Chapter Thirty - Elise
CHAPTER THIRTY
Elise
My blood boils. Did he really think this was a good idea? Did he think that I wouldn’t know what he was doing?
I’ll admit, there was a moment when I imagined what it’d be like to run, but I wouldn’t have done it.
I don’t want to.
So, why Joshua felt the need to do this is beyond me.
When I’d left the store with my new purchases, Joshua, Ryder, and the other soldiers were gone. My eyes fell to the exit immediately, so close and completely unguarded, but this isn’t an opportunity to run.
It’s a test.
Well, if he wants to play games, that’s fine.
Game on.
Thinking fast, I turn a confused gaze downward to the bag I hold in my hand. I take out the receipt and study it, shaking my head. I turn on my heels and walk back into the store.
Hopefully, Joshua buys the act from wherever he’s hiding and assumes I’m going in to fix something with my purchase.
I walk far enough into the store that no one from the outside can see me and cast a glance around. An employee in the back section catches my eye—a short teenager trying to hide the fact that she’s texting on her phone.
She’s perfect for what I have in mind.
“Excuse me,” I timidly greet.
The girl, Taylor, according to her name tag, jumps at the sound of my voice. Her cheeks turn a bright shade of red, and she tucks her phone into her pocket. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry! How can I help you, ma’am?”
My warm laugh seems to calm her.
“Don’t worry about it. Actually, I have a favor to ask.” I make a show of looking behind me and lower my voice. “My ex-boyfriend is right outside, and I think he’s stalking me.”
Her eyes go wide, and I work hard to maintain my composure.
“I’m pretty sure he’s going to come in here looking for me. Is there a back exit I could use?”
“Yes!” Her whisper-shout draws the attention of a few customers, but we ignore them. “Come with me. It’s right over here.”
“Thank you so much.”
Walking to the back, she takes me to a door that reads ‘Employees Only’ and we step inside.
“Past the storage room is the exit. It leads right out to the parking lot.” Taylor points behind me before turning to go.
“Taylor,” I call before she walks away. “My ex can be really… aggressive. If he comes in here looking for me, there’s a chance he’ll become hostile.”
Taylor’s mouth gapes.
“You should probably call security now, just in case. He’s wearing black slacks and a white button-up. He has really dark hair, and he’ll probably have two or three other guys with him. I’m really sorry about this.”
Her head shakes furiously. “No need to be sorry. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll call security right now.”
I place my hand over my heart. “You’re a lifesaver.”
After sharing a warm smile, Taylor and I part ways. When I open the door and step outside, I don’t even try to hold back my laughter.
As she said, the door leads to the parking lot, but to my right, there’s another row of stores with entrances on the outside of the building. Compared to the inside of the mall, not many people roam this area.
There’s no telling how much time I have before Joshua starts to freak out, but I figure it’ll be just long enough for a much-needed manicure. I slip into the nail salon tucked between the comic book store and sandwich shop, and there are only two other customers inside.
The woman at the front counter gives me a welcoming smile. She looks old enough to be my mom, but her smile is youthful, and her silky black hair is pulled into a stylish low ponytail.
She introduces herself as Clara, helps me pick my color, then takes me to a seat and tends to me herself.
“You’re not from around here, are you?” she asks.
“That obvious?”
She laughs, and it sounds like bells. “What brings you to Cali?”
I consider my answer before giving it to her. “A boy.”
Her thin eyebrows shoot up. “Oh no. Everyone knows following a boy always leads to heartbreak.”
I breathe a laugh. “Well, I didn’t have much choice in the matter.”
“I suppose the heart wants what the heart wants,” she says with a dreamy sigh. “Oh, to be young and in love.”
Love? I’m not in love, right? Wouldn’t I know if I was? My stomach twists with uncertainty, and I spend the rest of the manicure debating the term and its relevance to my relationship.
What Joshua and I have is strong, so if it isn’t love, what is it?
I know as soon as I swipe the card—leaving a 500% tip—that Joshua will track the purchase, but I figure I’ve taunted him enough.
I sign the receipt and head out the door, strutting to the car just around the corner. It’s a miracle that I make it there without a single one of Joshua’s soldiers in sight, but it just means my plan was effective.
The cars are both locked, so I lean back against one and wait for the inevitable.
I’d forgotten how relaxing people-watching could be. Or maybe it’s just the fact that I haven’t been out in public for weeks. Either way, it makes me feel unbelievably normal to see these people going about their days.
