“Okay. So maybe you go back and create a chase. See if it really is Cory and make her a deal she can’t refuse.”
I laughed at my brother trying to act like the Godfather. He was terrible at imitating movies. I nodded. “So you’re saying despite the fact that she doesn’t want to admit it’s really her, pursue her?”
“Yep. Just don’t call us from jail.”
Both laughed as I pictured that scenario and how much it would suck being arrested because I was trying to get a date. I quickly imagined calling her from jail as my one-time call. Nope, that didn’t scream stalker. Then again, if I just gave up on pursuing her I’d never know what might have been with her. Or what the inside of a jail cell looked like.
I decided to give it a day or two and hopefully catch Sarah off guard. Maybe then she’d go out with me and I could confirm finally that she really was in fact Cory. I wanted to meet her outside of the Maiden because there wasn’t really a way to talk to her while she was serving drinks, or over the loud TVs and screams of the patrons. The laundromat was out because, well, I wasn’t sure how often she did her laundry, but I was pretty sure she didn’t go there every few days.
On my lunch hour, I watched her leave the Maiden and tried to see where she would go. At the end of March, even in Hotlanta, it could get pretty darn cold—which was why I was even more surprised when she walked into a park and sat down on a bench. Opening a book, she immersed herself in the pages despite the chilly wind that whipped all around her. I was thankful she’d had changed out of the silly uniform. Still, her jeans, sweater, and jacket didn’t seem like they’d keep her warm enough.
Considering the temperature and the wind factor, there weren’t a whole lot of people in the park—so my presence, I realized, was even more obvious, and it really did look like I was following her.
“You’re looking like a GQ captain of a boat,” she said as I went ahead and approached her.
I smiled at her comment as I glanced down at what I was wearing. “What?”
“Cream cable-knit sweater topped off with a navy sailor coat. Pretty fancy for a guy.” She was smiling, her eyes shimmering with some sort of mischief.
I furrowed my brows. She was right, and seeing that only made me laugh.
“I guess I matched up my clothes too well when I left the house this morning.”
She shut her book and looked up at me. Her gorgeous, big, brown eyes studied me. “Why are you here?”
“I…” I looked around hoping for something to save me. The trees in the park were bare, with only a few leaves scattered on the ground here and there. Car horns beeped in the distance, and other than the busy street nearby, the park was quiet. Except for the sound of my heartbeat. I had no idea what to say, considering there wasn’t much around. Finally, I spied a mother and her child walking on the sidewalk toward the street and nodded toward them. “You got me. I’m making sure they stay safe.”
Sarah smirked as she tilted her head. “Stay safe? Are you a bodyguard or something?”
“No, I’m on the safety board for the parks and recreation department.” It wasn’t too far from the truth. Our company donated money toward the parks in the Atlanta area. Stretching the truth a little, yeah, but what else was I going to say?
Sarah sat back and peered up at me. With the sun behind me, her only option was to squint and shade her eyes from the sunlight.
I moved in the other direction so she wouldn’t be blinded.
She smirked and tilted her head playfully. “I thought you’d finally admit to following me. I was pretty sure when I saw you across the street as I left work that you’d come over and talk to me.” I was pleasantly surprised to hear the smile in her voice. Her mouth was pressed together as she waited to hear my response.
I exhaled and lowered my head. Busted. “I guess I’d never make a very good cop, would I?” I squatted down next to her so she didn’t have to crane her neck anymore.
“I don’t know.” Her eyes narrowed at me, and now that we were at the same level I watched the gold flecks that I’d missed so much. If she wasn’t Cory, she was a damn good doppelgänger. “Would you?” Her petite, pink lips pressed together, and I wasn’t sure if it was because she was cold or scrutinizing me, but damn, they looked so kissable. I was having a tough time remembering I was going to teach her a lesson.
“Afraid not. Especially since you busted me for just watching to see where you went. I’d have failed, ‘How to tail someone’ class on the first day,” I joked.
