11. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Arlo
Oakley’s old U.S. Marshal partner, Kellen Woodcroft, called me this morning, letting me know he was sending over the last of the paperwork and statements that needed signing off on. What he didn’t say was that I needed to sign off on every single statement that was given by anyone involved, including hospital staff that treated Lennox, Oakley, and Willow.
I’ve been buried in paperwork all day in an attempt to finish this shit today, and I haven’t looked at my phone or the clock since I started. Audrey promised to only bug me if it was an emergency.
At least it’s been a distraction from my constant thoughts of Rina and how we left things the other day.
I should have known things wouldn’t be as easy as apologizing. I’m honestly not sure what I expected, but Rina completely lashing out was a surprise. And I reacted. I said shit I shouldn’t have, and now I don’t know how to fix it.
Or if I even can.
She was absolutely right. In the fifteen years since we were together, not once did I try to tell her why I did what I did. I didn’t even attempt to be there for her when her parents died; instead I broke her heart and forced her to handle the tragedy on her own .
God, I’m an asshole. I wouldn’t hear me out either.
And she doesn’t even know about the worst of it.
“We need to talk to him, Audrey. It’s important, practically an emergency,” a voice sounds from the lobby area.
“Practically does not mean it actually is an emergency, Alice.” Audrey’s voice sounds exhausted.
I sigh and shove the last of the papers to the side.
“Let them in, Audrey,” I call out.
“Oh, thank you, Sheriff,” Alice overdoes the theatrics of gratitude.
Jim and Mabel trail in behind her, and I have to refrain from rolling my eyes.
“We had a thought about security in town we wanted to run by you,” Jim says when he sees I’m not going to actively engage in this conversation.
“And that’s an emergency?” I ask.
“Well, since the influx of reporters the other week, we thought we could create a barrier system blocking off Main Street if something like that ever happened again,” Mabel says.
I sit frozen. Are they fucking serious with this shit? Sure, let’s just block off our entire main thoroughfare on the off chance that the one-off with Tennison and Lennox happens again.
“Let me get this straight. You want me to spend our already non-existent budget on a removable barrier, on the rare chance that something like what happened with Lennox happens again?” I ask in disbelief.
“Exactly!” Alice nods with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Jim and Mabel seem to have caught on to what an asinine idea it is if their frowns are anything to go by.
“No. ”
“No?” Alice asks.
“No. I’m not wasting funds on something that will most likely never happen again.”
I pull the papers I was working on before they interrupted me towards me and start working through them as the trio stands silent in my office.
I let them stew in my bluntness for a couple of minutes before I look up. “You can go. I’ve got things to catch up on. If there is a real emergency, feel free to call or stop by. Otherwise, I will talk to you three tomorrow.”
They shuffle their way out the front door, and Audrey’s laughter tinkles through the office.
“Most days, I think you need to lighten up. Today is not one of those days. Maybe those three will finally learn what an emergency is,” she says.
“They won’t.” I sigh. “They live for the gossip. I just don’t have the time to babysit them today.”
“Well, regardless, that was entertaining as hell.”
“Glad I can be of service.” I chuckle.
“Well, I’m leaving in a half an hour, so if you need anything else today, let me know. I can stay later if need be.”
“Nah, we should be good. I’m just going to get all of this done, then call it a day. Go enjoy your Friday afternoon.”
She nods and then heads back to her desk as I try to get back into the groove I was in before the trio interrupted.
I’m just finding my flow again when my phone pings.
Frustration makes me groan as I pick up my phone and check my message.
Oakley:
Heard a little rumor just now.
Me:
Is it credible? Because I don’t have time for this today, man.
Oakley
Definitely credible. Willow just talked to Rina.
He’s being cryptic, but the second he mentions Rina, I’m on high alert.
Me:
And?
Oakley:
And she told Willow she has a date tonight.
What the actual fuck? Jealousy like I’ve never felt before takes over my body. My vision goes hazy with rage for a minute.
Me:
A date? With whom?
Oakley:
Some guy in Rosedale. They met in a coffee shop while she was over there delivering some furniture.
Me:
I need more details. Who’s this guy. Where are they going?
Oakley:
Jealous, buddy?
