Randy glanced up from the letter he was reading and stared at Amy. “I’m impressed, Amy. I’ve never heard you vent like that.”
“You’ve never given me a reason,” Amy sighed, “until now. I’ll call a meeting with the owners of that site and have a talk with them. That’s all I’m going to promise. Now, I have to work in the morning and would like to get some rest. Thanks for stopping by, Randy, but it really wasn’t necessary to worry others about that.” She pointed to the profile page and then glared at Kyle. “And it really wasn’t necessary for you to come here.”
“You know that I’m not taking advantage of Elaine,” Nate mumbled. “I think that was a little presumptuous on your part.”
“Kyle wanted me to call it like I see it. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing with Elaine, but if you hurt her again, I’ll never talk to you again.” Amy informed him. “By the way, you forgot to argue the point of you being an idiot. Don’t try to play this off, Nate; you admitted that you’ve slept with her.”
“You told her?” Elaine asked, staring at Nate in shock. “Why would you do something that foolish?”
“I’m sorry, but you’re the one that gave us away.” Nate responded. “Kyle, what do you think about what my lovely sister has said?”
“You and Elaine are acting one way and doing another. I agree with her there, my friend, but Elaine wasn’t the only one that gave it away.” Kyle leaned against the wall, noticing that Randy was acting amused.
“What about what she said about you?”
“Can’t deny it. I’m very insistent when it’s something or somebody that I happen to care about. I can even be a jerk when I have to be, but someone is just going to have to accept the fact that I’m not going anywhere.” Kyle stepped across to where Amy was standing next to Randy. “Randy, what happened that it didn’t work out between you and Amy?”
“What happened?” Randy asked, hearing Amy exhale from beside him. “To be honest, I don’t think anything really happened. We were very compatible, and we had a ball. I was probably guilty of moving too fast.”
“It’s none of your business, Kyle.” Amy added.
“And the sex?” Kyle asked, looking at Amy knowingly.
“That’s really none of your business.” Amy snapped.
Randy twisted his lips. “You have no reason to ashamed, Amy. I thought that it was great. I just couldn’t get over the part where you wouldn’t stay the night.”
“That sounds familiar.” Elaine mumbled, staring at Nate. “Look, Nate, you’ve taught your baby sister all about commitment issues. Happy?”
“I did?” Nate stared at her in disbelief. “You were always the one that needed to get home before your parents realized that you weren’t there.”
“What can I say? I lived under their roof so I had to follow their guidelines.”
“You could’ve moved in with me.” Nate snapped.
“I’m not going to live with you.” Elaine stated in response. “We’ve had this discussion a lot of times, but you’ve just never gotten it.”
Kyle looked from Elaine to Nate. “I think that she wants the whole package, man. Put a ring on that finger.”
“Marriage? That’s why you broke up with me?” Nate asked with disbelief. “You wanted me to propose to you again after learning that the job you had would require traveling and months spent apart?”
“Do you think that I would’ve taken that job if I knew where I stood with you? God, your sister is right. You are an idiot.” Elaine snapped at him. “What was I supposed to do, Nate? You were the one that said that you weren’t the marrying type. I’ve heard that a lot from you.”
“You never said a word.”
“Right, I didn’t. It’s too bad that I haven’t met anybody that made me feel the way you did. During all of those trips that I went on for the company, I tried to forget you.” Elaine spoke after she turned around so that she wouldn’t have to look at him. “It’s too bad that I kept coming back. I think that hindered the process. And then those women that you dated. . .”
“Never worked out because they weren’t you,” Nate muttered. “What have we done?”
Amy glanced at Kyle and shook her head before stepping towards the front door. “Elaine, Nate, take it across the parking lot and figure this out. Randy, I’ll let you know what I find out tomorrow, and Kyle,” Amy tilted her head and stared at him, “the next time I see you, will be too soon. Out- all of you.”
Kyle waited until everybody had left and propped on the counter while she waited for him. “I think I said that we were going to talk.”
“I’m all talked out.” Amy responded while standing the door.
“Too bad I’m not. Pushing aside the letters, I came here to see you.” Kyle watched Amy close the door and turn towards him. “I’ve wanted to see you all day.”
“Was it important?”
“I think that we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot. All I wanted to do was help.”
“And I believe that I thanked you.” Amy reminded him. “I’m tired, Kyle.” She stepped towards the couch and grabbed the sketchbook that was on the table along with a pencil. “Say whatever you think you have to say and then leave.”
“You’re not making this easy.”
“Wasn’t aware that I was supposed to make it easy,” Amy blinked her eyes before glancing up and noticing that he was standing right next to her. Tossing the book down beside her, she sighed. “Okay, you’ve got my attention.”
“I would like to take you out to a nice diner and get to know you.”
“You’re asking me out on a date.”
“I guess that I am. I was a little obnoxious when I asked Randy those questions about you, but it made Nate and Elaine talk. That was a plus.”
“You didn’t have a right, and it wasn’t any of your business what I did or didn’t do when I was with Randy.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I think it’s a little late for you to apologize.” Amy snapped. “Are you done now?”
