve been impossible. With a shaking hand, I open my phone and dial his number.
The phone screen goes black, and I wait, but within seconds, it ends. No voicemail message. Nothing. On a hunch, I search for my settings, then the page that lists my blocked contacts.
Sure enough, there it is. Right at the top.
“I can’t believe she would do this. Greta must’ve texted you from my phone and then blocked it so I couldn’t tell you not to come.” I huff a breath. I love my best friend, but sometimes her protectiveness can be overbearing. She had to have known this wasn’t what I wanted. I try not to feel angry, but it’s hard. She was acting out of love, but it doesn’t feel like love right now.
He swats his arm, then gestures into the house with an exasperated smile. “It’s late, and the mosquitoes are going to eat me alive. Can I come in until we figure this out? Please?”
When I look up, his blue eyes lock with mine, and there’s that stomach flip again. As if my body still hasn’t gotten the memo we aren’t supposed to love this man anymore.
With a hesitant step back, I release a heavy breath. “Yeah. Yeah, of course.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CORINNE WILDE - PRESENT DAY
There isn’t really anything to discuss.
Lewis is in my house with me again. He’s here, he came because he still cares, because underneath it all he is still Lewis, and I am still me, and there’s no part of me that feels strong enough to send him away.