“So, tell me the truth: Why are you really following me, Alex?”
I watched her bite her lip. I knew I hadn’t said my name, so either Cassie had told her, or it really was Cory. My heart skipped a beat, and while I wanted to hug her on the spot, I also had the memory flash of her stepfather telling me she had run away with some other boy.
“When I asked if you’ve ever lived in Ohio, it was because you remind me of someone I used to know.” I watched her carefully, waiting for her to flinch or something—any sign that would prove she really was Cory. Although I was already convinced of that.
“An ex-girlfriend?” Both her eyebrows perked up, and if I wasn’t mistaken there was a hint of jealousy in her deep brown eyes. The flecks of gold stood out even more with her anger.
“Yeah. Something like that. Where’d you move from?”
Her eyes darted away nervously. Cassie had said she was evasive about her background, and suddenly I wanted to play cop. I glanced the same way she had and noticed the traffic clearing up along the nearby street.
“Starting in with the questions before we even get a chance to get friendly,” she said as she continued to gaze out at the park. She turned and tilted her head, and again her eyes scrutinized me. “Why should I answer you?”
I smiled. She was being evasive, so pushing back was my only option. “We can go to my work. My secretary can vouch for me.” Ms. Bixby had worked at my dad’s company for what seemed like forever. She had hated working for Jay, and well, I had basically stolen her from him. She’d always liked me much better.
My answer threw her completely off guard. Her brows pulled in and her voice seemed harsh. Maybe she wanted to play cop too. “Secretary?” she asked, as if the concept were so foreign to her. “Where do you work? What do you do?”
I smiled, confident because that was usually when most women swooned—at least for me. “I’m an architect.”
Her eyebrows popped up. “An architect?” She seemed completely surprised by my answer, and it was definitely not the usual response I received from women. Was she hoping I did something else for a living?
“Yeah.” I chuckled. “What’d you think?” Without asking, I sat down next to her. The bench was freezing and I had no idea how she’d withstood it for so long. Thoughts raced around my mind as I tried to figure out how to ask her out for coffee. Honestly, I hadn’t felt that way in a very long time, but the idea of being turned down again made my hands all sweaty. I was glad I had them in my jacket pockets to keep them warm.
Sarah shook her head. “It doesn’t matter what I thought.”
Sitting next to her and being able to study her a little more was actually nice. It was cold out and I couldn’t imagine sitting there and actually wanting to read. I pulled my hands from my pockets, cupped them, and blew into them, attempting to warm my palms. I pointed over to her book with one finger. “What are you reading?”
“Murder mystery.” Her eyebrows perked up and she gave me a sly smile. She was probably plotting my demise.
“Yeah? I like those too.” I leaned forward to peek at the title. “I’ve read that one. The maid did it,” I joked and flashed my best smile. It worked, because those beautiful pink lips curved into a gorgeous smile as she rolled her eyes. All of a sudden, I was back in junior high and could barely speak to a girl. My throat tightened and all my thoughts disappeared. I was lost in deep pools of rich, hot coffee. I wasn’t sure if I was thinking about her eye color or wanting something hot to warm me
up.
I was just about to finally ask her out for coffee when it happened. Not that we could see whom they were yelling at, but a cop appeared out of nowhere and was suddenly behind us yelling, “Freeze!”
At the very same moment, Sarah screamed, “Shit!” and immediately raised her hands into the air, dropping her book to the ground. Sirens blared down the nearby street. My heart jumped as I turned in my seat to see what was really going on. Fear marred Sarah’s expression as she stayed put, not moving a muscle, her eyes closed now as if she were praying. My eyes continued to scan the area behind us. Two cops chased a guy who held a bright red purse and continued past our bench.
“They weren’t talking to you.” I wanted to laugh. After all, it was a weird situation. “You probably shouldn’t read those mysteries if they’re going to make you that jumpy.” I chuckled and immediately stopped when she jumped up and took off running, leaving her novel on the ground. I scooped it up and took off after her.