“Will you go out with me?”
“No, I won’t. I’d rather not see you anymore.” Amy lowered her gaze and focused on the television remote. “The door is that way.” Amy nodded towards the front door.
Kyle studied her before walking towards the door. “You want to know something, Amy? You lit into all of us, but you’ve forgotten to ask us what we think.”
“I didn’t have to ask,” Amy responded. “Don’t worry; you’ve all placed your cards face up on the table.”
“And you sent everybody away so you can pout and feel sorry for yourself.” He stepped away from the door and focused on her. “Isn’t that right, Amy?”
“Not exactly,” Amy hissed before he sat across from her.
“Then why? You even sent Elaine away.”
“For a reason other than what you want to think,” Amy stood and glared down at him. “I get it, Kyle. I did my soul searching already. That happened before you forced me to take that test for which I have already given my thanks. Whatever happens now- it happens.”
“Why did it just sound like you’re not going to fight this?”
“What am I fighting? Who? The threat is on a piece of paper which can disappear by simply inserting it into a shredder. It just doesn’t make sense that out of thousands of people that I would become some demented person’s target.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t, but ignoring it isn’t going to make it go away. Don’t ignore it.” Kyle stood, standing in front of her and placing his hands on her shoulder. “Promise me that you won’t.”
Amy couldn’t say anything after she looked into his eyes.
Squinting his eyes, Kyle lifted one of his hands and traced her face with his fingers. “I think that I should leave. . .”
The door slammed open before Kyle could finish. They were both staring at the door after Elaine stopped and stared at them.
“Of all the impossible pig headed. . .” Elaine pursed her lips in amusement and
stared at Amy and Kyle. “Sorry, I thought that you had left, Kyle. I can go back to Nate’s to finish my rant.”
“Kyle was leaving,” Amy jerked away from Kyle’s hold and looked at him seriously. “Whatever happens, you’re not involved. It’s not your problem, not your place, to fight an invisible threat. I think that it’s best if you go, and after you leave, don’t look back.”
“And if I do?”
“You won’t see me,” Amy turned and walked the length of the hall to her room.
Kyle shrugged after noticing Elaine staring at him. “I guess you and Nate didn’t work out your issues.”
“He asked me to marry him- again.” Elaine sank into the closest chair. “Of course, his timing stinks, and I have a feeling that he only did that because you were the one who figured out why I was mad at him.”
“Excuse me?”
“My company calls right when he took out a ring that I had no idea he had. They need me to go back to Paris. He got mad and put the ring up before I had a chance to refuse the trip. When I saw him do that, I accepted the trip. It’s almost like he doesn’t trust me.”
“Would there be a reason for him not to trust you?”
“Honestly? I haven’t looked at another man in my whole life. I’ve only been with Nate.”
“The guy Amy mentioned?”
“I simply told Amy that I had met a guy. That’s not a lie; I meet plenty of people on my job.”
Kyle stepped to the door for a second time and turned back to her. “You should tell Nate.”
“No, because he’s always going to be insecure. Amy is the same way.”
Kyle nodded, opened the door and left.
Chapter 14
Amy stood in front of the boards she had lined up and frowned. After setting up a meeting with the owners of the dating service, she had called Randy at his job. The fact that he wanted to attend the meeting should’ve reassured her, but it had done nothing to ease the continuous wave of apprehension.
She was focused on the board with the meadow, trying not to imagine the words she will die written in bold red writing across it. Shaking her head, she stepped away from the boards and noticed that Kyle was talking to Sonny in the hall.
Deciding to ignore them, Amy took out another board, but found that she was blocked. “Damn it!” She kicked the easel, watched the board fall onto the floor and lowered herself to her knees and in front of it while placing a hand over her eyes.
The menacing letters, the red sharpie, her profile displaying a picture that she hadn’t submitted. They swam around in her thoughts much like they had every time she had tried to close her eyes after going to bed.
Standing after hearing her office phone ring, she grabbed the blank board and placed it on the table. Amy was reaching for the phone when Kenny walked in with Randy.
“Amy, you look like the walking dead.” Kenny stepped to desk before Amy picked up the receiver and answered.
Amy watched Randy look at the boards while she confirmed an appointment. Replacing the receiver, she glanced at Kenny. “Kenny, did you need something?”
“The Eccard Account?”
“Not mine any more. I thought that was settled.” Amy glanced at him puzzled. “I don’t care what you do with it.”
“He only wants you on the account.”
“Yeah? Kenny, I don’t have to remind you of what happened. I won’t work on that account. I’ll quit first. Now I need to have a private conference with Mr. Thomson.” Amy pointed to her guest. “Unless there was something else.”
“No, we’re good. I guess I should talk to Sonny and see what he thinks.”
“You do that. I’ve already put in my two cents.” Amy tried to smile while watching him leave. Turning towards Randy after her door was closed, she frowned. “I don’t like this, Randy. I didn’t sleep last night. The picture. . .”
“Wasn’t the original. Sorry, I had printed your page while I was trying to build up my courage to contact you.”
