“Chemistry, Nate? There isn’t any attraction or chemistry or whatever else you want to call it happening between me and Kyle.”
“Yes, there is.” Nate chuckled. “Poor Kyle. I think that I feel sorry for him the way you keep pulling away when he’s not around. You know, he would do anything in the world for you, Amy. That’s something that you should appreciate.”
“I do appreciate it.”
“But?”
“Why don’t you fix things with Elaine and leave me alone?”
“Because I don’t know what I did wrong, Amy. It’s that simple.” Nate snapped. “I talked to her last night, but there wasn’t any progress. Not on her part.” He watched Amy lean on the banister. “I’m trying, but sometimes things don’t work out like we want.”
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“I did. Dad is going to think that we’re ignoring him if we don’t go back inside.” Nate stepped towards the door and slid it open. “Coming?”
Amy straightened, sighed, and walked to the door. “I don’t have any feelings towards Kyle.”
“I don’t care how much you say that, it won’t be any truer than the first time.” Nate responded softly.
“What about the magnetism between you and Elaine.”
“Somebody reversed the magnets. I seem to repel her now.” Nate whispered after Amy was standing beside him. He shoved his sister into the house and noticed that Elaine was standing there, sensing before seeing her.
Amy smirked and tilted her head. “I’m not sensing the repelling. I can, however, feel you tense. Please, Nate, figure this out before you both make a big mistake.”
“I can’t, sis.” Nate walked over to the couch and sat on the arm watching Amy take the ice cream from Elaine. “Are you going to stick around, Elaine?”
Elaine lowered her eyes while shaking her head. “I’m going to have a long day tomorrow, so I’m going to turn in early.”
Amy waited until Elaine left before turning and narrowing her eyes at her brother. “You can’t fix your relationship, but you’ve slept with her. God, Nate, don’t you think that I know the signs. You said that you felt like something was wrong with her, but. . .”
“It just happened.” Nate snapped.
“It always just happens.” Amy retorted. “Maybe that’s why she’s upset, why she was so preoccupied around you.”
Nathan watched Nate stand, agreeing with what Amy said while scrutinizing his son. “Amy has a point.”
“This wasn’t supposed to be about me. You want to lecture me on how to treat somebody, Amy; I would suggest that you have your own experience first.”
“I have. Thank you. It ended amicably. Yours didn’t.”
“I never met him.”
“You wouldn’t have approved, Nate.” Amy responded while stepping into his kitchen and grabbing a spoon to eat her ice cream. “He was too fun for you.”
“You and fun?”
“I love fun. It’s not a new concept.” Amy lifted the lid and pushed the spoon down into the green ice cream. “He made sure that I never stressed about anything.”
“Then why did you end it?”
“I’m not the marrying type.” Amy laughed. “Lord knows, you can’t say a word because I’ve heard you tell Elaine that a million times. I guess I was surprised when I found out that you had actually proposed to her.” Placing the half melted chocolate chip mint ice cream in her mouth, she watched her brother with a renewed interest. “That could be the problem. Elaine wants to marry and have a family, but the thought scares you to death. Why?”
“I’ve mentioned it to her several times while we were together.”
“Maybe, it was the way you so-called mentioned it.” Amy snapped at him.
“Oh, I want to hear this.” Nathan watched his children while holding Barbara’s hand. “That isn’t a family trait.”
“I never said that I wouldn’t consider it again in the future.” Nate hated when Amy placed him on the spot.
“Liar,” Amy fumed. “Don’t use her anymore, Nate. If you do, I’ll never forgive you. She has a big heart. I wish that you would see that for what it’s really worth. I am so mad at you right now that I think I’m going to turn in early.”
“Are you being for real? Dang it, Amy. It takes two to tango.”
“It’s time for you to grow up, Nate. Don’t you dare make me have to choose between you and her. Don’t do it,” Amy dumped the half-eaten ice cream into his trash can and walked towards the front door. “It’s funny that I thought more of you before I came over tonight.”
