CHAPTER 19
The memory evaporated when someone knocked on my window, causing me to jump back into the now. Trent stared at me with worry on his face, and a twinge of shame assaulted me.
I wasn’t in my right mind when I called Trent after my meeting with Jason’s dad. Now that I had some time to calm down, I didn’t want to share what had happened with him. I allowed myself to get caught up in the drama, and I shouldn’t have called him back so hastily.
Trent opened the door when I made no move to get out of the car. He extended his hand, and I reluctantly took it. I couldn't very well tell him never mind after asking to meet him here.
“Are you okay?” he asked when I climbed out. He pulled me in for a tight hug. Annoyance resurfaced, making me feel like an awful person. I was using him, because he was the only one who knew about my meeting and the continued notes. The amount of relief I felt when he finally let me go embarrassed me further as my mind chastised me for being such a horrible friend.
“I’m fine,” I answered.
He stared at me as if he were trying to read my face. My sunglasses were firmly in place, hiding my conflicting thoughts.
“What did he want?” Trent asked as we meandered through the store.
I gathered my thoughts as I picked out the perfect pound of apples. Trying to figure out what I wanted to share with him, I kept coming to the same conclusion. I needed to stop using Trent, because I didn't trust him like a true friend.
“Faith, please tell me,” he pleaded.
“My dad has been investigating Jason’s background. He wanted me to ask him to stop,” I said, giving him as much truth as I wanted to share.
Trent stared at me, and I mustered a pathetic smile. “Did you tell him about the notes?”
I stopped pushing the cart so I could face him when I shook my head. Trent's body was tense, his eyes taking on a wild quality.
“Why would I tell him about the notes? So he could find some way to turn it around and make me look like the bad guy? Hell no,” I said louder than I’d meant to.
Two little old gray-haired ladies shot me the evil eye as they scurried off down the next aisle.
“You're right; it would probably be a bad idea to tell him about them. Besides, they aren’t coming as often as they were before, right? Maybe Jason's giving up on getting you back.”
“How did you know the notes were being left less often?” I asked. He hadn’t been around since our last fight, and now my paranoia was getting the best of me.
He put his arm around my shoulders making me cringe. “Even though we haven’t been talking to each other as much as I would like, I’ve still been keeping an eye on you, Faith. I care about you. I'll always take care of you.”
His words should’ve made me feel secure, safe in the knowledge I had a friend. A friend who would stick around no matter how badly we fought, but I couldn’t stop my suspicions from reforming. Jason was already more than I could handle. I needed to stop this back and forth friendship I had with Trent. I knew deep down it wasn't healthy for either of us.
“Thanks, Trent. Although...I'm a big girl and can take care of myself.” I kept my words light, but my brain was bogged down by the need to say them.
“I know you are Faith. You're amazing, which is one of the reasons why I care about you so much.”
I nudged him lightly before reaching for a can of pumpkin on the top shelf, successfully dislodging his arm. Even though I had five cans at home, I figured this was an easy way to get him off of me without hurting his feelings more than I was going to when I separated from him—and for good this time.
We walked around a little longer, Trent trying to pump me for more information on what had happened at the coffee shop. I dodged his questions, but by the time we loaded up my car and he drove off, I was exhausted.
Before I could shift my car into drive, my phone rang. Kill’s name flashed on the screen, and my mood lifted immediately.
“Hey, Slick. Where have you been keeping your sexy ass?”
"I fueled up on coffee before going to the store to get some things I forgot yesterday.”
“Why didn’t you call me? I would’ve met you. You know how much I like squeezing your melons.”
Kill had a way of fixing my mood with only a couple of sentences.
“Trent met up with me, so I wasn’t alone, but don’t worry, Killer, there was no melon squeezing.”
He remained quiet for a second. “So, are you coming home now?”