Wednesday
Kelli
It wasn’t even nine in the morning yet, and already Kelli’s heart had been racing every time her phone beeped or rang. She wasn’t sure if Isaiah would be texting or calling, so both notification sounds made her anxious. The back room of her busy salon was pleasantly quiet as Kelli flipped through the photos of her and Isaiah on her phone for the hundredth time.
Dedra, one of the stylists, walked into the back with a big smile. “Ms. Agnes is here for her nine o’clock with you.”
“Thanks.” Kelli slipped her phone into the pocket of her tunic.
Already Isaiah had her doing things she normally wouldn’t do, such as take her phone out on the floor with her. It was a distraction, and her clients deserved her undivided attention. But she couldn’t help it. The day Isaiah said he wouldn’t be calling until Wednesday, she remembered thinking I have to wait until Wednesday?, but she’d dared not say it. Kelli had since decided maybe she could take a chance. Maybe she was just being paranoid about feeling as if she were being followed or watched. Technically, nothing that could be proven to have anything to do with her dad’s associates had actually ever happened. If anything, she’d just be extra diligent.
“Hi, Agnes.” Kelli smiled big at the elderly woman, feeling guilty about not being able to reschedule her weekend appointment until now.
“How are you feeling, honey?” Agnes reached out and clasped her hand between both of hers.
“Oh, much better thank you.”
Kelli brought Agnes around the salon chair and waited for her to hop on. As she tied the cape around her neck, Kelli gave Agnes a quick update on the bug she’d had that weekend and why she’d had to cancel all her appointments. Feeling her phone buzz in her pocket had her heart fluttering immediately as it had all morning each time it went off.
She glanced up into the mirror and met Agnes’s sweet eyes. “Would you like me to bring you a cup of coffee or tea? Water?”
“Coffee would be great if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Not at all,” Kelli said, already reaching into her pocket. “I’ll be right back.”
Eve had been off Monday and Tuesday, and Kelli hadn’t spoken to her since Friday. Her friend eyed her suspiciously more than once today. She did it again as Kelli walked into the back room, smiling a little too big. Not ready to address Eve’s playful suspicions just yet, she glanced down at the phone screen instead as she hurried to the coffee maker. Her smile waned a bit when she didn’t recognize the number on the text with no preview. She’d already labeled Isaiah’s contact information and even added a photo of the two of them to it so it would pop up whenever he called or texted. Curiously she hit the envelope and read the text that nearly stopped her heart.
You might wanna tell your new boyfriend what he’s gotten himself into . . . Kelli.
Kelli’s eyes were immediately on the phone number again. Whoever it was made sure she wouldn’t mistake this for a wrong number. It was only after examining the number closer that she noticed it wasn’t a full seven digits. With her heart still thundering for an altogether different reason, her mind raced to think of what, if anything, she should respond. Finally, she asked the most obvious question.
Who is this?
Dedra rushed into the back room again. “Girl, were you getting Ms. Agnes something to drink?”
Kelli looked up, feeling bad, and slipped the phone in her pocket then opened the cupboard to grab a cup. “Yes, coffee.”
“Nah,” Dedra said, already at the water cooler. “I think she needs water.”
Dedra rushed back out with the water. Kelli was about to follow her out and ask if something was wrong when her phone buzzed in her pocket. The drumming of her heart was no longer an excited one. The text was from the same person and she clicked on it.
We think you already know. If not, ask Daddy.
The dive Kelli’s stomach took was immediate and brutal. We? This was the confirmation she’d been dreading. The disappointment of knowing she hadn’t just been paranoid was even worse than it would’ve been before this weekend. But it still didn’t mean they were talking about Isaiah. She often had lunch or coffee with other guy friends she’d been seen with more often than just a weekend. There might still be a chance they were talking about someone else or even bluffing. It was a long shot, but she could only hope it would work.
You must have me mistaken with someone else. I don’t have a boyfriend.
Remembering Agnes was still waiting and then Dedra rushing out with water for her, Kelli slipped the phone in her pocket and walked out front. Dedra and Eve were both hovering over Agnes, appearing very concerned too. Eve glanced up at her and shook her head discreetly as Kelli sped up. “Something wrong?”
