When You Were Mine (Second Chances 2)
Page 58
Celia smirked at her and said, “I’d have a hard time getting out of bed when he was around too.”
As Cora laughed, Celia moved back to her respective desk. At least she wasn’t the only one that felt like shit today. God knows, misery loved company.
A few minutes later, Celia called out, “Two heavy breathing hangups. My man never disappoints me.”
Cora snorted and asked, “Any real messages?”
“Your 5:00 p.m. canceled on you and Bryce called,” Celia said. “He asked you to call him back. He said it was about the restraining order.”
Cora sighed deeply and asked, “Did he leave a number?”
“Yeah,” she said, from Cora’s office door.
Cora watched as she walked over to her desk and set it down.
“I wish I could have screened the call for you, sweetie. He really is a dirtbag.”
“Agreed. But I need to call him back about this. It could be important,” Cora said, sighing.
Celia grinned and said, “Your sister called, too.”
“Why didn’t she call my cell?” Cora asked aloud as she checked her phone.
“She called me,” Celia said, correcting her assumption, “to thank me.”
Cora’s eyes widened for a moment and then they both burst into laughter. At least, she thought, someone’s day was starting off well.
Her laughter dying down, Cora picked up the message and said, “I need to call him back.”
“I’ll just shut the door. Your first patient will be here in,” Celia checked her watch and then continued, “fourteen minutes.”
She nodded and said, “Thanks, Celia.”
When the door closed, she took a deep breath and reminded herself that he had done her a favor. She was still tempted to throw away the messages like the countless others that he’d left her. Eventually she’d asked Celia to stop taking them, and to no longer tell her if he called.
Cora picked up the phone and dialed the number he’d left her.
After two rings, he picked up the phone. “Wallace.”
Cora rolled her eyes at the greeting and said, “Bryce. It’s Cora.”
“Oh, hey. I, uh, wanted to let you know that we weren’t able to serve the protection order. I talked to my contacts on the street and no one has seen anything. Since he skipped on parole about the time he was at your office, I’m hoping that means he skipped town.”
Cora let out a disappointed sigh and said, “Well, thank you for trying. I really do appreciate it.”
“If he comes back, please call the police. I checked his record and he’s a piece of work. Assault, DUI, weapons charges, domestic violence charges. I have no idea how this guy managed to make parole.”
A shudder of fear ran through her, but all she said was, “I will.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“You too,” Cora said. “Bye.”
Cora hung up the phone and said, “Well shit.”
She quickly texted Jamie and then put her phone in her drawer. She suspected that he would be more disappointed than she was. She really hated to convey that news. Especially now, when he was needing to focus on Shinobi.
Cora quickly chugged the rest of her coffee and put her game face on. She tried to focus on the positives. Excellent boyfriend. Awesome family. Fantastic job. Beach vacation coming up.