Amy noticed that it had grown dark while she had been inside and was grateful for the street lights that lit the way to the complex across from them. When she entered her apartment, she leaned against the door after locking it and closed her eyes. She hated the dark and the shadows. She jumped when she heard the phone ring and tried not to laugh when Elaine walked out of her bedroom and stared. “It’s the boogey man calling, he wants my fright back.” Amy mumbled before seeing a number that she wasn’t familiar with come up on her caller ID.
Elaine answered the phone, glancing at Amy after the caller identified himself. “Randy, let me see if she’s here. I can have her call you back. How important?”
Amy focused on Elaine and reached for the phone. “Hello, Randy.”
“Amy, we have a problem.”
She heard paper rustling in the background. “I’m listening.”
“I was sent something in the mail, Amy, and I made a call to the agency. I want you to understand that this is very serious.”
“Serious. Gothca.”
“I’m holding a printed copy of your dating profile.”
“And why is that serious?” Amy asked, dumbfounded.
“Amy, your real information is all over it along with red ink threatening your life. I have to ask if you’ve been receiving anything. Amy,” Randy paused, “have you?”
“Why would I?” Amy asked, lowering herself on the couch. “Randy, what is going on?”
“The site had been hacked, Amy.”
“But none of my real information was posted so I should be safe. You’re an investigative reporter. What do you really think is happening?”
“I think, no, I know that you’re holding something back from me. Put me on the speaker. Now, Amy.”
“Fine,” Amy pushed the button to allow Elaine to hear the conversation. “Why did you change your phone number?”
“Never mind. Amy, am I on speaker? If so, I want to hear a response from the woman who answered the phone.”
“I’m here,” Elaine watched Amy shake her head.
“What’s your name?”
“Elaine.”
“Okay, Elaine. Amy isn’t really taking me seriously. Amy, you are in trouble. According to what I’ve read this sicko has been sending you letters for the past five months.”
“Five months?” Elaine sat beside her friend while they listened to the phone.
“Yes, five months. The agency said that their system had been compromised around the same time.”
“And you think that I was singled out. Why?” Amy asked in disbelief.
“Listen to me, Amy. . .”
“Randy?”
“Amy, dang it. Just listen. This isn’t a joke. Elaine, are you still there?”
“Yes.”
“You’re going to have to make her understand. I remember Amy talking about you, and reading in-between the lines, you’ve always been able to get through to her. Has she been receiving any letters to your knowledge?”
Amy silently shook her head before Elaine answered. “Yes, she has.”
“Then I’m on my way.”
“Randy, wait.” Elaine leaned back against the couch while listening to the dial tone. “Christ, Amy, what kind of trouble have you landed yourself into now?” Standing, she walked over to the shredder and dumped the contents onto the counter, closing her eyes after looking over the strips with anger. Opening her eyes, she looked towards Amy. “Rand
y sounded like he cares a lot about you.”
Amy watched Elaine from where she was sitting, but remained quiet until a knock sounded on the front door.
Elaine held up a hand, narrowed her eyes, and stepped towards the door. Smiling when she saw Kyle, she pulled him inside and quickly closed the door behind them.
Kyle raised his eyes, shocked, before looking towards Amy. “Did I interrupt something?” He asked after glancing at the mess on the counter.
“No. Why are you here?” Amy asked. “I really think that you should leave.”
“And I think that he should stay,” Elaine argued. “I also think that you should call your brother. When Randy comes. . .”
“Who is Randy?” Kyle asked, watching Amy stand. “Well?”
“You know- the internet guy I used to date.” Amy answered.
“He asked you to marry him,” Elaine laughed before noticing how uneasy Amy had become since Kyle joined them. “History- right?”
“How long ago?” Kyle stepped to where Amy was standing.
“I’m not talking about Randy or anything else with you. I want you to leave.” Amy took a step back after he stood in front of her.
“I came here to see you, Amy. Are you thinking about getting back together with Randy? If you tell me yes, then I’ll leave.”