“Sarah!” I called as she continued to trek out of the park and down the street. I stopped running the moment I watched her hail a cab. As she was about to get in, Sarah turned her head and stared at me for a lingering moment.
I tried to decide if her expression was telling me not to follow her or that she was sorry she’d run off like that. Whatever it was, it made me stop in my tracks and watch her get into the cab and ride off. I was still holding her paperback mystery in my hand. I looked down and brushed the dirt off it as I read the title—When He Comes For You. The way she had frozen when she’d thought the officer had told her to and jumped to run away might have everything to do with the book. Maybe she shouldn’t be reading stuff like that if she was skittish as Cassie had mentioned she was.
Four
Cory
The cop appearing out of nowhere and yelling “freeze” shot me into a major panic. Shaking my head, I was so mad at myself for panicking and wasting money on a stupid cab. All I wanted to do was get out of there, and I hoped that they weren’t after me. What if the guy they were chasing was really one of Remy’s gang members? I really hoped he wasn’t because that would mean they’d found out where I was.
I sat on Jeanine’s couch with my heart still pounding from fear of coming so close to being arrested, my hands tucked under my ass so I could try to warm them and keep them from shaking. I stared at my reflection in the TV screen while listening to the sounds outside. Living with Jeanine, I got to hear the best of the best outside. There was no need to turn the TV on since I could hear a whole show going on throughout the entire neighborhood. Fighting, the cooing of prostitutes trying to get their next John, and every once in a while shots being fired off in the distance. Which was good. You always wanted that way out in the distance.
I knew Alex was following me, which was why I had chosen the park. It was freezing outside but I couldn’t have him following me home. Not only was that not safe, but I also didn’t want him to see where I lived. I hated to admit it, but I was embarrassed. For the first time in years, I was having feelings for a guy all over again—one who had hurt me, and deep down I wasn’t sure how to process it all. Not that any of that mattered now. Running, like I had, would only make him think I was some weirdo. Between him stalking me and me running like a crazy person, we’d never be able to have a normal conversation.
At least he still believed me to be Sarah, which gave me some relief. If he still thought I was Sarah, he could never know who I really was or what I’d done. Where I’d come from, either. I looked around Jeanine’s living room and my eyes landed on my duffle bag—the one that carried all my possessions now. Not that I had many before I ran. I had nothing back then.
Just thinking about how embarrassed I felt not having anything of my own made me think back to before Dad died. My whole life flipped on a switch. I yearned for my childhood home—the one in the nice neighborhood with plenty of families with young children. Where the wonderful elderly couple next door used to watch out for me and were always out on their porch when the school bus arrived. Even if my mom wasn’t home for some reason, they were there for me if I needed them. Their grandson was my Alex and he would come to visit on school breaks. I smiled to myself as I thought about how excited I’d get when school was out. Not because I didn’t have homework or have to study, which I hated, but because I’d get to see Alex. We’d grab our mitts, ball, and bat, and head out to the nearby field and throw the ball around. There were some other neighborhood kids—they’d hated it when we were there, but Alex had talked them into letting us hang out with them. Especially me. They really hadn’t wanted me to play because I was a girl. That hadn’t mattered to Alex. He’d gotten along with all the kids and made sure I was included. When he was away, I’d occasionally head down there to play, but not too often. It wasn’t much fun without him.
Our walks to and from the old baseball field were what I cherished most. Our silly talks about our dreams. Hopes. What we wanted out of life. I had always fantasized I’d wind up marrying Alex. We’d talked about where we’d live and what kind of house…
Alex had always talked about building things. Hearing him tell me he was an architect shouldn’t have surprised me like it had. It stunned me and brought me back to the dreams we used to have together. That he would build us the house we’d always wanted. Four bedrooms. Not because we wanted a lot of kids, no. We’d only wanted two kids. We’d wanted four bedroom so his Granny and Pappy would have a room to stay. We both loved them that much.