Me:
Just get me the information.
Me:
Please.
Thirty minutes later, I’m still waiting for a response, and finishing up this paperwork is not happening. I’m antsy as hell, my knee is bouncing, and I’m drumming my fingers on the desk. My brain is coming up with every scenario, and none of them are good for me. I’m about to walk my ass over to Grind Time when my phone finally pings.
Oakley:
7:00, Alessandro’s Steakhouse.
Me:
Thank you very much.
Oakley:
I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you, but don’t just rush over there. Take a step back before you do anything stupid. Rina will be pissed if you just show up.
She’ll be pissed off either way, but he doesn’t know that. All I know is I need a plan because there is no way in hell she’s going out with another man. Even if I have no right to demand it, I’ll drag her ass from that restaurant before she goes out with anyone else.
Me:
I will try. Thanks for looking out, Oakley.
Oakley:
Don’t make me regret it. Willow will skin me alive if this goes south.
The Hutton sisters are not to be messed with, and it’s good Oakley realizes that already. I don’t bother with a reply. Instead, I focus my attention on the remaining paperwork. I have enough time to finish this and think about what I’m going to do about this date situation.
Can I do anything? I don’t really know. If I asked Rina, I bet she would say I have no right to feel this intense jealousy. And she’s probably right, honestly. I know she’s dated since we split up, but if it was anything serious, I would have figured something out. One good thing about all the gossip in this town is staying updated on Rina’s extracurriculars, however fucked up that is.
Being faced with my failure is eye-opening. Of course, I’ve harbored guilt over how things went down with Rina. I’ve never forgotten her, and I sure as shit never wanted to give her up. And up to this point, I’ve never physically seen her out with anyone. She’s been too busy building her business, and that worked for me. If she went on a date, it was a one-off and everyone moved on .
I can see now how fucked up and selfish that is. I want to believe she’s doing this shit out of spite for me. Especially after our conversation at the falls. But there’s a voice in the back of my head that says I need to step up and figure out how to make her mine again. In my mind, she’s always been mine; however, that’s not actual reality. If I really want a shot at this, I need to figure out how to get her to hear me out. That’s the first step. There are about a million more steps to get us to a place where we can move forward, but I can’t think about that. I need to figure out this step first because nothing happens without that being successful.
If only there was a way to google: How to get your girl back after you abandoned her and broke her heart while also trying to deal with your own shit, like an injury you’ve never really come to peace with.
The answer is probably therapy. I did the mandatory appointments needed to be medically discharged but never followed through after. Maybe I was too stubborn, and I need to think about going back to being the kind of person Rina should have in her life. It just feels … impossible and scary. Analyzing why I did what I did when the end result destroyed my world is something I don’t willingly want to do. Why bring up all the pain when it’s easier to just bury it deep in the recesses of my brain?
I sit back in my chair and think about that statement. Yeah, I need to work on that. Having this mindset will get me nowhere with Rina fast, and I know it.
However, I can’t let her just go out on this date tonight. I think a huge chunk of my already bruised and battered heart will break off if I do.
Scrubbing my hand over my face, I contemplate my options. Anything I do will have Rina pissed off at me, but am I willing to dig the hole a little deeper to stop her from dating? As fucked up as it is, yes .
I cringe, but the possessive side of me can’t let it happen. Ever since I felt her come around my cock again, it triggered the voice that screams mine every single time I think about the woman.
Fuck. I lean my head back, looking at the ceiling.
I’m about to make a very stupid and impulsive decision. I know it will bite me in the ass, but my rational brain is nowhere to be found right now.
I look at the clock and see I’ve spent the last two hours alternating between work and self-reflection. If I’m going to do anything about this fucking date of hers, I need to leave now. I hastily shuffle all the paperwork on my desk together and slide it into a drawer before locking it. I’ll just have to deal with it tomorrow. Jumping up, I smooth a hand down my chest and stomach, making sure my shirt isn’t wrinkled before wrinkling my nose at my attire. It’s not really steakhouse appropriate, but I doubt I’ll be staying long. It’ll have to do.
Rina can yell at me about it later when I’m fucking her to exhaustion.
Hopefully.