My bestie poured two chunky half blended shakes into glasses and held one to her lips. “If my boss asks, I’ll deny it.”
I nodded. “I’ll say I stole your badge and computer, and that I did it.”
She winced. “No, you’ll go to jail. I’ll report it stolen this morning. Say I lost it on the subway.”
I waved my hand. “I’m a grieving widow, what are they going to do to me?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Put you in jail for impersonating a member of the medical community and stalking a patient.”
I frowned. “I haven’t stalked anyone …yet.”
She sighed. “You’re right, and you’re not going to.” Stepping forward, she yanked the paper out of my hand and shuffled over to the gas burner on her stove. In two clicks it was lit.
“Julie! No!” I tore forward. Was his name Ashland? Asher? I knew it was Nashville but I didn’t remember the address. My hungover brain hadn’t memorized anything yet.
She turned to look at me. “This is adarkpath, Millie. This can’t end well. It’s time to let Colin go.”
Tears filled my eyes as panic took hold of me. My chest tightened with fresh grief at the thought of losing this guy’s information. “I will. Ipromise. I just want to say hi to this guy, see him … one time. Julie, don’t you dare burn that paper.” My voice shook as tears rolled down my cheeks.
My best friend in the whole world looked at me and I knew I’d hit rock bottom. This was desperate as fuck and I didn’t care. I’d call my shrink later and deal with it, but for now I needed that address like I needed air.
“Jul…” A sob formed in my throat. “I need it.” My hand shook as I reached out for the paper. “I just need to meet him. One meeting and I’ll let Colin go.”
She sighed, turning off the burner. “Promise? One meeting and you will move on?”
I nodded. “I’m ready.”
With one final look, she handed me the paper.
Ashton Knight.
I prayed he would be the final piece to heal my heart, and not my undoing.
* * *
I wastedno time in booking a ticket to Nashville, renting a car, and heading over to the address on the paper. Julie thought I’d lost my mind when I told her I wanted to head out of town first thing. I just needed this tightness in my chest to go away, I just wanted my closure so I could move on. I’d been parked outside of Broadway Street in the downtown area, letting the rental car idle, for two hours now because …it was a bar.
The address Julie had given me, 300 Broadway Street,Wayne’s Place, was abar. Who listed a bar as their home address on a hospital record? Was it a joke? Did the lady Julie talked to know she was drunk and give her a fake address? I hadn’t even thought to check before coming out here.
Ashton Knight also didn’t have a Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. What twenty-eight-year-old was absent from social media? A serial killer, a social pariah, a fake name?
Peering out the window, I noticed that it looked like there might be an apartment building above the bar. Maybe Julie was too drunk to write down the apartment door number. I’d have to do some investigating, once I got my nerve.
My phone rang, and when I saw who it was I put it on speaker.
“Stop calling,” I told Julie.
“Are you still in the fucking car? Go inside!” she shouted, her voice filling the rental car.
“Stop babysitting me and get ready for your anniversary dinner!” I scolded her.
Tonight was the night my best friend got engaged and I’d ditched her to run to Nashville. Not my proudest moment, but that’s what Facetime was for, right? I was wearing my nice silk floral dress and tan suede heels. I wanted to look nice for the man who got Colin’s heart. I wanted to show respect.
I’ll admit I borrowed Julie’s extra stethoscope and had a grand vision of me telling this guy who I was and then asking to listen to Colin’s heartbeat before we both shared a long hug and went our separate ways.
“This is stalker level psycho. GO. INSIDE,” Julie yelled.
“’Kay, have fun getting proposed to, bye!” I hung up.
