Chapter 37
Hunter
“Turn on your TV—NBC.”
No hello. No how you doing, buddy.
I picked up the remote, flicked the TV on, and turned to the station Derek had said. A commercial for Rogaine played on the screen. I muted it to speak.
“I don’t have much going for me these days, but I have my hair.”
“Just wait.”
“You’re not making me watch a two-hour, B-flick horror movie again just so I can see your name at the end as robotics consultant, are you?”
“Shut up and watch.”
I’d just gotten in from a morning meeting, so I kicked off my shoes and pulled my dress shirt from my slacks. I’d started to unbutton with my cell tucked between my shoulder and ear when the news started to play.
I grabbed the remote to turn up the volume without noticing that my cell had fallen from my hold and landed somewhere on the couch.
What the fuck?
The screen flashed video of a man walking through a gaggle of reporters toward an apartment building. Beneath it read Convicted Ponzi scheme organizer Garrett Lockwood released early. A bunch of reporters shoved microphones in his face, asking questions about restitution to victims as he attempted to walk.
Garrett held up his hand, clearly no stranger to attention, and said, “Guys, I just want to be home with my family. I’ll answer whatever questions you have tomorrow.”
But that wasn’t what had me squeezing the remote so hard I cracked the battery panel cover. It was the building he was walking home to.
Natalia’s apartment building.
The segment didn’t last more than a minute before the news went on to a story about a string of home invasions. I stood staring at the TV, having forgotten all about Derek until I heard a muted voice calling my name in the distance. It was coming from my phone on the couch.
“Shit.” I picked up my cell. “Sorry. I dropped my phone.”
“Did you see it?”
“What the hell is she doing letting him stay at her place?”
“I don’t know. But I can think of one way to find out.”
Derek had been busting my balls to call Natalia since things ended. But since I’d confided in him that I’d gotten tested, he’d been relentless.
“You know the results aren’t due in until Friday.”
“Yeah, I guess Nat will just share a bed with her ex until then. That is, if you get the results you want. You don’t mind sloppy seconds, do you?”
“What the fuck? What do you expect me to do?”
“Get your head out of your ass, for starters.” He paused. “It’s two o’clock here. If you head to the airport now, you can get to her by, what, midnight?”
My heart started to thunder inside my chest. I couldn’t do that.
Could I?
Storm to New York to tell a woman I’d essentially walked away from that she couldn’t shack up with her ex-husband?
That would take real balls.
Pacing back and forth, I forgot I was on the phone, even though I had it held to my ear, until Derek spoke again.
“You’re gonna regret it, man. There’s such a thing as taking too long to make a decision.”
I dragged my fingers through my hair. Fuck. He was right.
“I gotta go.”
“Go get her, man. It’s about fucking time.”
***
I’d spent six hours on a plane trying to figure out what I would say when I got here. Yet I still didn’t have a goddamn clue. I’d gotten tested. If the results were negative, I’d planned to do everything in my power to win Natalia back. But Garrett’s release complicated things. Even without me in the picture, she deserved better than that asshole.
I’d caught the interior door from someone exiting as I walked in, so Natalia wouldn’t have any notice I was here until I was standing at her door. Wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or bad. I jabbed my finger at the up bottom on the elevator panel for the second time and stared at the slowly descending numbers above the doors while I tapped my foot. Sweat started to bead on my forehead even though the air was chilly today.
What if he answered the door?
Worse, what if I interrupted something going on between them?
My heart began to pound as I imagined the different circumstances that could possibly greet me.
When the elevator finally showed up, it stopped and opened on every floor, even though only the fourth floor button was illuminated. Talk about testing patience.
At her door, I took a minute in an attempt to steady myself. It was eleven o’clock at night, her ex-husband could be inside, and I had no damned idea what I was even going to say. Great plan. Two deep breaths did nothing to calm me, and since I thought it was possible I might explode if I didn’t get to her, I knocked and waited.
I knew I was taking a chance.
I knew I had no right to be possessive when I was the one who’d walked away.
I knew showing up after three weeks and without calling was a dick move.
But I also knew I loved this woman.
Which was why it felt like my heart ripped out of my chest when the door finally opened. And I was staring at Garrett, who stood inside her apartment wearing nothing but his boxers.