Chapter 20
Shannon
I’m so damn confused.
Why would my mother be talking to Sandra or, even worse, get someone to stalk me? It doesn’t seem logical at all, despite the evidence. Ace looks uncomfortable, and while I long to tell him it’s okay, that I’m not upset with him, I am. A little.
Okay, not really, but why would my mother hire a spy to help me find my stalker if she is the stalker? Or at least the one behind me having a stalker in the first place? Which makes him a little suspect as well.
Or maybe I’m just upset and confused.
“This is ridiculous,” I tell him. “We’ve only been gone two days. I mean, the stalker didn’t do something every day, so it makes sense that she’s laying low after breaking in on Saturday.” I want so much for him to say that makes sense. “Right?”
“Babe, I’m not sure what to think either.
It feels very contrived all of a sudden, but you have to tell me how far you want me to go.
Chains is going to find out exactly what’s going on because this is what we do for a living.
If I hadn’t been so concerned about your safety, I’d be there doing what he’s doing, instead of here, protecting you from a threat that seems nonexistent now. ”
“Dammit.” I would have started pacing had there been more than three feet in any direction, so I start tapping my foot again instead. “But why? Why would she bring you here to help if she was behind it to begin with?”
“We don’t know anything,” he says gently. “My gut reaction would be for you to call Sandra. Tell her you’re checking in, ask how finals are going, etc. See how she reacts.”
“I’ll do that this afternoon, after finals are over, around three.”
“Okay.” He sinks down next to me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “No matter what’s going on, we’ll figure it out together, okay? I’m not going anywhere.”
“I really hope not,” I whisper sadly. “Because I don’t think I could take that kind of blow if my mother is behind this.”
“I’ll be right here. Promise.”
* * *
Heidelberg Castle is beautiful, the ruins majestic amid the overcast skies.
Aubrey and I take a million pictures, exchanging phones so I can take pictures of her and Chris with hers and she can take pictures of Ace and me with mine.
Though I force myself not to think about my mother or Sandra for a few hours so I could enjoy this amazing time with Ace and our new friends, it’s still lurking in my subconscious enough to bother me.
I confessed what was going on to Chris and Aubrey, so I don’t have to pretend I don’t have something on my mind, and Aubrey has been sweet enough to find subtle ways of distracting me, like taking dozens of pictures with the guys.
“I’m going to call now,” I tell Ace a little after three. We’re walking through the city, doing some shopping, and he nods.
“You want some privacy or would you like me with you?”
“I always want you with me,” I reply softly.
He leans over and kisses me. “I’m right here.”
I take a breath and dial Sandra’s number. Chris and Aubrey are hovering nearby, offering a little more unspoken support, for which I was eternally grateful.
“Shannon?” Sandra sounds as shocked to hear from me as I was when I heard she’s friends with my mother.
“Hey. I wanted to check in, see how things went with finals and if there were any issues.”
“No.” Her voice is somewhat subdued. “Everything is fine. You left detailed notes and Mrs. Pressman said the exams she’s graded so far have been excellent.”
“Oh, good. I was a little worried. I hated leaving like that.”
“The school is surviving just fine without you.” Her voice is a little edgy and I frown.
“Why do you sound weird?” I ask her.
“Do I sound weird? I don’t think I do. Why are you checking up on me?”
“Why are you talking to my mother on a regular basis?” I shoot back. I didn’t mean to show my hand so early in the conversation, but she’s being bitchy and I’m not going to put up with it. I’m already on edge and starting to get pissed.
Sandra huffs out a laugh. “Did she tell you that?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yeah, kinda.”
“You know I have money. Did you think I wouldn’t hire someone to figure out what was going on?” I ask in a cold voice, hoping I sound like I know more than I do.
“Look, you need to talk to your mom. I was just having a little fun, but I’m out of here anyway. I’m moving back to the U.S. next week. I quit today.” She disconnects and I stand there staring at the phone in disbelief.
“Honey?” Ace reaches for me. “Are you okay? What did she say?”
“Shannon?” Aubrey looks worried and Chris is right behind her.
“She…” My voice trails. “She said I should talk to my mom. Then she said she quit today and hung up.”
“Oh, Lord.” Aubrey’s green eyes are wide.
“Sonofabitch.” Ace looks furious. “Your mother is a piece of work.”
“What can we do?” Chris asks. “Would you want us to go back to Cologne with you? We have a few days…” He glances at Aubrey. “Yeah?”
She nods. “Absolutely. Whatever you need, Shannon.”
I take a deep breath and look at everyone.
“You know what? Fuck both of them. I’m on vacation with the man I’m crazy about and I’m not going to let my mother, or anyone else, spoil that for me.
I’m not going to do a damn thing but enjoy the three days we have left.
There’s plenty of time to deal with my mother once it’s over. ”
“You sure?” Ace looks dubious.
