Chapter Twenty-Four
Gillian
I called Lexie the next morning after breakfast to ask her if she could help me find something to wear for my date with Dwayne. After some time in the mall, we settled on our favorite thrift store.
“What do you think about this?” Lexie grabbed a simple blue A-line dress off the clothes rack.
“No, there’s no shape.”
“You don’t want to give everything away. You’re just getting started.”
“We’re past that point.”
“Alright.” She went back to the clothes rack.
“How about this?” I pulled a pair of jeans off the rack. “They’re tight and the fabric is stretchy. It’ll fit to my skin.”
“You’d be leaving nothing to the imagination.”
“He doesn’t have to use his imagination.” I put the jeans in my shopping cart.
“You’re really going to get those?”
“You walk around in a leotard all day, and you’re worried about me wearing a pair of skinny jeans.”
“I think you’re moving too fast, Gillian. What if this doesn’t work?”
“I’m enjoying myself, and there’s nothing wrong with trying.”
“It’s a huge risk,” Lexie said as she shuffled through clothes.
“So was opening the dance studio, and that worked out. Besides, we already talked about this. I promised to be careful.”
“I still worry.”
“I know you do, but I’m going to be okay. He has no intention of leaving, and neither do I.”
Lexie nodded her head. “Those jeans do look good.”
“They’re sexy.”
We retreated to our favorite sushi restaurant for lunch and found a booth in the back so we could have some privacy. “I’m worried,” I said when our food came.
Lexie was mixing her soy sauce and wasabi with her chopsticks. “Why?”
“He’s having some trouble at work.”
“What kind of trouble?” She grabbed a piece of sushi and dipped it in the mixture.
“Somebody has been coming to the building where he works to cut off the cameras, and they’re having trouble finding the guy.”
“Why are they doing that?”
“It’s a financial building. That’s all I know. He thinks that they want to break into the records.”
“Is he in danger, Gillian?”
“I don’t know.” I took a sip of my soda. “Nobody knows. That’s what’s really bothering me.”
“The uncertainty.”
“Yes. He tried to confront them the first time they came to the building and they ran off. Now they’ve got him working nights so he can watch out for them.”
“I think he can take care of himself, Gillian.”
“That’s what he said, but nobody’s invincible. There’s always a chance.”
“You’re worried because you care, not because he’s in danger.”
“I’m not buying it.” I popped a piece of sushi into my mouth.
We got back to the house later than I wanted. I had to rush to get ready. I wasn’t worried about impressing Dwayne any longer. I was more worried about looking nice for him and adding little things like a gold bracelet and extra perfume. I wanted him to see me at my best because I wanted him to have the best.
When he pulled up to the house and knocked on the door, he was carrying a white and lavender orchid wrapped in plastic. “Those are my favorite.” I pecked him on the lips.
He took a moment to look me over, shaking his head. “You’re so beautiful. Every time I pick you up, I just want to rip your clothes off.”
“Let’s delay the moment. It’ll be more fun that way.”
“If you insist.”
“Come inside. I’ll pour you a drink.”
“That sounds wonderful. What’ve you got?”
“I have beer,” I said as I ducked down into the fridge to pull one out. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” He popped the top off and took a sip, then took a seat on a stool in front of the counter.
“Have you heard anything from work?”
“No, I spent all day looking for clues to hunt these guys down, but it’s not working. They’re careful. They know what they’re doing. Just the other night, I got a call from somebody masking their voice telling me to quit.”
“You what? Dwayne… These people know who you are?”
“I don’t think they know me personally, but they found my number.”
“And, if they found your number, they might be able to find your address.”
He took a swig of his beer. “I’m a SEAL — an elite fighter — and I’ve been in a lot worse situations than this. Anyone who decides to come to my door is going to get a fight.”
Once again, that uncertainty crept in. It was a glaring reminder of just how fragile our relationship was. “Promise me you won’t put yourself in harm’s way. That building isn’t worth the risk.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t take any unnecessary risks.”
“I’m not going to get hurt.” He drank the rest of the beer and hopped off the stool to walk around the counter and wrap his arms around me. He stared down with a warm smile and kissed me. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I’m here for you, and I’m not going anywhere.”
I wanted to hold onto that and use it as a security blanket. He was so sure, but I wasn’t. The whole way to the bar, I kept imagining him lying on the ground in the back of Adams Tower, bleeding out.