Page 204 of Stanton Unconditional

Natasha

Joshua lies on my bed as I pack the last of my wardrobe. “Why are you bothering packing everything anyway? Just buy new things when you get there.”

I look at him deadpan. “Is that what you do?”

He shrugs. “I have a full wardrobe at Willowvale and one for LA. That way I don’t need to pack when I go.”

“So, will I wear my jodhpurs in LA?” I ask a little too sweetly as I bat my eyelids.

“You do know that you are learning to ride,” he replies matter of factly.

I raise my eyebrows. “Pff, as if.” I continue folding. “I hate horses…and vets. I really hate vets with a passion.” I widen my eyes to accentuate my point.

He quickly scrambles to change the subject. “I’m glad your mother is coming over in a month.”

My heart drops. “I’m more worried about Mum more than ever. At least before she had Bridget and Abbie to keep her company but now that they are coming, she will be left here alone.” I keep folding the clothes and putting them in the suitcase.

He smiles sadly. “She can come too. I told you that.”

“She won’t. I’ve been trying to persuade her all week.” I sigh. I blow out a breath and walk back into the closet.

“Hurry up. I’m hungry,” Joshua calls.

I stick my head out of the closet. “Well, go and make us dinner, dick.” Who is he kidding…hurry up. I’m hungry.

“I meant so we can go out for dinner. There is no food in the house.”

I stick my head back out of the closet. “Joshua, we leave tomorrow. I am not going out for dinner tonight.”

He shakes his head. “Looks like you are done to me.”

I smile. “No, can you go and get my diaries from the shoebox and put them in this bag.” I put a large tote on my bed and open my bedside table drawer as Joshua walks into the wardrobe. My heart stops as my eyes look into the drawer.

“Joshua,” I call. “Yeah,” he answers.

“Have you packed my things?”

“No,” he replies. “What things?”

“Can you come here, baby?”

My heart starts to thump through my chest as I am gripped by fear and my eyes dart around the room. “Someone has been in here.”

He frowns and walks over to see what I am looking at in the drawer.

My pink vibrator sits in an empty drawer, but my underwear is gone.

“Oh my God, he’s been here. He has been in here.”

Joshua frowns again at the drawer. “Are you sure it was ever gone?”

“Where is my underwear Joshua?” I yell as I grab my head in a panic. I run from the room to get my phone.

“Who are you calling?” Joshua snaps as he senses my panic. “Max,” I spit out.

He takes his phone out and rings Ben.

“Can you get up here, please? We have a situation.”