“I’m getting worried. We should go over there.”
“Didn’t you say she was away?”
“Yes, but she may have already returned,” I reason, sitting back on the couch and pouring us each a glass of wine. “I’m worried. I mean, when does it get to the point that I put in a missing person report?”
“You really think she won’t come back?” he asks, taking his glass.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, I don’t want to sound weird, and I know you mentioned you were not going to see that fine-ass man again, but could you ask him for a favor?”
I give him a confused look, not sure where he’s going with this. “What do you mean?”
“You told me how you called the police the night he broke in.” I nod my head. “You also mentioned he knows someone in the police department.”
“A detective.” And that’s when it hits me where this is going. “That would require talking to him again, seeing him. And every time I see that man, I want to give in.”
Sebastian starts laughing. “Well, if the sex is half as good as you say it is…”
“It is. The best I’ve ever had.” I don’t tell him it wasn’t just sex. Somewhere along the way, we became more.
“But you don’t want anything more with him?”
“He told me some personal things, and I wanted to give him more of a chance. Then I found out he’s keeping secrets.”
“Everyone keeps secrets, Cora.” He rolls his eyes.
“I know that, but I want to know a particular secret,” I say with a smirk. “He also offered for us to become more, to have a real relationship,” I admit. “I told him no.”
“Why would you do that when that’s what you’re after?” Sebastian lets out a frustrated huff. “That man is fine, and he clearly wants you. Yes, he may hold back a few secrets, but can you not live with that?”
“I feel like this secret is something terrible.” I bite my lip as I look at him.
“All the better you don’t know, then,” he insists. “Now, call him and ask him to get his detective friend to go over and do a home visit.”
I know he’s right, so I grab my phone. “Put it on speaker, I want to hear,” he says, so I place it on the counter and press call on Arlo’s contact.
After two rings, he answers, “Cora.”
I close my eyes at the way he says my name.
“Hi,” I manage to say. I open my eyes to find Sebastian leaning on the kitchen counter, watching me eagerly.
“I’m pleasantly surprised you called,” Arlo says.
“I have an ulterior motive,” I confess.
“Of course you do. Please, do tell.”
“You have access to a detective, right?”
“Yes.”
“I would like you to call him to check on Delaney. She isn’t answering my calls.”
“Have you gone around there to see her?”
“I went yesterday. I let myself in when she didn’t answer the door, and there was no sign of her.”
