Chapter Twenty-Four
Summer?
With my finger hovering over the call button, I once again can find an excuse not to call Bhodi and apologize for my shitty outburst. I hate feeling stubborn, but for some reason, I just can’t bring myself to roll over and apologize, even though I know it’s the right thing to do.
Part of me feels apologizing is weak, and he’ll believe anytime I get angry, I’ll just apologize and that will be that. Catching myself, I inwardly mutter. I’m talking as though Bhodi and I will have the opportunity to have more arguments, but we both know that isn’t the case.
I want to stay, but with Harry still around and now for some reason my mom and Eric have decided to show up too, I feel suffocated. As though they’re all trying to make sure I know they’re around, watching me, for whatever reason.
Surely mom and Eric wouldn’t allow Harry to hurt me, would they? The thought worries me, mom and Eric both know Harry hits me, hell, my mom has seen the results, but they didn’t seem to care. Unless they thought it was ….NO! Shaking my head, I catch myself and make excuses for them. They knew exactly what he was doing and did nothing to stop or even help. I owe them nothing and shouldn’t be fucking defending them.
Turning my attention back to the laptop, I push the thoughts of them aside and continue to idly scroll through homes to rent for a few months on the West Coast, East Coast…Hell, anywhere right now looks better than being trapped here. My forefinger nervously picks at my thumb, looking at listing after listing of homes and apartments in each place. None jump out at me because it’ll just be me. No friends, no family, and right now, no job to focus on.
With dad’s ashes due to be collected tomorrow morning, I feel my time here is running out. I haven’t heard from Father Dudley yet though, so I guess this could delay my escape from New York.
Reaching for the glass of red wine, I lift it to my lips and take a large gulp. As I do, the thoughts begin to whirl in my mind.
Why does he want me gone so badly?
Tasting the rich and warm vanilla tones, I sigh heavily. Placing the glass back down onto the marble counter. With my elbows placed on the surface, I aimlessly stare off into space. My eyes are fixed on the screen, but I know I’m not taking in any of the information. Nothing looks appealing. For the past few days, I’ve allowed myself to think about what life could be like in New York. However, in my fantasy Harry, Eric, and my mom are nowhere to be seen.
With my phone still placed on the breakfast bar, I jump as it begins to ring. ‘Unknown Caller’ lights up the screen as I sit frozen in place for a moment. Taking a deep breath, I answer softly.
“Hello?”
“You know you have a tell.” That deep, husky voice speaks through the phone as the shudder runs over my skin. “When you’re nervous, you pick at your thumb with your forefinger.”
Clutching the phone in my hand, I glance at my thumb which I’ve managed to pick at enough to make sore. My eyes begin to slowly move around the room, looking to each corner as the deep chuckle crackles down the line.
“How long have you been watching me?” I turn around on my stool and look towards the living room.
“Does it matter?” He teases.
“Yes.” I speak through gritted teeth, my frustration becoming more apparent with each passing second.
“Since the moment you moved in.”
As my stomach drops, my mind flashes over the past few weeks in this apartment. The times I’ve been asleep, in the shower, and when Bhodi has been here. Me on my knees, handcuffed.
Fuck…
The deep, throaty laugh continues to taunt me. I feel a hot sweat fall over my entire body. The realization I’ve been watched during some of the most intimate moments, my privacy was fucking invaded, and my mind reels. I swipe the sweat from my brow, as my stomach feels like it wants to fall out of my ass.
Trying to control my breathing, I slowly inhale and exhale keeping my eyes fixed onto the living room. When my feet hit the cool tiles, I slowly walk into the living room, glancing around the walls, wondering how I could have missed a fucking camera.
Easy, because I wasn’t fucking expecting to see one.
My heart begins to thunder in my chest, slowly moving in circles, hoping to see the obvious lens that’s been watching me for weeks.
