Chapter 3
Chapter Three
CANDY
It wasn’t hard to find Hollis Frost. The address that was in the folder was an old one, but one Google search of his name brought up a wealth of knowledge. All of this is so overwhelming.
I stare at his picture. The man is dangerously handsome. He’s also a mayor of a whole freaking town. Before that, he lived here, in the city, but I guess he just picked up and moved one day.
When I flick to another picture of him being sworn in as the mayor, I notice a scar on the left side of his face going from his temple all the way down to his jaw. One would think that it would take away from his good looks, but it somehow adds to them.
I click back to other pictures, and I piece together that it’s likely he moved to New Hope after whatever caused that scar. I can’t find anything online about that.
It’s not as though he’s famous, but more so he’s been established in the business world, so there are articles and a few random photos from events. In a couple of them, he’s with his mother. That does give me some relief. It's comforting to know that he has a stable family. They appear close.
Max has family, and they often do have to go to some of the same events, but there is always distance between them when they pose. You can get a sense that they aren't truly close. I also get the sense he keeps me away from them as much as possible.
I realize that just because my baby daddy looks to be close to his family, it doesn't mean that it’s the case.
But it gives me hope that he’s at least connected with them.
That sounds stable, but I suppose being a mayor is also that.
Maybe, I don’t know. I think I’m making stuff up to try to get my anxiety under control.
The uncertainty of everything has been overwhelming.
I close my laptop, having gone over the same information online a million times since I found everything out. I told myself to sleep on things before I jump to any conclusions, but I know what I have to do. I also know I can't tell Max about my plan.
He has a temper, and while it's never been directed at me, I feel like this topic would change that.
As of late, his tone has been flippant, short, and irritated.
When I react to it, then he'll try to hide it and say something nice or make a joke.
It's keeping me on edge, and I know I can't drag this out.
They say stress is bad for the baby, and this is stressing me all the way out. I have to talk to this man Hollis and tell him everything. It's the right thing to do. I would want someone to do the same for me if the shoe was on the other foot.
There is a small window of opportunity for me to get out today. Max has an event he has to go to. I was supposed to go with him. I’ve been his plus one a few times, but today I told him I wasn’t feeling well. That I had a headache and couldn’t keep food down.
Honestly, I haven’t been able to eat much since I found all of this out.
I try, but I can only get a few bites before my stomach revolts.
That’s another reason I know I have to tell Hollis about this.
Once I get it all out there, my nerves might settle, and I can make a new plan with however he responds to the news.
A knock sounds at my door. I turn in my chair to see Max standing there in a tux. "You should be in bed if you don't feel well." His brows pull together, and I know he's irritated that I'm not going.
His reaction feels oddly similar to when you stay home sick from school and your mom expects you to remain in bed.
"I know, you're right." I pair those words with a smile. The last thing I want to do is rock the boat.
I don't want to argue with him now, especially since I'm so close to getting out of here. This is my one and only chance, as Bailey will be driving him to the event. That's my window of opportunity, and I'm taking it when no one will be watching me.
Then I'll deal with Max. I'm not sure our friendship is going to make it out of this intact, but Max isn't the most important person in my life anymore. I have a baby to think about, and that will always come first.
“I’m glad you can see that I’m right. I am watching out for you.” Max steps farther into my bedroom. I almost laugh at his words because that’s the last thing he’s doing. It’s control. I’m seeing that all so clearly now.
I quickly stand from my chair and make my way over to him. If he comes too far into the room, he’ll see my bags on the other side of the bed. I should have put them in the freaking closet.
“I’m really starting to see that,” I tell him because I do. He is watching, but I don’t think it’s for me. It’s him being selfish because he wants control. I need to remember that he’ll always prioritize himself, which is fine, but not when he’s trying to control so many aspects of my life.
Max gives me a hug. I hug him back but keep my body from brushing into his. All of this feels so wrong suddenly.
“You stay put in bed, and I’ll be back soon.”
“Don’t rush home because of me.” Please stay as long as possible, I think to myself. I might be able to make it to New Hope before you realize I’m gone.
Max says goodbye, and I watch him go, still feeling guilty over what I’m about to do.
Which I know is totally unreasonable, but I can’t help it.
He might be wrong in all of this, but he was my friend—at least I thought he was.
I wait five minutes before I grab my bag.
There’s no time to waste if I expect my plan to work.
I place my phone on my desk. Max had me share my location with him long ago.
He said it was for safety. You can go in and turn it off, but it will alert him.
I also know there are other ways to track people’s phones, and I’m not smart enough to figure out how to check for any of that.
So leaving it behind is the best option.
I can’t take that risk. I need to make sure I follow this plan all the way through.
The note I scribbled down is simple, telling him I had a personal issue I needed to deal with and I’d be in contact in a week.
I don’t think it will take that long, so that will give me extra time.
I also check to make sure I have all my cash on me.
I hope it’s enough to hold me over. I don’t want to use the card.
I’m sure he could track that somehow too.
“You can do this,” I reassure myself when I pause at the door. I don’t have much of a choice. I open it, slipping out and heading for the elevator. It opens quickly, and I step on.
When I get to the lobby, the doorman, George, gives me a nod. I return it, hoping that he won’t alert Max. I step out onto the sidewalk and head down the street toward the CVS, where I buy another phone before grabbing one of the city buses to take me to the larger bus station.
It’s been a while since I’ve taken the bus, but I used to all of the time in college, so it’s not hard for me to navigate. I set up the phone, adding in the address where I’m going.
Once I make it onto the Greyhound and it pulls away from the curb, I know that I did it. I shouldn’t be smiling over that, but I am. I suppose it’s being able to get one over on Max that has me so pleased. He’s always a million steps ahead, but that’s probably why he’s so good in business.
I settle into my seat, and fish my Kindle out of my bag.
I read for a little but I must crash from the small adrenaline rush I had.
I swear I only blink, but when my eyes open, the bus is pulling up to the only stop in New Hope.
I grab my stuff and hurry off the bus, but not before thanking the driver.
"Oh wow," I whisper when I get my first view of the town. I'd seen a few pictures and knew it was quaint, but it really is right out of a storybook or, better yet, one of those towns you see in those cheesy Hallmark movies that I devour every year.
“Merry Christmas,” a woman says as she passes by me.
“Merry Christmas,” I respond with a smile. In the city, no one stops to say hello, let alone Merry Christmas. I love it. Some snowflakes may be falling, but I feel warm and fuzzy inside.
As much as I want to see the town, I need to do what I came here for. I’m not going to put it off. I’ll check into one of the bed-and-breakfasts afterward. I still have a small worry that Max will pop up and talk me out of it, or try.
I pull out my phone, entering in the address that I found for Hollis. I glance at the street sign, confirming I’m on the main road of the town. My eyes follow all the way down to the very end on the north side to see the mini mansion that sits partly up on a hill. It looks over the town.
It reminds me of a smaller white house with big pillars in the front, all of it white. Even the lights that have been put on it match and make it elegant and classy. It’s rather intimidating.
All of this is, but I have come this far; there is no going back.