“Chill, Kyle. She’s not getting back together with Randy.”
“I am,” Amy narrowed her eyes and pivoted towards the hall. “You know where the door is.”
Elaine watched Kyle leave and then stared at Amy bewildered. “You lied to him.”
“So what? You and Nate keep lying to each other. There’s nothing but stress when Kyle is around. I don’t need it. It was nothing but fun when I was with Randy. That’s what I need.”
“I have a feeling that’s going to change, Amy.” Elaine stepped over to the front window and looked out to see Kyle talking to somebody in front of the cars.
Chapter 13
Amy opened the door and stared at Kyle who was standing behind Randy and talking on his phone.
Randy hugged Amy and shook his head after stepping into the apartment.
“I’m guessing that there was another reason why you wanted me to leave.” Kyle stepped forward so that he was standing in the doorway. “Since you lied to me, I took it upon myself to call Nate.”
“You had no right!”
“No, I probably didn’t, but you didn’t have a right to tell me a lie either.” Kyle wrapped his arms around her waist. “Randy asked me how I knew you.”
“I still don’t want you here.” Amy glanced up while she talked.
“Not that you care, but I don’t believe you.” Kyle bent so his mouth was just above her ear. “We are going to talk.”
“I have a feeling there’s no need to worry about what you think needs to be talked about afterwards, Kyle.” Amy peeled his arms from around her and noticed that Randy was already piecing together some of the strips of paper. “Randy, you had something that you wanted to show me.”
Randy glanced up from his task and nodded before pulling an envelope from his dress jacket.
Elaine was standing next to him so she took the envelope and pulled out the folded sheet. The red sharpie stood out, emphasizing the threat written in all capital letters. Biting her lip, she let the paper fall, not realizing that Nate had walked in and was standing behind her.
Amy watched Nate pull Elaine towards him for support and frowned.
“Hey,” Nate felt Elaine tense and glanced down to see fear in her eyes. “Talk to me.”
“Look. . .Look for yourself.” Elaine placed her head on Nate’s chest and looked towards Amy after Randy held up a sheet of paper he had successfully taped together.
“How often do you empty your shredder?” Randy asked after starting another sheet without reading the first. “Amy?”
“Every other month,” Amy answered while stepping to where she had seen the paper that Elaine had been reading fall. She frowned when Nate stepped over and grabbed it before she had a chance. “It’s not worth it, Nate.”
“Is that a warning?” Nate asked before focusing on the profile page. “How many secrets are you hiding, Amy? How many times have I begged you to talk to me?”
“Oh, that’s fair.”
Nate shoved the paper at her. “How did this happen? You were against internet dating. And now because you put your name out there, you have a death threat.”
“Don’t be so sure that’s real.”
Randy looked towards her and frowned. “If I had thought that there was nothing to that, I wouldn’t be here. I do have a question, Amy.”
“Why I didn’t tell you about the letters?”
“And that would be it. We,” Randy stared in her direction and then glanced at Kyle quickly, “were together for the better part of seven months. Maybe, you should read what is written on the back of the page. Aloud.”
“No, I don’t think that I should.”
Kyle grabbed the sheet from her and turned it over in his hands. “I’m not really surprised that you didn’t tell him. I mean, you are a pro at keeping things to yourself.”
“Butt out, Kyle. I don’t even know why you’re here. . .Again.” Amy walked away from him and watched Randy bend over the counter while he continued to work. “The owners of the site assured me that nobody could get past their securities.”
Randy straightened, looking past her to where Kyle stood before focusing on Amy again. “I’m going to assume that you’ve met them.”
“Of course, I did. I’m the one that puts together their advertising campaigns. That’s the reason why I gave them a spin and met you.” Amy noticed that Nate was holding Elaine again and grew angry. “Nate, didn’t we talk about that?”
“I remember, Amy, and I think that you should focus on what Randy is trying to tell you.” Nate retorted.