“What do you want from me?” My voice becoming louder. “You stalk me, you come here whenever you fucking want, you take what you want, you warn me to leave, and then you just fuck off and don’t reappear for days? Seriously who the fuck are you?” I begin to feel lightheaded at my outburst. The burst of adrenaline leaves me shaking.
“You’d prefer I knocked?”
My face contorts with further rage at his poor attempt at humor, trying to ignore the fact he’s been watching me.
The sarcasm in his tone, causing me to pinch the bridge of my nose. All this fucking time, I’ve felt that shudder up my spine, felt someone watching me, I thought I was fucking crazy, but it turns out I wasn’t. He’s been fucking watching me, tormenting me from a distance, all because he can.
With the tornado of scenarios spinning around in my head, I keep going to open my mouth, but no words come out. Everything I want to say is stuck in my throat. Eventually wiping the sweat pouring from my brow, I manage to spit out the only words I can form.
“Fuck you!” Mashing the buttons to end the call, my eyes frantically move around the room one more time before grabbing my purse and coat on the way out the door.
Bursting through the main doors of the building, I throw my hand out for a taxi. Luckily, the roads are busy. Within seconds, one pulls up, and I immediately hop in.
“Just drive!” I demand, letting out an exasperated breath.
Clearly, I’m not the first person to ask for this, the driver merely shoots me a look in the rearview mirror before shrugging and pulling out into the traffic. Passing by the tall buildings, I take deep breaths, trying to calm down and figure out my next step.
With the faint sound of ringing, from my purse the taxi driver pipes up, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Your phone’s ringing.”
I cock my head towards him, but once the noise registers, I let out a heavy sigh. Fumbling around in my purse, I finally find my phone.
Unknown Caller - Fucking great…
Knowing he can’t see me now, I hit the accept button and pull the phone to my ear.
What now?” I answer, unenthused.
“Summer? Is that you? Thank god you answered” I know the voice immediately, but he sounds a little taken aback.
I purposely ignored all incoming calls from my mom and Eric and blocked Harry. They have no reason to contact me anymore.
“Eric?” I find myself straightening in my seat.
“I need to speak with you, Summer, it’s urgent.”
Before I protest, Eric speaks again. This time, his voice becomes lower, as though he’s cautious as to who could be listening.
“It’s about your father. I really need you to hear this.”
His words grab my attention immediately but feeling torn between his loyalty to me and towards Harry, I bit my lower lip, unsure of how to answer.
“Just tell me, Eric.” I feel my body shaking still, forcing the words out. I try to sound in control.
“I…I can’t. I need to give you something.
“Fuck sake.” I mutter, running my hand over my face. I glance out the window, thinking of a suitable place to meet. “Meet me at the church from my dad’s service. I’ll meet you inside as soon as I can.”
Ending the call, I don’t give Eric a chance to answer. I immediately regret my decision to meet him, but the sound in his voice wasn’t something I can ignore. He genuinely sounded worried, which was unlike him. If he knows something about my dad, then I need to hear it, even if it’s just him confirming what I already know. Harry was behind it all.
Once I’ve given the driver the address, I fall back into my seat and continue to pick at my thumb nervously. Catching myself, I sigh, glancing around for the obvious camera following me around. The street begins to look familiar, seeing the church in the distance. Twenty or so minutes have passed as the taxi has driven through the busy rush hour traffic, and the sun has already begun to set.
Once the car pulls up on the sidewalk, I pass the driver the money and slide out. Standing at the bottom of the steps, I look up. The church looks almost eerie in this light. I take a deep breath and kick myself for agreeing to meet here when it’s getting dark.
Turning around, the street is busy. Smartly dressed men and women in suits finishing their hectic days, tourists snapping photos with their families and groups of friends heading to the local bars for a catch-up. I feel like a complete outsider as I suspiciously glare around the street, wondering if I’m still being watched or followed. Eventually I turn back to the church and roll my eyes.
He’s hardly going to stand in a busy street masked up, where everyone can see what a fucking psycho he is.
Shaking my head, I ascend the steps to the church.