“One hundred percent. My mother isn’t going anywhere, and my gut tells me Sandra is going to cut and run without telling her that I know. So why deal with the drama now? It can wait until Saturday. Aren’t we going to Strasbourg tomorrow?”
Aubrey nods. “We are.”
“Then let’s go back to the boat and get drunk tonight.” I reach for Ace’s hand. “Really, guys. This will keep for three days. Let’s go do something fun.”
“Well.” Chris takes Aubrey’s hand as we start to walk. “I can think of lots of fun things to do, though not necessarily together. But, hey, I’d be down for something kinky if—”
“You hush!” she admonishes him, laughing.
* * *
We’re in Strasbourg the next day, buying cookies at a bakery, when my mother calls.
I look at her name flashing on the screen of my phone and decline the call, stuffing it back in my pocket.
Ace sees me do it but doesn’t say anything, sticking a warm, buttery macaroon in my mouth instead.
They just came out of the oven and the woman behind the counter offered them to us.
I’m not a big fan of macaroons, but right out of the oven, these are pretty great.
“You okay?” Ace whispers in my ear.
“Yup.” I smile. “Tomorrow is the last full day of the cruise, and Saturday we disembark. She can wait. All of it can wait.”
“Are you sure? You seem kind of sad.”
“I’m doing my best not to think about all that, but obviously something very serious is going on with my mother and if I’m not in danger, you’re going to have to leave soon, so yeah, I’m a little sad.”
“I told you I wouldn’t go anywhere as long as you needed me.”
“Yeah, but that’s not realistic. You have a job, I have a job…” I let my voice fade because I feel like I’m whining and that isn’t like me. This thing with my mom has me out of sorts and it really sucks.
“Do I need to take you into an alley and fuck you senseless?” he whispers against the side of my face. “Because you know I will.”
I chuckle. “That might work, but I don’t think I’ll like French jails. Besides, I have shopping to do.”
“There’s been a lot of shopping on this trip,” he pretends to complain as we pay for our cookies and leave the shop.
“You can go to a pub and drink while I shop.”
“Nah. I like carrying your bags.” He slides his hand into mine as we walk. Chris and Aubrey are down the street looking at something they want to ship home, so we’ll meet up with them again in half an hour.
I stop in front of a store with gorgeous women’s clothing in the window. There’s a beautiful winter-white coat that I might have bought if I wasn’t distracted by so many things.
“That would look pretty on you,” Ace says, following my gaze.
“Thanks. I guess I have enough coats.” I keep walking, my thoughts going a hundred different directions. Ace seems to sense I don’t want to talk and doesn’t say anything else as we window-shop and eventually meet up with Chris and Aubrey.
When the guys go into a liquor store to buy some brandy, Aubrey and I walk across the street to another clothing store, though we don’t go inside.
“It’s okay to be upset about the situation,” she says quietly. “But are you mad at Ace?”
“I’m not mad,” I say thoughtfully, “but this thing with my mom makes me wonder just how na?ve and unprepared to be an adult I am. I had no idea my mother was up to something, not to mention my coworker. And now Ace is back after ten years, doing absolutely everything I ever dreamed he would do, and I’m falling hard and fast. The worst thing is, I feel foolish.
” I turn to her miserably. “What if he’s using me or is somehow in on this with my mom? ”
“But why?” she asks softly, gently gripping my hands in hers. “What does he get out of this? Sex? Big deal. He can get that anywhere. His father is famous and he has a trust fund, so it’s not about your money. What other reasons are there for a man to use a woman like that?”
“He’s a spy,” I whisper sadly. “Maybe I don’t know anything about him and I’ve let my ten-year-old fantasy override my good sense.”
“I don’t think…” She takes a breath. “Chris doesn’t talk about when he was in prison much, but I know underneath the jokes and self-deprecating humor, Ace pretty much saved his life.
Chris made a couple of friends in prison, but honestly, it was Ace who kept him from all the awful things that can happen at places like that.
And he didn’t have to. There were plenty of hardened criminals he could have used as an informant, but he chose the guy who really didn’t belong there.
Yes, Chris did something wrong, but he did what the law wasn’t able or willing to do, and that’s who Ace chose to protect. That says a lot about who Ace is.”
“In my heart of hearts, I know that, but a lot has happened over a very short time and I’m overwhelmed. And the two people I’d normally be able to talk to are the two people causing me all these feelings.”
“Well, now you have me.” Aubrey links her arm through mine. “Come on, let’s get lost in the shops and make the guys find us. It’ll give us time for girl talk and it’ll be fun to make them search for us.”
“Okay.” I appreciate her friendship so much and it makes me sad to realize that while I have friends, there’s no one like this in my life. No one I would call a best friend, who will whisper and giggle with me.
Somehow, I skipped out on the best friend thing as I navigated adulthood, and it’s one of many things making me sad today.