59. Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Blake
A J insisted on driving me to campus so I could meet with the two professors who’d agreed to see me. After the meetings, I’d pack up my dorm room. I emailed Paige, so she wouldn’t be surprised or think something was wrong, and asked if we could meet for coffee.
She said she’d meet me in our room as soon as her exam was over, then apologized for being a crappy friend.
As we parked, I asked, “Will it be okay if Paige and I go out for coffee?” Then got annoyed at myself for asking.
AJ chuckled. “Of course. Want me to stick close or give you space?”
I didn’t want to admit how shaken up I still felt, so I said, “There’s no reason you can’t get a coffee and wait inside.”
“Done.” He flashed a killer smile in my direction before getting out of the truck.
The professors I met with agreed to let me make up the work I’d missed, including the midterms. Hopefully, the other two would give me extensions to turn in my papers.
At my dorm, AJ insisted on lugging the empty boxes up to my room. We were almost done packing when Paige came in, stopping short and gasping when she saw AJ.
“Hi, Paige,” he said before turning to me. “I’ll be in the hall if you need me.” He slipped out, closing the door behind him.
I closed the distance and hugged Paige. I hadn’t realized just how much I missed her until I saw her again.
“I didn’t think you still needed a bodyguard.” It sounded more like a question than a statement.
“I don’t. He’s here as my…” Is he my boyfriend ? I mean, I slept with him and he’d told me he loved me, and I’d be staying with him, but we hadn’t actually talked about it. About ‘us’.
“You slept with him!” she screeched.
I put my hand over her mouth. Was I that obvious? I felt the heat rise in my cheeks as I studied the box on the floor near my feet. I wasn’t prone to discussing my sex life, but Paige was more open than me.
She turned towards the door as if she could see him through it.
I whispered, “I did.” I wouldn’t share more than that.
She turned back to me, a gleam in her eyes. “He might be a big dumb ogre.” She used my words. “But he’s hot. Was it good?”
My cheeks felt like they might spontaneously combust. I wouldn’t answer her question, so I defended him instead. “He’s not dumb.” It was my turn to look at him through the closed door. I paused and thought about everything he’d done over the last few days. “He’s actually really sweet.”
Knowing I wouldn’t kiss and tell, she stopped teasing me and asked, “How are you holding up, really?”
I plopped on my bed and sighed. That was the million dollar question. “I’m not really sure. I’m pissed at my dad, and scared more people will come after me. And I’m freaking out about school.” I sighed. “Everything’s a fucking mess right now.”
Paige sat and put her arm around me. “I’m sorry, Bee.” She used the nickname she’d given me at the start of freshman year, but stopped using because Danny didn’t like it. “I haven’t been a great friend, but that changes now. Whatever you need, okay?”
“Thanks.” I hugged her, happy my best friend was back. She sounded more like the Paige she was before Danny worked his way into our group.
When I asked about him, Paige told me they’d parted ways. “I’m sorry. I know he’s your friend, but I couldn’t take it anymore. No one should have to walk on eggshells to hang out with a friend.”
“Seriously, I only put up with him because I thought you liked him.”
We had a good laugh and agreed we didn’t need Danny in our life anymore.
“Let’s call in tall, dark, and handsome, and get you packed up.” She looked around. “Are you moving back home?”
“No, I, uh, I’m staying with Andrew.”
“Good for you.” She hugged me again. “You know, Bee, despite everything, you look happy.”
I felt happy. Because of AJ. Andrew no middle name Janerek. The big, dumb ogre who’d snuck in and stolen my heart.
Paige opened the door and ushered AJ back in. He gave Paige a nod before turning all his attention to me, his muscles relaxing as he scanned my face.
“I’m bummed you’re stealing my roommate,” Paige said to AJ. She put her hands on her hips. “You better be good to her.”
I appreciated her effort on my behalf, but it was comical watching her try to intimidate AJ.
“I promise.” He smiled, unfazed by her scrutiny.
“Good,” Paige said with a quick nod.
AJ laughed. “You want to finish up here or head out for your coffee date?”
We packed up the rest of my stuff in no time. As we finished taping the last boxes, Jack and Doug showed up.
Oh God, what happened?
“Heard you could use some help,” Jack said, putting my nerves at ease.
Thank God they weren’t here because something happened and I needed more protection.
After introductions, the guys insisted on carrying all the boxes—taking turns, so one of them was always with us. They didn’t say it outright, but I had a feeling it was by design.
I didn’t want to admit it, but I was grateful. My nerves were still frayed, making me jumpy.
“Maybe it’s not so bad letting big macho guys do the heavy lifting once in a while,” Paige joked. “It certainly helps that they’re easy on the eyes.”
I laughed.
As AJ walked us to the parking lot, he warned me they’d loaded everything into Jack and Doug’s trucks. “They’ll bring everything to my place while you and Paige have coffee.”
Really? I’d never trusted a friend I enough to give them keys to my house.
He leaned down and whispered, “It’s okay. I trust them.”
Stupid face, showing all my emotions.
AJ insisted on paying for our order, then left us alone after directing us to a table. Understanding why, I didn’t hesitate to follow his directions.
After we settled, Paige asked, “Do you think it’ll be an issue for him, you being rich?”
“I don’t know.” I didn’t think so, but it was yet another thing we needed to talk about. One more thing I needed to add to my to do list.
“Will you finish school?” she asked.
“Yes.” I explained the situation, saying I hoped to graduate on time. The last thing I wanted was to lose my internship because I had to retake the semester.
“I’m sure they’ll let you,” Paige offered. “Do you think he’ll be okay with you working?” She tilted her head in AJ’s direction.
