“That’s like seeing half of a picture and thinking it’s pretty. But when you put the other half up there, it’s this awful mess. And it changes your entire perception of the picture as a whole. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
I laughed at her analogy. “You’re nuts. But yeah, I get it.” We sat silently for a minute, Kari watching me as I looked at the box,expecting it to do something or for some revelation to hit me. But nothing happened.
“Well, we have to do something with this,” I said, not taking my eyes off the cardboard. “What do you think?”
“That is up to you.”
My pocket began vibrating, and I pulled my phone from it, my breath hitching in my throat when I read the name on the screen. “It’s Decker,” I said, looking up at Kari. “How did he get my new number?”
“I have no idea, Jada. Maybe you shouldn’t answer it.” Kari’s eyes were wide, and I could see the uneasiness she was feeling in them.
“No, I am not going to let him know he gets to me.” I straightened my shoulders, gathering my courage. “If he bothers me too much, I’ll get a restraining order or something.”
I answered the call, watching Kari watch me. “Hello?” I said, clearing my throat.
“Hey, Jada,” he said, his voice low and sexy. At one point in my life, I would have swooned. Now, I fought myself from gagging.
“What do you want?” I figured we may as well cut to the chase and not delay the inevitable. I blew out a breath, hoping it would take the host of nerves running through me out with it.
“Someone’s had a bad day.” He laughed into the phone. “I sent you something earlier this week, and the tracking said it was delivered today. Are you home yet?”
“I got it,” I said dismissively, trying to rein in my emotions.
“And?” he prompted, his voice sounding contrite.
“And what? I got them. I will dispose of them now.” I felt a war brewing and stood, needing to be on my toes.
“Dispose of them?” I could imagine his face twisting, his eyes narrowing. “That’s interesting.”
“Not really. Look, I’ve asked you not to call me anymore.”
“I didn’t for a long time.” He sounded annoyed, and I didn’t care. “And finding your new number was a pain in the ass, but not impossible. So nice try. Now it’s time to stop these petty games you’re playing. You made your point.”
“I made a point?” I should have expected him to say something likethat, but it was over the top, even for him. “The only point I am trying to make to you is that I don’t want you calling me.”
“You know as well as I do that you will end up back here again. I wish you would just stop fighting it and get your ass home. You’re wasting my time,” he growled into the phone.
“No,” I said, feeling the disbelief turn into fury, “you’re wastingmytime, Decker. We got divorced, which should make it clear that I never want to see you again. How hard is that to comprehend?”
“You’re such a brat,” he said, his voice rising. “You’re acting like a child!”
I recoiled from the sound of his voice, now booming through the phone. “Decker … Let. It. Go. If you call me again, I will look into a restraining order. Leave me alone.”
He laughed sardonically. “Really? You think that it is that easy?”
“No. I know it is that easy because it is my life now. You don’t have a say in what I do.”
“Ah, I know what’s happening. You have a little boyfriend out there, don’t you?”
“That’s none of your damn business.”
“You do. And he’s filling your head with all of this nonsense.” He laughed as anger consumed me. “He’s probably telling you how awful I am and how he isn’t anything like me at all.” He paused. “He is, isn’t he?”
“He is nothing like you. He doesn’t have to tell me anything because he shows me what he is.” My hand shook as the anger rolled through me. “Don’t call me ever again, you fucking bastard!” I slid the phone off and set it down before I dropped it. I turned around to see Kari standing with her arms crossed and a satisfied look on her face.
“I’m impressed.” She smiled, nodding her head in agreement. “You did well.”
My phone lit up again on the table and I watched his name flash across the screen. I waited until it stopped before picking it up and turning it off. “I have no idea how to block his number. Do you?” I looked up at Kari.