She reached them and touched Agnes’s shoulder. Her face appeared much paler than earlier, and she seemed a little listless. “I’m fine,” she said with a weak smile. “Blood pressure drops sometimes. It’s normal. I’m old. But it’ll pass.”
“You sure?”
Kelli’s eyes darted from Agnes’s to Dedra’s. She was giving her that same look Eve had, a very uncertain “I don’t think she’s fine” expression.
“Is there anything else I can bring you?” Kelli asked, even as her heart rate picked up again because her phone buzzed several times back to back in her pocket. “Anyone we can call for you?”
Agnes shook her head, reaching into her purse. She seemed winded but otherwise fine; though the expressions on Dedra’s and Eve’s faces still said otherwise. Kelli pulled out her phone and glanced at her messages. She had four from two different numbers: three from that earlier number and one from Isaiah. While seeing Isaiah’s name thrilled her beyond words, seeing the other text just before his made her heart ache.
“Are you sure there’s not anyone we can call to come get you, Agnes?”
Agnes shook her head again but asked if Kelli could bring her a little more water.
“Of course.” Kelli rushed toward the back, glancing down at her text messages. Something caught in her throat and she nearly stopped walking as she scrolled through the last three messages they’d sent her. None included any actual words, just three pictures of her and Isaiah in Seaport Village. In each one, Isaiah was either kissing her sweetly or staring into her eyes the way he had so much all weekend.
While it horrified her to think he might actually be in any kind of danger, her heart ached, knowing what she had to do. Continuing into the back room, she clicked on Isaiah’s text. It was simple enough, yet it almost choked her up.
Hey, it’s me, Isaiah. I’m off today. Maybe I can see you? Call or text me when you get a chance.
After searching in the fridge for a bottled water to bring Agnes instead of a small paper cup, Kelli stared at the photo she’d set as his profile picture. It was so tempting to respond to him. She’d love nothing more than to see him today. He was all she’d been able to think about since she’d last seen him.
Consumed with a sudden wave of anger and defiance, she began responding not only that she’d love to see him today but that she’d missed him. As she read back the embarrassing but honest text with a silly smile, another text notification popping up at the top of her screen made her smile go flat. Still feeling defiant, she nearly hit send to Isaiah’s text but then thought better of it.
The photo that popped up when she clicked on the other envelope had her breathing in deeply. It was a close-up of Isaiah’s face gazing at her with that breathtaking smile. They’d captured it beautifully. Only this time it was accompanied by a text message.
What a shame if something were to happen to such a handsome face. Talk to your dad, Kelli.
The feelings of defiance were squashed and replaced with the horrifying thought of something happening to Isaiah because of her. Would they really? Maybe if—?
Eve pushed through the door in complete panic. “Do you know CPR?”
“What? No, why?”
“It’s Agnes. She’s not breathing. I already called 911, but . . .”
Kelli dropped her phone in her pocket and rushed back into the front of the salon with Eve.
2-1/2 weeks later
Isaiah
As much as it hurt, and it still pissed Isaiah off that it did, he was officially giving up on Kelli. Not only had she not responded to a single one of his texts or calls, he’d snapped at people who didn’t deserve to be snapped at more than once now. All because of the horrid mood he’d been in over this.
It was a onetime deal, and she’d pretty much warned him that was all it would be from the very beginning, regardless of the undeniable chemistry bullshit she’d laid on him at the end. He’d been stupid to think she might actually change her mind since, even after giving him her number, she still hadn’t offered him her last name. Her giving him her number had likely been just to avoid an awkward end to what he’d considered a perfect weekend. Clearly, she was hoping to make a clean break.
Isaiah knew he could get his cousin Moe involved to track her down using her phone number because the recording on the voice mail his calls were always sent to was really her voice. But his pride was not about to let him go there. If she’d wanted anything more to do with him, she would’ve answered her fucking phone or responded to the too many texts he’d already sent her. He’d never been pathetic when it came to anything, much less women, and he wasn’t going to start now—not even for her. That last text he sent her was the last she’d hear from him unless she took the initiative. But the way he felt now he wasn’t even sure he’d respond should she reach out at this point. It was irritating as shit that Isaiah had never felt so hurt by any girl in his life. Yet each day that’d passed with no word from this girl he knew so little of, stung like hell. He was done.
Fuck her.