All I know is that I want to make a difference and keep Jordan at the same time.
Part of me thinks that quitting my job for a girl I met only a few months ago is crazy but the other part of me says it’s not.
It feels right.
Some might think I have a savior complex, trying to rescue Jordan from her situation. But Jordan is strong all on her own. She has been for a very long time, and I have no doubt that she would have gotten her dad out of the horrible situation with Emmett even if I hadn’t come along.
She’s not just a pretty face. She’s smart and fearless. Two qualities that have helped her survive this whole mess. And the only part I have in her life is to love her the way she deserves to be loved. To show her that I’m in it for the long haul and I’ll always show up for her. She needs to know that she can lean on the people around her and that it’s okay to let her guard down.
And I don’t doubt that when this case is over, she’s going to bloom into the person she was meant to be; wholly happy and carefree.
Chapter 25
Jordan
“Alright, Penny. I’m out.” I throw the dirty dish rag in the laundry basket after wiping down all the tables and grab my backpack.
“Sounds good. See you tomorrow.” She waves from behind the counter.
It’s been almost two weeks of not seeing or hearing from Lucas. After sending the photo, and the impromptu masturbation session, I haven’t sent him any more messages and he hasn’t talked to me either.
I was one hundred percent surprised to find out that he was the one who hacked into my dating profile and changed it. I should probably consider that a red flag, but at this point I’m not sure I care. All I know is that I want him. I want him more than I’ve ever wanted anything or anybody in my life. I miss our handholding, I miss cooking together with him, and I just miss…him.
Maybe falling for a man I hardly know, who’s infiltrated himself into my life in unexpected ways, is destined for doom. But I’m too far gone, and I think maybe he is too.
It scared me how easily he could make me come with his words of getting me pregnant. But something inside me liked the idea. A little too much. That’s how much I lo–, I mean like him. He’s become a constant in my life and the past few weeks have shown me just how much of my heart he has stolen.
I toss my backpack on the countertop when I get home and turn on the TV. I need a nap before I go to the beach later for a sunset photoshoot, and decide to hop in the shower to get the smell of roasted coffee beans off of my skin.
The amount of money people are willing to pay for photos is insane. I thought Kyle was nuts for setting my pricing the way he did, but I’m getting more and more clients who have no problem dropping a pretty penny for family photos. Part of me is excited to finally pour my whole heart into this business, and the other part is sad about the end of an era at the coffee shop. But I have to move forward, and this is the final step.
Once I’m out of the shower, I change into some joggers and a tank top and crawl into bed, lowering the volume on my newest reality show for some background noise.
When I close my eyes, the only thing on my mind is Lucas.
~ ~ ~
Knock, knock, knock.
I check my phone to look at the time, wiping the sleep from my face. It feels like I just fell asleep, but it’s been an hour.
I swing my feet over the side of the bed and stick my phone in the extra pocket on my thigh and then go to the door.
Maybe it’s Lucas. The excitement of seeing him has me opening the door without looking through the peephole, which ends up being a very big mistake.
My hands immediately go up in surrender as a masked man points a gun at my face.
How the fuck do I keep getting into these situations?
“No fucking way,” the voice behind the masks laughs, a voice that’s familiar but I can’t pinpoint. “This is too good. You’re coming with me, camera girl.” The man roughly takes me by the arm, yanking me towards him.
My fight or flight instincts kick in and I try to kick him in the balls, making contact enough to turn and run. It’s not my best idea, considering he has a gun, but I was always told to do everything you can to get away because if a kidnapper takes you to a second location, your time is limited.
“You fucking bitch,” he yells and I don’t get more than a few steps before he yanks on my ponytail.
My eyes water from his harsh assault and I search around the room in a panic, trying to find anything to use as a weapon. I come up empty and quickly decide I need to make a mess. That way if anyone comes by, they know something happened.
As he pulls me backward, I snag the shoulder strap of my backpack, pulling it off the counter and letting everything inside scatter all over the floor. It takes my pink rose down with it. The glass miraculously doesn’t break, but water goes everywhere.
