Xander took a step toward me but hesitated, his gaze locked with mine. “When you called me last night, it scared the hell out of me. Just let me take care of you a little, if not for your sake, then for mine.”
I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around Xander’s waist, resting my head against his bare chest. His arms slipped around me, and he kissed the top of my head. “Thank you for everything.”
“You don’t ever have to thank me for taking care of you. It’s my pleasure.” He pulled away and headed toward my bedroom door. “I’ll be back soon with breakfast.”
For a long moment, I just stood there, playing over everything that had happened in the last few days. I was lucky to have Xander in my life.
Chapter 31
Xander
My phone buzzed right after I paid for breakfast, and I was surprised to see Austin calling so early. Harley was the only morning person in Reckless Release. It was annoying that she was so cheerful at an ungodly hour, but I loved her anyway.
“Hey! What are you doing up so early?” I asked by way of greeting.
“I’m at the hospital with Piper.” Austin sounded panicked.
“What’s going on?” I asked. “Is it the baby?”
“She’s having some cramping, so they wanted us to come in right away. I just called to let you know I need to bail on practice today.”
If that was all he’d wanted to tell me, Austin would have just sent me a text. I put his call on speaker when I got in the car so I could talk to him while I drove back to Cami’s.
“It’s going to be okay,” I assured him. “They probably just want to check everything out.”
“I know.” He took a deep breath and released it before continuing. “It’s just freaking me out a little. Piper’s mom is in with her now, so I decided to step out for a minute. I’m trying to stay calm for Piper. She needs me calm, but this shit is scary.”
“I know, man.” Even I was freaking out a little. I was looking forward to being Uncle Xan to their little rock princess. “Do they have any idea what’s causing the cramping?”
“They’ve got Piper hooked up to a machine to monitor contractions,” he explained. “We’re waiting to hear back from her doctor. The nurse said it could be preterm labor. She’s only twenty-four weeks pregnant. That’s too soon for Riley to come.”
I wanted to tell him there was nothing to worry about, but I didn’t know too much. I wracked my brain for any assurances I could give him. “I’ve heard they can stop labor.” My sister had once mentioned a friend of hers being in preterm labor, and I still remembered some of what my sister had told me about her friend’s treatment. “There are also shots to help the baby’s lungs develop earlier.”
“You’re right,” he agreed. “I need to stop freaking out and go comfort my wife. Why are you up so early? It sounds like you’re in your car.”
“I am in my car, but I’ll fill you in on the details later.” He and Piper had enough to worry about.
“All right,” he replied. “Thanks for listening to me lose it a little.”
“No problem. I don’t blame you for worrying,” I replied. “You know you can call me any time. Keep me posted.”
“I will,” he promised before ending the call.
By the time I got back to Cami’s, I was starving and wondering what else could go wrong. First, there was Cami’s fall, and then Piper ended up in the hospital. I shook off my negative thoughts. It had to be the lack of sleep making me think that way. I was the king of positive thinking. I should be looking at this glass as half-full. Cami was going to be okay, and Piper was in good hands.
Since I didn’t have a key, I knocked and waited for Cami to let me in.
“What’s wrong?” she asked the moment she saw my face.
“They were out of bacon,” I replied with a straight face.
“Never joke about something like that,” she warned with a wave of her finger. “That’s not funny.”
I grinned at her ire. “On that, we agree.”
As I set out our food in the kitchen, I filled Cami in on my call with Austin. She asked questions I couldn’t answer. How was I supposed to know I should have asked if Piper’s contractions were regular or how far apart they were?
“I’m sure we’ll have more details soon,” she said mostly to herself. “Maybe I’ll call Harley to see if she asked.”
“Send her a text,” I advised. “Harley and Bentley are meeting with some new members of our security team today. We’re trying to get everything set up before our tour starts in August.”
“Are you excited about going on tour again?” she asked.
“Touring is amazing, but I always dread it as the date approaches.” Few people knew this about me. In interviews, I always said I couldn’t wait for the next tour to start, but a lot was going on right before we went on the road. The actual touring was better now that we had a bus. We even flew to some locations. That was much better than cramming the whole band into our gig rig and taking turns driving. In our early days as a band, we’d spent many nights sleeping in the gig rig because we didn’t have the money for a hotel room. In some areas, it was out of fear that our equipment would get stolen. It would be more accurate to say that most of us didn’t have the money for a hotel room. Austin was extremely wealthy, but we’d all been reluctant to let him support us on tour. In my opinion, it was one of the reasons we were all such good friends. Austin knew we weren’t using him for his money.
“Why do you dread it?” she asked.
“There’s a lot of planning involved,” I began. “I also hate leaving my comfort zone. It’s crazy because once I’m out on tour, everything is great. I don’t mind the long days or sleeping on the bus, but before we leave, all I can think about is how much I’m going to miss my bed. There’s also not much privacy on the road.”
“I guess things are cramped on the bus,” she mused.
