Reed's Reckoning

“He got curious and put a trace on her cell. She started calling your sister again and buddying up to her. Alex was at the party the night your sister had her accident.”

My entire body goes tight. “Did she have something to do with it?”

“We don’t know. Doesn’t seem like it from the accident report. But according to my friends call logs, about two weeks after I turned over the information to you on Davis, Sarah Summers made a call to Alex. They talked for five minutes. Several times since then, they’ve had conversations. Now knowing that Ari works with her, I can put together a scenario. I think somehow Sarah figured out who Ari was and what Alex did in college, and she called her out on it and that’s how Alex knew where you were.

“She has several credit card charges for the hotel across the street. Alex has been watching you. Seeing you get close to the one woman she knows you loved. Then she arranged for her and Cara to surprise you that weekend hoping to scare Ari away. What she didn’t know is your feelings for Ari. I hate to tell you buddy, but she was here this weekend too. I don’t know how she hid, but she was registered at the hotel since Thursday night. I watched her drive out about an hour ago and came straight here.”

“Jesus Christ! The incident with Cara was weeks ago. Alex contacting a PI was months ago, how are we just now hearing this?”

“I stopped following Ari and Davis after I turned over the file and you paid me. I had no reason to keep digging. I’m glad my buddy called me. It’s taken since I talked to you last to gather this information.”

“Trey, are we in danger? Any of us? I am pissed as shit at my sister right now, but I want her to be safe.”

“So far, there are no credible threats. But with this information, I would recommend you file for a restraining order against Alex, here and in Jacksonville. Be aware of your surroundings. But breaking up a college couple because of jealousy isn’t a crime. With her college relationships with these other girls, everything can be seen as a coincidence. I’m not sure without a threat, if you’ll even get a restraining order granted but at least it will be on record.”

“Fucking A’, I was in that woman’s dirty ass bed. What a bitch.” Luke says referring to Sarah.

“Me too, years ago.” Jack adds.

“Eeewwww.” Ari scowls. “I know that’s not appropriate right now, but eeewww.”

“I have an idea,” Luke ignores her. “We need to talk to Sarah and see what she knows.”

“I agree, but how? Ari’s not talking to her alone.” I tell them.

“No, she’s not. I am.”

“Umm, hello, ‘she’ is right here, and I think I am perfectly capable of talking to her. I’ll just corner her at work.” Ari says confidently.

Not even a second passes and all men laugh. Her face starts to turn red and I know she’s going to blow. Before she can scream, I tug her into my lap and hold her tight.

“Angel, you’re a tiny woman that wouldn’t hurt a fly. You would be about as effective as a child.”

“Reed Matthews, I can be a badass! Somehow, Sarah is involved with Alex, who hurt me deeply. I don’t know the extent yet, but I can be very intimidating when I need to be.”

I try hard, but can’t hide my smile. “Baby, I know you’re a badass, but you gave our son my namesake even when you thought I left you because you didn’t want to devastate me. Your heart is too big to deal with this. If she started crying, you would probably hug her.”

“Reed, that’s not a fair comparison, and I would not back down!”

“Yes, Ari, you would.” Luke tells her.

“Fine! What do you suggest?”

“I’m going to send her a text to meet us at the café in the morning. All of us. I’ll meet her and then we’ll confront her. I want Trey to emphasize his relationship with the local police so she’ll be scared.” Luke outlines his plan and I agree it’s a good one.

“I’m coming too. Somehow, I think I’m involved with this.” Jack states.

Luke sends Sarah a message. She replies immediately that she’ll be there. Ari goes inside to start dinner and send her boss a message that she will be late tomorrow, and I call my coach to tell him I will report to camp on Tuesday.

“Reed, it’ll kill Ari, but I need to know. Did you mess around with this Alex girl in any way?” Luke’s face is serious.

“Fuck no! No way ever. I’ve always disliked her. The only time I willingly partied with her was the night I thought Ari broke up with me. That night I was so drunk nothing even could have happened. She talked to me at a few parties or if I’d see her around, but we never had any type of relationship.”