I had to leave.My head was pounding and all I wanted was to go home.I rummaged through my purse to make sure my keys were there, then I slid off the stool.
Chad stood.“What are you doing?”
I hated lying to Chad, but I had no choice.“I’m going to the bathroom.I’ll be right back.”
He gave me a long look.“All right.”
I went down the hall toward the bathroom, noticed the door to the smoker’s patio, and went out that way.
In no time, I was at my car.
I jumped when I saw movement at my side.
“I knew you’d do this.Whyare you running awaynow, Ivy?”Chad didn’t let me answer.“We spent four days in Memphis.He’s in your backyard.You’ve come too far to just leave.”
I sighed.“Chad, I don’t know what my problem is.No, that’s not true.Losing Jeff sucked.It still sucks because Mom’s so… empty.I want to help her and I got it in my head and my heart that this could help.Now, I see I’m wrong.”
“You don’t know that.”
I felt my eyebrows shoot up and I lowered my chin.“I do know, because whether that man is good or bad or something in-between, nobody can replace Jeff.”
Chad stepped closer.“Of course not, sugar.But it doesn’t mean your heart didn’t lead you to someone who might give you a new kind of love – even if only for you.No shade, but I don’t see Debra being drawn to Lark.”Chad widened his eyes.“He’s gotedges.”
I wasn’t sure if Chad emphasized the word ‘edges,’ to be dramatic, or if he and Lark had chatted while I was missing.I reached out and gave his hand a squeeze.“Today has beena lot.Can you see why I just want to go home?”
He nodded.“Yeah.Are you sure you’re good to drive?I can—”
I went up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.“No, honey.I’ll be fine.But thank you.I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Chapter 8
Many Forms
Ryan
ThemomentInoticedChad and Ivy were gone, I rushed outside.The two of them were chatting next to her car.I thought they would come back to talk to Lark, but then she climbed into her car.
“Shit,” I whispered.
As she drove away, I hurried over to Chad, ignoring my pounding headache.
He heard me approach and turned to me.“Is there a—”
“She was knocked out by those bastards.She isn’t good to drive, man.Give me her address, I’m following her home.”
He aimed an unhappy look at me.“In that case, I’ll follow—”
I shook my head.“Let me.Two of the men are out of commission for now, but that doesn’t put her in the clear.One of them made a phone call, and at least one other person is involved from what I heard.Time’s wasting.Help me out here, I need her address so I can catch up to her.”
He hesitated.
“I’m not going to hurt her.”
His lips quirked and he cocked a brow at me.“Hurt comes in many forms, so make sure you don’t.She lives in Ortega.”
He gave me the name of her townhouse complex and I ran to my bike.
Railroad tracks ran parallel to US 90, and I heard a train whistle in the distance.It sounded like it was coming from the east.I didn’t want the train to hold me up and I sped toward the crossroad that would get me to I-10.As I approached Chaffee Road I almost thought I’d lost her.Luckily, she’d been held up by the train.