I’d had the same thought myself, but it was stupid; the wives of the other guys at SSI all worked.
“Yeah. I think he’ll support me no matter what I want to do.” The truth of the statement rocked me to my core. He’d support me in a way even my father wouldn’t have. A million ogres couldn’t have held back my smile when I looked over and caught him staring.
His return smile made his dark eyes shine and dimples pop. Suddenly, coffee wasn’t what I wanted anymore.
“Girl, you got it bad,” Paige joked.
I turned back, blushing. I did, because AJ had been patient, caring, protective, and loving. And somewhere along the way, I’d fallen madly in love with him.
After dropping Paige off, AJ told me John had assigned someone to watch the house until the police released it. Apparently, Priscilla had tried sneaking past the police tape. Dallas PD had sent her away, but they didn’t have the manpower to watch the house.
I wanted to be mad they'd called John instead of me, but in reality I was happy I didn’t have to worry about it. Though I should be mad he'd added services without my permission. I doubted he did it to take advantage of me, but still.
Maybe he talked to AJ, and he volunteered to pay for it.
“What’s wrong?”
I wasn’t sure how to ask it, so I chose the direct route. “Are you paying for the person watching the house? I’m only asking because John didn’t clear it with me, and I doubt he called my father.”
He laughed. “No, though I offered when I talked to him. He brushed me off, which is John speak for he’s not charging you.”
Not charging me? “But, why?”
“You’ll have to ask when we see him.” His grin suggested he knew.
That made no sense. Before I could worry about it anymore, I got a call from my attorney.
“I have to take this,” I said as I hit the answer button.
I felt AJ’s eyes on me as I listened to my lawyer. She told me my father had given me full Power of Attorney, to act in his place should anything happen.
Like being incarcerated?
I don’t remember signing the POA paperwork. I groaned, thinking he'd expect me to handle his accounts.
“Thank you.” I stared at my phone after I hung up, shocked by the responsibility dropped on my shoulders without warning. Responsibility I didn’t want.
“Everything okay?” AJ asked as he reached for my hand.
“My father named me as his primary beneficiary and gave me full Power of Attorney.”
“Is that bad?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. It’s just… a lot and unexpected.”
“He didn’t tell you?” he asked. “Don’t you have to consent to being a POA?”
“You do. He must’ve slipped it in with other legal documents, and I signed them without realizing it.”
I’d been so trusting. So na?ve.
How could I have been so blind? God only knew what else he’d had me sign. What if I’d signed something linking me to his crimes?
Tears pooled in my eyes and threatened to spill over.
“Blake.” AJ’s voice cut through the thoughts. “None of this is your fault.” It was like he could read my mind.
“I trusted him.”
“And he violated that trust, but that’s not on you.” He squeezed my hand before bringing it to his lips and kissing it. “Tell me what I can do to help.”
Tell me it’ll all be okay. Trust that I’m innocent, if I get accused of being a criminal.
“What aren’t you telling me?” he asked.
I looked him in the eye, wanting to trust him, but I’d trusted my father. And look where that got me.
No. I trusted AJ. It wasn't an opinion. It resonated in my soul.
“Blake, I can tell something’s eating at you. Talk to me. Please.”
“I’m worried about what else my father had me sign without telling me. What if I’m linked to his criminal activity?” The tears I’d been holding back spilled over.
“Do you think he would have done that?” he asked, still holding my hand.
“I don’t know.” And that was what freaked me out the most; I didn’t feel like I knew the man I’d called Dad my whole life.
“I’ll talk to John and see what he can find out. Chances are they won’t tell him anything, but he can try.”
“Thank you.” I wiped the wayward tears off my cheek. I prayed there weren't any documents linking me to my father's crimes.
And hopefully, I wouldn’t get any more surprises when I met with my attorney.
“What else can I do to help?”
I sighed. “I’m not sure. I’m meeting Jocelyn at eleven tomorrow to go over the paperwork,” I said. “She has a few calls to make, one of them to the family attorney, then she’ll organize the paperwork for me.”
“You have your own attorney?”
I could see why that might seem weird to him.
“It was a stipulation in my grandfather’s will.” Now I understand why . “Jocelyn was his attorney. It made sense for me to hire her, given her experience with his estate.” And I liked her.
“That makes sense, if your grandfather thought your father might be in financial or legal trouble.”
“Yeah.” There wasn’t much else I could say. Turns out Grandpa saw a lot more than I had.
Believing Priscilla would take anything of value not nailed down, I was glad the police hadn’t released the house yet. I didn’t have the energy to deal with it.
When AJ’s phone rang, he answered it on Bluetooth.
“Janerek, you’re on speaker.”
It was so weird hearing him announce it.
Instead of addressing AJ, John said, “Hi, Blake. How are you holding up?”
“I’m doing okay. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Janerek?”
“Yes?” AJ’s asked.
“I don’t want to see you in the office for the rest of the week. Unless you’re accompanying Ms. Davenport.”
The call disconnected as soon as AJ answered, “Yes, sir.”
“Are you in trouble?”
He answered with a huge, dimple-popping grin. “No. I have a ton of accrued vacation time. This is John’s way of telling me to use it.”
“Oh.” I’d been reluctant to ask AJ to take time off to help me. Now I didn’t have to.
“You’re stuck with me for the rest of the week, so you might as well take advantage of me.” His eyes sparkled with innuendo and mischief.
Thinking of all the different ways I could take advantage of AJ during the week made my cheeks to glow red.
I returned his grin. “I think I can do that.”