Then I never heard from him again after I moved away. I’d written letters to him, but never heard back. If I’d been allowed to use the phone, I wondered if he’d have answered. He'd promised he would write and call, but I received nothing from him. No letters. No phone calls.
I heard an odd noise and looked around, knowing something was off.
I jumped up and went around the couch. “Jeanine?” My voice was low, but if she was there and heard me, she’d know she better answer.
I heard the same strange moan again and lunged for the butcher knife on the counter not too far from me—benefits of having a small-ass apartment. I held it low to my side as I moved toward the noise near her bedroom and bathroom. I guess most would leave the place, but I’d been conditioned to move toward the noise, since that always meant someone I loved was in trouble or needed my help. My heart pounded inside my chest as I took another step, my eyes adjusting to the darkness in the hallway.
I raised the knife in a stabbing position, ready to do what I needed to do. It sure wouldn’t be the first time I’d stabbed someone, although the last time I’d had to run from the city. I never wanted to have to stab someone again.
Louder that time, the knocking of furniture put me on full alert. My whole body shook and I inhaled deeply to steady myself.
The sound that followed made me feel like an idiot. I was completely wrong thinking she was in trouble. “Ohh,” Jeanine sighed heavily through the door. “Damn, that was fucking good.” It was my turn to sigh as I slumped against the wall and blew out a huge breath of air.
The door popped open, which made me jump again. Cisco sauntered out of the room wearing only a satisfied sneer on his face. The moment he saw me, his brow kicked up, and he added a cocky nod when he saw the glint of the knife I was holding. “Really, Sarah? You wouldn’t be able to stab me in the back. I had her riding me. Hard.” He laughed as he continued on to the bathroom, holding his jeans in his hand.
“You’re back already?” Jeanine asked as she sat up in bed. “Thought you were at work.”
“The place was dead so they ended my shift early.” I nodded toward the bathroom door and then looked at Jeanine as she slipped her jeans on and walked toward me. Averting my eyes as she tucked her boobs back into the cups of her bra, which had been pulled down, I asked, “When’d you get back together with C?” I still eyed the bathroom door warily, and my grip on the knife hadn’t loosened either. Cisco was an asshole—a drug dealing jerk that I was glad Jeanine had finally kicked to the cur
b not long after he’d gotten me my fake IDs. I shook my head just thinking of the crap I’d have to deal with again. I had told Jeanine if he had drugs on him when he was at the apartment, she’d get busted for it too if they raided the place. He’d been in and out of jail so many times, I wasn’t sure why they didn’t just keep him in there to save money on hunting him down.
She smiled as she looked at the bathroom door and then whispered, “Just now.”
I rolled my eyes and turned toward the kitchen. The problem was that I’d be sleeping on the small, bumpy couch again since her apartment was a one-bedroom. Sharing a bed together didn’t bother either of us after she’d kicked him out the last time. Now that Cisco the major asshole was back, I’d have to take the couch in case he popped in at all hours of the night.
I slid the knife back into the butcher block and opened the fridge for a much-needed drink. Only…there were no bottles of my beer left. Now that the asshole was back, why wouldn’t he drink my beers just like before?
The bathroom door opened and Asshole emerged with that stupid shit-eating grin on his face. I turned quickly so I didn’t have to see him. That didn’t work.
“Tito’s been asking about you. Said he still wants a piece of that fine ass of yours.”
“Tell him he’ll never get any from me. I paid over and above what it should have cost for those IDs.” I wasn’t happy that I’d had to pay more than originally agreed upon, but he’d upped the price since I wouldn’t sleep with him as part of the payment. What little money I was going to have left to pay for my ticket out of there, I’d had to pay that asshole. My plan to skip town right after was long gone now, and that was the reason I took up the job at The Freckled Maiden. I wasn’t about to turn to prostitution, like Jeanine kept telling me to do. Although I’d probably be able to leave sooner, I wasn’t going there. I’d managed to evade that lifestyle so far and I wasn’t about to turn to it now that I was desperate for money.
Trust Me Forever (Forever Happens Series Book 2) Page 3