Fifteen

Oakley

Three days, and not one call or text. I stared at my phone while chewing on my thumbnail, messing up my latest manicure.

Sarah had fallen asleep on the sofa, watching Christmas Vacation. I had thrown a blanket over her and left her there while I went to get a bath. Pretending like I wasn’t worried around her all day had progressively gotten harder. Every minute we continued not to hear from Wilder, the more concerned I got.

The first two days he had been gone, he’d called Sarah each afternoon at five. The last she had heard from him was a text three days ago, saying he was trying to get his work done so he could make it back for Thanksgiving. Then, nothing.

I wasn’t going to get any sleep if I didn’t know if Sarah’s father was alive.

The rumors people had told about the Kingston, Shephard, Salazar, and Jones families were exaggerated in our youth. Sebastian had assured me of that when we were dating. However, he had admitted that they had some business that could get dangerous. Possibly not always legal.

I stood, and Belladonna lifted her head and stared up at me.

“Stay,” I told her quietly, and then I snatched up my phone from the coffee table and dialed Wilder’s number for the first time in … well, nine years as I left the living room and headed for the kitchen. On the third ring, my heart started to race. One more ring, and the voice mail was going to answer.

“Is Sarah okay?” Wilder’s voice asked.

My first reaction was relief. Then, the anger took over. Was Sarah okay? Shouldn’t he have called HER to find out already?

“Yes,” I said through my clenched teeth. “Are YOU?”

Silence for a moment, and I almost asked if he was still there.

“Yeah, I’m fine. We’ve just had a busy couple of days. This is the first chance I’ve had to make a call out. Where we were … the reception wasn’t great.”

Where the hell had he been? Underground?! How could he not have found a location that had service? Even just to call for a couple of minutes?

“I’m glad you trust me enough not to call and check on Sarah, but she needs to hear from you.” And I need to know you’re alive.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

An apology. Damn him. That took the fight out of my sails. I had expected him to argue. At least snap at me and tell me I had no business telling him what to do.

He sounded tired, I realized. As if he hadn’t slept in three days.

“Are you okay?” I blurted before thinking that one through.

A deep sigh on the other end only added to the fatigue in his voice. “I’m good. Just tired. I need to get some sleep. I’ll call tomorrow evening. Tell her I called, would you? And that I love her and should be home by the time she wakes up on Thanksgiving morning. Don’t wait up for me. It’ll be late the night before when I get home.”

So, he wasn’t going to make me leave in the middle of the night. That was nice of him. I rolled my eyes. I didn’t have the energy to give him a snide response. The anxiety that had built when we didn’t hear from him zapped me of all snarkiness.

“The decorations look great. Thanks for that. It makes Sarah real happy.”

I frowned, staring at the garland and lights over the mantel. How did he know what they looked like? Was he talking about the decorations in the bags he’d brought inside? He thought they had looked great then?

“Just wait until you see them put up. They’re even better,” I replied, thinking that must be what he was saying.

“The red berries on the mantel are very festive,” he replied, and I swore I heard a trace of humor in his tone.

I hurried back to the living room and scanned the area. Was he here, punking me?

“You’re not gonna leave Sarah on the sofa all night, are you?” he asked.

I spun around in a circle, completely confused. Where was he?

“Wilder, this isn’t funny. If you are here, then come out,” I hissed into the phone.

A low chuckle came over the line then, making my body warm in a way it hadn’t been in a very long time.

“I’m not there, I swear.”

I wasn’t convinced. “Then, how—”

“As much as I trust you, did you honestly think I’d not call my daughter to check on her for three days without being able to see for myself that she was okay and happy? Give me some credit.”

I threw up my free hand, exasperated, then placed it on my hip, getting annoyed by the second. “Is there a camera in this house, Wilder?” I asked him, my horror growing as that idea sank in.

Had I walked in front of it in my panties and bra?

“Oakley, I specialize in cyber data security technology. My house has the best security system that money can buy. Yes, there are cameras in the house that I can pull up on my phone at any time. But not in your bedroom or bathroom, if that is what you’re thinking.”

Gripping the phone tighter, I swung my gaze around the room, wishing I knew where the camera was so I could glare at it. “Security? Like websites and stuff. Not as in your house is wired. What if I decided to walk through the house in my underwear when Sarah wasn’t here?” I asked tightly, stalking out of the room and away from his creepy camera.

“Have you?” he asked.

I thought about it and then shook my head. “No.”

“Then, you have nothing to be concerned about. I just check them in the afternoons or evenings when I have a moment to make sure Sarah is okay. I have no interest in being a voyeur.”

I was relieved and yet a little letdown. He wasn’t tempted to see what I was doing? Ever? Of course he wasn’t. The man tolerated me for Sarah’s sake. Shaking off the darkness that had suddenly come over me, I straightened my shoulders again. I was better than this. He would not make me sad.

“I need to go wake Sarah enough to walk her up to her bed. Do you want to try and talk to her?” I asked.

“No, I’ll wait until tomorrow, when she’s fully awake.”

“Okay, well, I’ll let her know you called.”

He was silent for a moment. Had he already hung up? I knew the man didn’t like me, but that was just a level of rude I wouldn’t expect. Not even from him.

“Thanks, Oakley. For this week. All the things you’ve done with her. She’s always smiling when I see her on the cameras. I appreciate it.”

My chest felt weird and achy. I hated that. I hated that he could make me feel anything.

“I love her. No need to thank me.” My voice was tight.

I hoped there was no stupid camera in the foyer. I wasn’t sure if my emotions were all over my face or not. This camera business was going to mess with my head.

“I know you do. I just wanted you to know that I’m grateful.”

I nodded, then realized he might not be able to see me. “Thanks,” I muttered, unsure of what to say to that.

“Good night, Oakley.”

“Good night.” My reply was a touch too soft, and I ended the call quickly.

I stuck the phone back in my pocket, then stood there and stared at the wall, letting that entire conversation run through my head.

When had we talked like that last? That much? Without fighting or saying something to hurt the other one? Sarah would always be the reason we could never truly get each other out of our lives. It had been that way since the day she had been born.

But if there weren’t a Sarah, would I have truly ever moved on from Wilder? Deep down, I felt like that was impossible. He’d made a mark so powerful in me all those years ago. What we had been together burned so brightly at times that it felt as if it would consume me. He was a flame that I couldn’t stay away from. I had been drawn to him. I’d ached for him.

A heaviness settled over my heart. That was all in the past. The only thing left of that fire was the ashes.