“Not too cramped,” I replied. “I’m used to being able to walk around naked when I’m at home. On the bus, I have to wear boxers.”
“Harley should be grateful you at least put on your underwear,” she said with a giggle.
“I buy special underwear for the bus,” I explained. “I’m a boxer-brief man, but I figured Harley would be happier if my junk isn’t so obvious.”
“Does she know you buy special boxers for the trip?” Cami asked.
I shrugged. “She knows I go out of my way to buy super nerdy boxers that will make her laugh. I’ve been shopping for boxers for the next tour since we got back from the last one.”
Cami giggled again. Her laugh was weak, and I imagined she was trying to hold back so it wouldn’t hurt her head. “I want to go with you when you shop for boxers next time. That sounds like fun.”
“Sure,” I agreed with a grin. “While we’re out, we can get that waffle-making thong for you to wear.”
“Didn’t you tell me you’d already bought one for me?” She quirked an eyebrow.
“I lied,” I admitted. “The fantasy is real, but I never followed through with a shopping trip. How are you feeling? Any nausea?”
“I feel much better. I’m still tired, and my head hurts, but breakfast is helping.”
“Are you still rescheduling most of your appointments?” I asked.
“I’m planning to call all my patients except the one I need to see,” she replied.
I looked at the time, trying to work through my schedule in my head. “I need to go home to shower and change clothes. After that, I’ll head back here so we can figure out the rest of our schedule for the day. Do you want me to grab anything on the way back?”
“Nothing I can think of,” she replied. “I’m going to shower and take a nap while you’re gone. I’ll give you the spare key in case I’m still sleeping when you get back.”
I nodded, and we finished the last of our breakfast before I headed out. We each promised to notify the other if we got any news on Piper. The circumstances sucked, but I’d e
njoyed the intimacy of having breakfast with Cami. She wasn’t my girl yet, but based on the way she kept looking at me, she would be.
Chapter 32
Cami
Olivia was telling me about a visit with her older brother—the first happy memory she’d shared with me. Before my initial session with Olivia, her mom had given me a brief rundown on Olivia’s history. Her older brother was a child from her father’s previous marriage. He hadn’t been close to his father and had only seen Olivia a handful of times before their father’s death.
“I’m glad you had such a nice visit with your brother,” I told her.
“I think I helped him,” Olivia announced, confirming what I’d suspected. Her visit with her brother made her feel more in control of what was going on in her life. It was hard for a young child to understand the loss of a loved one. On top of that, Olivia had been forced to move. She was dealing with a new school, new home, and adjusting to life without her father.
“This has been a great session, Olivia,” I said as we came to the end of our time.
“I’m starting to think it might be okay to be happy,” she admitted quietly.
“It’s definitely okay to be happy,” I assured her.
After Olivia left, I was getting my stuff together so I could head home when there was a knock on the locked office door.
I opened the door to find a vaguely familiar woman in a business suit.
“Dr. Shaw?” she asked.
“Yes,” I replied. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m Elaine Marcello with Morrison Management Services. Can I talk to you for a few minutes?”
“Of course.” I stepped back, and she came into the office. Morrison managed the building, so I’d probably seen Elaine around. The company had offices on the fifth floor.
“I wanted to talk to you about your accident,” she explained. “Naturally, we need to get an official report filed. We’ve also referred the matter to the police, and they would like to interview you.”
“Sorry, I didn’t contact you about filling out the report before,” I told her. “I know the procedures.”
She waved off my apology. “You left in an ambulance, and I’m assuming you have other things to handle. I have all the paperwork with me, so we can handle that while I’m here.”
“Good. That will make it easier. Why do the police need to talk to me?”
“Our security staff feels the oil on the stairs was suspicious, so they filed a police report,” she explained. “It seems there is enough evidence to believe someone deliberately spilled the oil there.”
“You think someone wanted to make me fall down the stairs?” I asked. That seemed insane. I didn’t have enemies. Sure, some patients hadn’t liked me, but they’d just gone to different therapists. Not all of my break-ups had been amicable, but none had been truly ugly. Mitch was the exception, but even he merely refused to accept it was over between us. He’d never threatened me.
“It may not have had anything to do with you specifically,” she replied. “Someone could have thought it would be funny. We don’t know, but since you were the one who fell, the police need to interview you.” She slid a card across the desk. “They left this so you can call to set up a time.”
I let out a tired sigh. “I suppose they want to talk to me as soon as possible.”
She nodded. “It is a criminal investigation, so they don’t want to delay. We’re also giving them access to our building security feeds, so they might be able to see who did it. Unfortunately, we don’t have cameras in the stairwell.”
“That would make things too easy,” I muttered. “Well, let’s get this report filled out, and then I’ll call the police.”
So much for my plans to go home and sleep.