A large, familiar figure bursts through the door and jogs in my direction.
Ryder.
When he sees me leaning against the car, he stops, lifting his phone to his ear and saying a few words before stalking the rest of the way toward me. I can see from here that he’s irritated, but I still flash him a cheeky grin.
“What took so long?”
Ryder shakes his head. “He’s going to kill you.”
He’s probably right, but I still laugh.
“Where the hell were you?”
I wiggle my cherry red nails. “Made a pit stop.”
He rubs his temple like he’s fighting a major headache. “You are unbelievable.”
“He started it by wanting to test me in the first place.”
“I knew you wouldn’t like it, but I didn’t think you’d do this. You two are infuriating.”
I’m about to throw back a reminder that I haven’t given anyone a reason to test me in the first place when I catch sight of Joshua storming out of the mall.
His glare is visible from here, but it doesn’t scare me like it used to. I square my shoulders and match his stare head-on.
When he’s only a few yards away, my lip turns up. “Thank goodness you got out of there,” I say, and cup my hand around my mouth. “I hear there’s a stalker ex-boyfriend inside.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Ryder mutters.
My taunt is the last straw, and in an instant, Joshua is pinning me to the car. His body is hard against mine, and when I look up into his fiery eyes, my heart flips in my chest.
“Go.” Joshua barks, and the men get in their car. Ryder shoots me a warning glance before he climbs in and drives away.
I turn my attention to the seething man caging me between his muscular arms.
“Mall security? Are you kidding me?”
I stifle a laugh.
“You think this is funny?”
He’s making it seem like I’m the one who started this.
“What right do you have to be mad? I’m the one being tested like a child! Might as well put a tracker on me if you’re so worried about me running away.”
Just when I think he’s going to snap at me again, Joshua pushes off the door and takes a step back. I stay still, giving him a moment to cool off.
A hand runs through his hair, and his muscles flex under the white button-up. The few buttons are undone at the top, giving me a perfect view of his hard chest.
“Get in the car,” he says, voice deadly low.
His demand snaps me out of my staring, and I cross my arms over my chest. “Not until you tell me why you’re mad.”
His fists curl into tight balls, and his voice carries over the parking lot. “Get in the car, Elise.”
“Tell me why—”
“Because I thought you left!” he snaps. “I needed to see for myself what you would do if you had another chance to get away, and I thought you took it. I thought you were gone.”
For a second, I’m speechless. His eyes, so ablaze with fury, work to conceal what he’s really feeling.
Fear.
When I still don’t say anything, he rakes another hand through his hair.
“Please, get in the car.” His voice is softer now, and I don’t even think of arguing.
I climb in and patiently wait for him to settle beside me. He starts the car but makes no move to drive away.
“What did you mean by ‘another chance to get away’?”
“You know what I mean.”
My mind races, but I come up empty-handed. I’ve never been given a chance to escape, and I know because I probably would’ve taken it.
Joshua shakes his head, exasperated. “The window in the bathroom by the kitchen, Elise.”
My heart nearly stops. I thought I was in the clear, that no one would ever know what I nearly attempted to do.
“How do you know about that?”
“While I was at the base, I had some guys go back through security footage by the kitchen. They were looking to see where Tripp went after he was supposed to leave the base, but they found this.” He turns his phone toward me.
The video was taken from right above the kitchen door, able to capture the whole scene. It shows me coming out of the kitchen, scanning the area for watchful eyes, then running to the bathroom.
“I thought it was strange, so I checked the cameras outside that bathroom.” He swipes to the next video. This one clearly shows the window opening, and my thoughtful face is barely visible through it. My heart sinks as I realize the key information that this video has given me.
There’s no barrier in sight.
If I had climbed through that window, I would’ve been free.
If I had taken that opportunity, I wouldn’t have been slapped, whipped, and nearly raped by Tripp. I wouldn’t have been dragged away to Joshua’s house to learn that my father didn’t want me anymore. I would be free.
But if I had taken that opportunity, I also wouldn’t have been held by Joshua during our movie night. I wouldn’t have learned so much about his family and his past. I wouldn’t know how desperately I crave his touch and his kiss. I wouldn’t know that he wants me the way I want him.
Is it possible to feel regret and content at the same time?
“Why did you stay?” he asks in a whisper.