“You had to build up your courage?” Amused, Amy walked towards the table. “You talk and interview people every day.”
“That’s for work, Amy. I think that somebody set up a new page for you. Somebody that had seen us together- perhaps. I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”
“At least it isn’t blocking you from doing your job.”
“What do you mean?
“No creative juices flowing this morning.” Amy answered. “I’m just glad that my boss didn’t see me lose it earlier.”
Randy focused on the broken easel and grinned. “It’s perfectly alright for you to lose your temper. Of course, it would be a better idea not to break the equipment you need. Does Kyle work here?”
“No- why?”
“I saw him.” Randy answered, studying the meadow before sitting down at the table. “So where does your boyfriend work?”
“Kyle isn’t my boyfriend.” Amy responded while rubbing her eyes. “He hangs around Nate along with six others.”
“Any of them got it in for you?”
Amy arched her eyes. “I haven’t given anybody a reason to harbor a grudge against me.”
Randy motioned for her to join him. “Why don’t we start a list? Let’s start with Eccard. You looked upset when your co-worker mentioned him, and he wasn't disturbed that you refused to talk about it.”
“Eccard might be a chauvinistic sex addict, but I don’t think that he’d play around on a computer to get my information.”
“The full name, Amy.”
“Darrell Eccard. This is silly.” Amy grabbed the blank board and stared at it. “I don’t know any of the other names.”
“None of the names of the guys that hang out with Nate?”
“I know about Kyle and Bob. The only reason I know Bob is because he stopped by the apartment looking for Nate.”
“And how did that go?” Randy asked, glancing up when Amy didn’t answer. “Well?”
“Not the way he wanted,” She watched him write the name down on the paper. “You didn’t write down Kyle.”
Randy placed his pen down on the tablet. “What exactly do you have against Kyle? He seems to be level headed.”
“I guess you’ve joined his fan club. Why am I not surprised?”
“How many guys did you reject while using the service?”
“I didn’t exactly reject any of them. I simply chose not to reply. Besides, I had canceled my membership right after we started dating.”
“Canceled. You shouldn’t have been available for anyone to contact.”
“That was more than six months ago, Randy.” Amy pushed away from the table and started to pace. “So where are your instincts taking you now? Inside job? There was somebody else there when I met the owners, and I’m going to tell you that I wasn’t introduced to him. I was taken directly into the office.”
“I’ll make a note to ask them as well as asking your brother the names of his playmates.”
“The playmates are probably innocent. You don’t know my brother.”
“Bob?” He watched Amy shiver and laughed.
Amy looked towards the door as her receptionist walked in. “Della?”
“I forgot to give you a message. Kyle is bringing your lunch and hopes that salmon will be a suitable choice.”
“What time is it?”
“A little after one,” Della answered. “Warms my soul to see Sonny’s young man around here.”
Randy smirked. “So Kyle is the owner’s son?”
“He’s a friend of Nate’s.” Amy snapped. “Have you even thought that the person responsible might be of the female persuasion?” Amy asked after Della had left and closed the door again. “Somebody that thinks they might have been jilted by you?”
“I’m a great guy.”
“I remember. I’m just saying that if you’re going to put everybody that I’ve met under a microscope, we should do the same with the people you know.”
“Maybe we should take a break, Amy. You think
better when you sketch.”
“But I’m so stressed that I can’t sketch.” Amy responded. “And I need to at least be able to think creatively.”
Kyle stepped into the office with a bag and smiled before seeing the look on Amy’s face. “Oh, boy.”
“She’s stressed, Kyle.” Randy narrowed his eyes before taking one of the boxes that Kyle offered him.
“And my presence isn’t helping,” Kyle placed another box in front of where Amy was standing and gently pushed her down into the chair. “I asked your roommate what you normally eat. I can’t say that it’s too healthy, but comfort food is comfort food. Try the salmon and then maybe I’ll find the ice cream that I hid in one of the freezers.”
“You brought me ice cream?” Amy grabbed a set of the plasticware while watching him take another box out of the bag without opening it. “Why aren’t you eating?”
“I had lunch with Pop. I guess you want to know what’s in this box now.”
“It’s crossing my mind.”
“This is a big serving of homemade potato chips. Guaranteed to unravel your obsession with the bagged ones. Really crispy and fresh.”
Amy wrinkled her nose and reached for the box that was in front of Kyle. “Come on, Kyle, I just want to sample one.”
“Too bad. I don’t know anybody that’s satisfied with just one.”
“I think that I just discovered your stress reliever, Amy. He’s good for you.” Randy chuckled.
“No way. He seems to have a fetish over food. Randy, don’t you want my salmon?”
Randy shook his head. “So where did you get this, Kyle? I’ve never had salmon like this before now.”
“Have you ever heard of The Captain’s Palace?” Kyle asked while opening the box and pulling out a chip. “That’s me,” he responded while biting into one of the fried potato chips, crunching it before glancing at Randy.
“I had thought about taking Amy there a few times; especially after reading the rave review that was in the paper.” Randy watched Amy push away the half-eaten salmon from in front of her. “But she eats like a bird.”
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