What Does He Want to Say?-1
Thea’s POV
That threatening note kept circling in my head, impossible to shake off. Every time I read it, a sense of foreboding washed over me. I’d been cleaning like a woman possessed all morning, trying to keep my hands busy while my mind refused to settle.
I tossed the mop into the bucket with more force than necessary, water splashing onto the kitchen floor I’d just finished cleaning. Fuck. Now I had to start over.
I considered reporting the note to Chief Hawthorne but didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. After all, it was just a note. What if Jaxon was right and this really was just some stupid prank?
My phone suddenly rang, making me jump. I dropped the mop and went to answer it, heart racing when I saw Sebastian’s name flashing on the screen. I almost hung up immediately but ended up answering anyway.
“Hello.” I forced my voice to sound emotionless.
“Hey, how are you?” he asked, sounding uncertain.
I swear, I could never get used to this version of Sebastian. It was so fucking unlike him. Like he woke up one day and became someone else entirely. If he’d actually changed, I needed time to adjust to this new him.
“Did you need something?” I asked, cutting to the chase.
“Yeah. I just wanted to let you know I’m going away for a few days,” he told me, which confused me a bit.
“Oh, okay, so you want me to tell Leo?”
Leo was at school. He’d be disappointed because he didn’t like it when Sebastian went on
trips, but he’d understand.
Sebastian paused before answering. “He already knows, but I wanted you to know too.”
I was a bit shocked. Sebastian never used to tell me when he was going on trips. Before,
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What Does He Want to Say?-1
he’d leave in the morning and not come back at night. Usually it was Leo who’d tell me Sebastian wouldn’t be coming home, after I’d already prepared food for him. He would tell
our son, but never me.
It was fucking disrespectful. But he’d never cared. He knew every time he did this it hurt me, and that was exactly why he kept doing it.
“I really don’t see how this concerns me, Sebastian. I’m not your anything,” I tried not to
make my tone too sharp, but it was hard.
Now, every time he did something nice, it just reminded me of everything he’d done before. Those memories branded into my brain were difficult to forget or move past.
“I know, but I thought it was basic courtesy to let you know,” he said slowly, like he was
dealing with an unpredictable animal.
Against my better judgment, I scoffed. “Courtesy? You never had any courtesy when we
were married, so I don’t understand why it’s necessary now.”
There was silence between us for a moment before I spoke again.
“Whatever, it doesn’t matter because I don’t want to argue with you.”
He sighed. “I don’t want to either,” he paused. “Listen, my plane is ready, but when I get
back, we need to talk. There’s something I need to tell you, and it’s important.”
My curiosity was immediately piqued. “Can’t you just tell me now?”
“No. This is something I need to tell you face to face.”
I fucking hated waiting. When someone does this to me, tells me we need to talk and then
makes me wait before telling me what they want to say, it usually causes serious anxiety. I’d overthink during the entire waiting period, coming up with all sorts of scenarios that
might not be true.
I heard other voices on his end. “I have to go. Take care, and we’ll talk when I get back.”
Before I could say anything more, the call disconnected. I groaned in frustration. Damn it.
What the hell did he want to talk about?
“Thea!” a shout pulled me from my thoughts.
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What Does He Want to Say?-1
I sighed in resignation. Great. Now I was going to be in this weird state until Sebastian
told me what he wanted to talk about.
What Does He Want to Say?-2
“In the kitchen!” I called back.
I heard his footsteps, and then he walked into the kitchen. I don’t know if it was just me, but Jaxon looked a bit off.
“What’s up? You called my name like the world was ending,” I said to him when I realized
he still hadn’t spoken.
His eyes were wide, like he’d just discovered something major. I stared at him. He was
wearing a hoodie and sweatpants. At first I was confused why he wasn’t at work, but then I remembered today was his day off.
“Jaxon?” I called.
He shook his head. “Oh, sorry. I don’t know if this is too soon, but I wanted to ask you
something.”
First Sebastian wanting to talk about something, and now Jaxon wanting to ask me
something. Seeing him fidget, I knew I probably wouldn’t like what he had to say.
“Okay, shoot.”
He was quiet for a moment, then took a deep breath.
“I want to ask you out on a date.”
“What?” I stammered, my eyes widening as I stared at him.
Did I hear him right? No way. He couldn’t possibly be asking me this. We were just
friends.
“Would you go out on a date with me?” he asked again, his voice clearer this time. “I know it might be too early, but I think it’s for the best. We can help each other get over our past hurts. It would be easy because we understand each other.”
I continued to stare at him. My brain refused to work. Surely he could see how fucking ridiculous his idea was, and I don’t mean to be mean or anything. He was basically suggesting we be each other’s replacement. That kind of relationship usually doesn’t end
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What Does He Want to Say?-2
well.
“Say something, please, Thea,” he pleaded when he realized I wasn’t saying anything.
I looked at the floor and then at him, trying to find a suitable and reasonable answer that wouldn’t hurt him.
“You’re a great guy, Jaxon, and any she–wolf would be lucky to date you…” I began.
“But?” he prompted.
“But I don’t think this is a good idea.” I sighed. “First of all, we’re both just coming out of difficult relationships, and I don’t think either of us is ready for dating. The only time I dated after my divorce, I ended up pregnant with a man who only wanted to use me and even tried to kill me. Finally, though you’re angry with Aurora, I can see you still love her. I fell in love with a man who loved Aurora once, and he nearly destroyed me. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
He deflated, staying silent. I felt bad for breaking his illusion, but developing a relationship with him while he still loved Aurora would only end in disaster. I needed peace. I didn’t need to fall in love with another man who loved Aurora again.
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” he said quietly, then turned and walked out the back door.
“Jaxon,” I called after him, but he didn’t answer.
I followed him outside only to find he’d already crossed the yard to his side. I sighed and went back inside, and that’s when the doorbell rang.
I walked out of the kitchen, through the hallway, and felt a sense of déjà vu.
When I opened the door, there was no one there. Just another note.
I picked it up and opened it. It was smeared with what I thought was blood, but the words were clear.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT, THEA. HAVE YOU SAID GOODBYE TO YOUR LOVED ONES?
I dropped the note in horror, staring at it, willing it to disappear. Now I was sure this wasn’t a prank. Someone was targeting me again; the only question was who, and why?
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What Does He Want to Say?-2
My body suddenly went ice cold as fear swept through me at the thought of Leo and the baby in my belly. I needed to figure out how to keep us safe, and I needed to do it fast.