Chapter 33
Xander
Piper was doing well, but she’d have to take it easier than she had been. I wondered how that was going to work. Until recently, Piper had worked in club management which involved extremely long hours. She’d changed jobs and worked shorter hours now, but she was also busy with preparations to sell her condo and getting her new place with Austin set up for their growing family. Piper needed to slow down, but it was hard for her.
Looking at the time, I realized Cami should have finished her appointment. I wasn’t sure if someone else was going to update her on Piper, so I decided to let her know what was going on. It would also give me an excuse to see if she needed me to bring her dinner. My preference would have been to drive her home, but I understood why she didn’t want to leave her car at work another night.
Xander: I just heard from Austin. Piper and the baby are okay. Don’t you think they should name her Alexandria after her favorite uncle?
Cami: Hahaha! Austin and Piper are not going to name their baby after you. Thanks for the update. I was about to message you to see if you’d heard anything.
Xander: You’re welcome. How are you? Do you need me to pick up anything for you?
Cami: I’m not sure what time I’ll be home. I need to go to the police station.
Xander: Why?
Cami: It looks like someone intentionally put oil on the steps. They aren’t sure I was the intended victim, but since I’m the one who fell, I guess they have to interview me.
I was clutching my phone so tightly, I was surprised it didn’t break. Cami might not have been the intended target. It was a big building, and I already knew there were offices open later than hers. Countless other people likely took the stairs. It didn’t have to be Cami, but none of that mattered. Thinking that some asshole had intentionally put the oil there made me want to kill someone.
Xander: Do you think it might have been Mitch?
Cami: I don’t think so, but I’m going to mention the problems I’ve been having with him when I talk to the police. I remember him saying it was my late night when he called.
Xander: His behavior has been irrational.
Cami: But he hasn’t made any threats. The last time I talked to him, he told me I could call him if I needed anything. Still, I’m not willing to forget how pushy he’s been. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t him, but I wouldn’t stake my life on it.
Xander: Good. I’d ask if you want to grab dinner after you meet with the police, but I know you’re tired. Call if you need anything.
Cami: I will. Are you free for a cooking lesson tomorrow?
Xander: Sure. What time?
Cami: Can I text you in the morning? I’m not sure how late I’ll get home, and I’m hoping to sleep in tomorrow.
Xander: Just call or text me when you get up.
As I put my phone in my pocket, I reminded myself that Cami likely wasn’t in any danger. She was also planning to tell the police about the situation with Mitch. They’d probably look at his background and find out if he had a history of violence with exes. That thought didn’t do much to ease my worries, so I called Gage.
He answered on the third ring. “Hey, Xan. What’s up?”
“I was wondering if I could get the number for the private investigator you used when you first met Bentley.”
Chapter 34
Cami
After meeting with the police, I hit a drive-thru and headed home. Crunchy tacos were one of my guilty pleasures, so I didn’t even bother pretending I was settling for something I didn’t like. When I finally climbed into bed, I slept for ten hours straight. Ten hours of sleep may not sound like much to people who sleep well, but I’m not a good sleeper. I’ve always had a hard time shutting my mind off and tend to wake up several times at night. For me, ten hours straight is the kind of thing I almost want to announce on social media. Instead, I settled for stretching and letting out a contented sigh.
I felt much better than I had the day before. I was still achy from my fall, but my head was no longer pounding. I had no appointments or hospital visits, so I was able to take my time. All I had on my schedule was my cooking lesson with Xander. After fixing myself a light breakfast, I decided to text him and check m
y emails before I took my shower.
Cami: What time would you like to get together for your cooking lesson today? I’m off, so my schedule is pretty open.
While waiting for a response, I scanned my emails and sighed. There were five from Mitch. Blocking his number had only caused him to change tactics for contacting me. My finger hovered as I tried to decide if I should even open the emails. The police had asked me to let them know if I heard from Mitch again, and they would likely want to know the details of the emails.
Cami,
You should be getting a little surprise delivered. Before you say anything, I arranged it before we broke up, and it was too late to cancel by the time I remembered. Keep it, and remember I’m always here if you need me.
Love,
Mitch
I rolled my eyes. If he only wanted to let me know about the delivery, he would have only sent one email. The email was to bait me into communicating with him. When he didn’t get a response in the time frame he expected, he sent another email.
Cami,
Did you get my email about the gift? It would be nice if you’d at least respond to me.
Love,
Mitch
Cami,
I know you’re at work, and you always check your emails at work. Just because you’re trying your hand at being a groupie whore, doesn’t mean you have to be rude. At the very least, you should let me know you haven’t started sending my emails to your spam folder.
Mitch
I cocked my head to the side. The spam folder was the perfect place for Mitch’s emails. I’d be sending all future emails there. For the time being, I still had two more emails to read. On the positive side, Mitch was always brief.
Cami,
There’s no reason to act like a child. Refusing to answer my emails? Blocking my number? After all I’ve done for you, I deserve better than this. I hope you’ll see how ridiculous your behavior is by tomorrow morning.
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