“Do you want to know what I think? I don’t think that anything is going to come of that stupid threat. You can stress over it all you want, but. . .” Amy stopped talking when Kyle stepped behind her and turned her around to him. “What could you possibly have to say about this?
“You know from past experiences that there are a lot of sick puppies hanging around waiting for trouble. Let’s take what Randy has to say to heart, Amy.”
“Take. Your. Hands. Off. Of. Me.” Amy glared at him before Randy cleared his throat. “Can we just take a minute away from this? I mean, I have been stressed all week. I’m asking for a break.”
Elaine nodded and pushed away from Nate, following Amy out of the apartment. “Amy, they’re just worried.”
“What about you? I hope that you know what you’re doing. I mean with Nate.” Amy sighed, leaning against the brick wall.
“Things happen.”
“I want to forget about the letters, so tell me.” Amy studied her best friend. “It’s time to be honest, Elaine. If you still love my brother, why don’t you give him a break? Do more than sleep with him.”
Elaine coughed before laughing. “Figured it out, Amy?”
“Elaine, I don’t want you to see you or Nate suffer like you always do after you take different paths again,” Amy sighed. “Maybe you moving into my apartment wasn’t a brilliant idea.”
“Nate and I can handle this,” Elaine mumbled. “I am wondering how you’re dealing with your ex-boyfriend and Kyle being in the same room together. They both care an awful lot about you.”
“It’s clever of you to change the subject.”
Elaine smirked. “Kyle has sized him up a few times already. I think he has a trust issue.”
“Kyle can do whatever he wants; we’re not involved.”
“Says you,” Elaine chuckled. “Did you know that a person can see clearly down the hall when they’re sitting on the couch? That was a very steamy kiss the two of you shared. Screams involvement.” She stared at Amy. “That’s why you wanted to get outside. He confuses you.”
“He doesn’t,” Amy snapped. “He irritates me. He
interferes with my job. He doesn’t confuse me.”
“Sure. So how was that kiss on the scale of one to ten?”
“Definitely a ten,” Amy laughed. “All of them.”
“Oh, more than the two that I know about?”
“Several more, but that doesn’t mean that I want to jump into the frying pan with him.” Amy admitted before hearing the door open. “I guess that they want us inside.”
Kyle stepped out and looked at the women. “I think that we really need to talk.” He addressed Amy while waiting for Elaine to leave them.
“No, we don’t.”
Kyle narrowed his eyes and picked up one of her hands. “You still think that this is just a joke. I don’t. Nate doesn’t. Evidently, Randy has been looking into this because he thinks that it’s serious. By the way, he’s a great guy.”
“Gee, you have no idea how happy I am that you approve.” Amy stated with sarcasm dripping in her voice. “Would you mind telling me why you’re really here after I asked you to leave?”
“Told me to leave,” Kyle corrected. “And I’m here because Randy saw me leave your apartment and asked me to join in the fun.”
“Fun?!”
“Amy, I’m not trying to start a war with you.”
“That’s good to know.” Amy straightened and started walking towards the door, noticing that Elaine had already left.
Kyle stepped in front of her. “We believe that this is very serious.”
“Well, I don’t, and I wish that you all would just drop it and move on.” Amy stepped around him and opened her door. Looking back, she stared at Kyle. “Will you leave now?”
“No, not until you start seeing what we see.”
“Fine, I see it.” Amy tried to close the door before he could enter and tensed after feeling him stop it. “You’re impossible.”
“Deal,” Kyle twisted his lips, trying not to laugh at her expression. “And you’re a terrible liar.”
“What makes you think that I’m lying? You want me to see what you do. Great. There is a threat written in a red sharpie. I have been getting letters for several months. Five? I’m not sure. I’ve only read a couple of them. My brother is being an idiot. My best friend is letting him take advantage of her, and you,” Amy shoved a finger into his chest, “are a very insistent jerk who loves to interfere in whatever seems to be happening to me. How’s that for seeing what you and everybody else in this room sees? I want all of you out of here that don’t belong. I’m sick and tired of everything.”
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