After teaching, she stretched out for a nap. When she was almost asleep, her phone pinged. She checked the text, seeing it was from Ryan Lane.
I met with Pete,and he's still pushing the narrative that you killed his brother. He isn't willing to back down, even when I confronted him with the fact that his video was faked. He said it was worth it to fake the video just to get back at you.
Ansley didn’t knowwhat to think. Pete hated her. She was okay with that, but he was manipulating the public, trying to get them to turn against her with lies. She replied to his text.
Thank you.Is he still being held?
She worriedabout what he would do if he came to North Carolina and found her. She didn't think he would find her here in Fayetteville, but someone had spotted her at the beach. If they lived there, they would just keep looking for her. Another text came in from Ryan.
He is still in custody.They are charging him with fraud and making threats. It’s not much, but hopefully it will get him to stop posting stuff online. We’re asking the judge to give you a protection order.
She was impressedthat Ryan was helping her so much. He didn’t have to. He wasn’t her personal lawyer, so he didn’t have to do all that he’d taken on. It was very helpful, though. She could get through this because she had help.
Thank you so much.I know your help will keep me safe.
With Pete being charged,she had a chance of not being harassed by him. If the podcast was forced to be taken down and an apology issued, maybe people would realize he’d lied.
Of course, like most rumors that got started by irresponsible podcasters, the lie would stick for a while. At least Link knew the truth. If he didn't believe her, she didn't know what she would do.
Chapter 32
Link lovedthe rhythm they fell into. It was easy, like they were meant to be together.
They shared the task of cooking dinner and spent their evenings having sex before watching a little television before bed.
Ansley seemed to like her job, and from what she told him, it was going well. On Wednesday, she sent him a text before he left base, telling him that she would need to head to DC in a week. He was proud of her for doing so well in the interview. She didn't have the job yet, but they really liked her for the role.
Ansley ordered delivery for dinner that night, and they made love while the food stayed warm in the microwave.
Her excitement for the job was easy to see. She seemed to enjoy teaching, too. While they were eating, she told him about one of her students, a young woman who wanted to become a doctor, but needed to learn English before she could get into college.
“I’m glad you’re able to help them.”
“I am, too.” She shrugged. “Staying at home all day is getting a little tough, though. I think I need to get a gym membership or find a group workout.”
"I understand that need." He liked being alone, but even when he spent time alone, he would go to a restaurant every couple of days or head out to the beach and have some conversations with random people he met.
“Tomorrow I plan on doing some grocery shopping in the morning.”
“We could go tonight.”
She shook her head. “No way, I want to hold you, not go out shopping in a packed grocery store while it’s filled with moms exhausted after a long day and their toddlers who are equally exhausted.”
Link chuckled. “Yeah, going grocery shopping in the evenings can be brutal.”
“We can finish that movie we started.”
“Sure, that’d be good.”
He liked hanging out with Ansley. She was easy to get along with, and when he had to do something after work, she didn’t get upset. He really liked that about her. It seemed like everything about their relationship was easy.
Ansley was excitedabout her prospects. Working part-time as a translator for the State Department, along with teaching, would satisfy her need to work and give her time to join a gym.
She enjoyed not having to leave the house and head to an office, but she needed to get out at some point during the day. Maybe she could join a book club or some other group.
After doing a quick workout in Link's garage, she showered and then headed to the grocery store. She saw a coffee shop on the way and stopped in, deciding that she could sit in the shopand have some coffee and a muffin before going to the grocery store.
She ordered her coffee and muffin and was waiting when she noticed someone staring at her. Instead of acknowledging them, she pulled out her phone and turned, trying to ignore them.
