Time flicked by, and my thoughts had moved to Ray kissing me softly on the lips, his fingers brushing softly against my cheek. My eyes fluttered open to see him crouched next to my chair, smiling at me.
“What?” I looked at him, not understanding what was happening.
“You fell asleep, darlin’. Let’s get you off to bed.”
He helped me up and locked up the house before kissing me goodnight in the kitchen and heading off into his own room.
Huh.
I should have started questioning why he hadn’t tried to lure me into his room or vice versa.
But I was too tired, so instead I put myself to sleep.
SEVENTEEN
RAY
It smelled exactly like I thought a gym would smell—dirty socks, sweat, and bleach. It may have smelled like a gym, but it didn’t look like much of one when I stepped inside. Sure, they had weights and machines all over the place, but there were no people working out.
I knew it was Sunday at lunchtime and maybe not the ideal time to come here, but the only person I could see as I scanned the open-concept gym was the man working the front desk. The same man who was currently glaring at me like he was bothered that I’d even shown up.
“Can I help you?” he asked, not in a rude way, but also not the friendly greeting you usually expected from someone in that position.
“I’m from out of town and was hoping to see about getting a day pass to take Corey’s kickboxing class,” I said, pulling out my wallet and noting that his name tag said manager.
“He ain’t here today,” he replied.
“Oh,” I said, wondering if I’d misheard Tammy. “Sorry. I know him from the Watering Hole and was told he teaches a class on Sunday afternoons.”
“He does, but he called in sick today. Said he’s got some bug he picked up at the bar from working so many extra shifts over there.”
Say what?
“Do you know what other days he teaches?”
He shrugged as if he honestly didn’t care. “Kinda varies by the week.”
“Well, uh, thanks for your help,” I told him and started to make my way back to my car.
Prior to coming here, the wheels had already started turning in my head. Certain comments that Tammy had made, or even Corey had made, started to slowly piece together.
I had no real proof other than a gut feeling, but I’d learned to trust that gut a long time ago, and it usually didn’t steer me wrong. Now I just needed to follow that instinct and ask the right questions to get some answers from Corey himself.
Twenty minutes later, I was standing in front of a nice-looking, three-story apartment building—simple, clean, and modern. I gave three quick raps on the door and waited to see if Corey was home. I knew I was taking a chance, but if my suspicions were right, this was exactly where I figured he’d be.
I wasn’t an idiot, so I’d shot a quick text over to Frank to give him my location and a message to reach out to me if he didn’t hear back in an hour.
The sounds of the chain and deadbolt clicking open had me bracing. Corey opened the door with a neutral face as he scanned the area behind me, as though he didn’t think I was alone.
“Ray, can I help you?” he greeted, but I noticed he made no move to invite me in.
I did my best to give off calm and casual vibes, keeping my hands and arms in a neutral position at my sides. “Sorry to just drop by, but I had a couple questions I was hoping I could ask you.”
“Now’s not really a great time. Can I call you in a couple hours?”
“It won’t take up much time—ten, twenty minutes tops. Is that okay?” I pushed.
“Just curious, but how’d you get my address?” he asked instead of responding to my question.
