Page 52 of The Sweet Talker
Declan takes the phone from my hand. “It’s damaged and we need it to work. We’ll pay whatever it takes, and we’ll be happy to give you as many selfies and autographs as you want.”
Mr. Ferguson laughs as his wife comes around the corner. “Sandra, you remember Declan.” She beams. “You take these boys to the living room and introduce them. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
My stomach clenches, hoping this works, I put on a smile and let Mrs. Ferguson take me into the room and introduce us around. For the next fifteen minutes, we make small talk, and thankfully Declan carries the conversation. I’m too worked up to focus on anything.
We get our pictures taken, and sign autographs and soon enough Mr. Ferguson comes back into the room, a frown on his face, and my heart sinks into my stomach.
He gestures for us to follow him back into the hall and we say our goodbyes before following him. In the hall, I try to quiet my racing heart. “Not working?”
“Oh, it’s working…it’s just, this is Josie Moser’s phone.”
“You got it working!” I practically shout, my throat aching as I hold back tears.
“Yes, but what are you doing with her phone?”
“It’s a long story, Mr. Ferguson. But I can assure you, we are planning on giving it back. We’re planning on making everything right, isn’t that right, Brody?”
“Yeah,” I say, even though there is nothing I can do to make it right.
He hands the phone over. “Lots of memories that I’m sure she wouldn’t want to lose.”
“Yeah, exactly,” I agree.
“How much?” Declan asks and pulls out his wallet.
Mr. Ferguson waves his hand. “No charge. Just as long as you get this back to Josie.”
We head outside and back in the car, Declan says, “He owns the Mobile Shop in town. He can fix anything.”
“Thank you, Declan. This means a lot.”
“And obviously, she means a lot to you.” I nod, and head back to Declan’s. “Are you going to go see her tonight?”
“I’m pretty sure she won’t open the door for me and I don’t want to leave this on her doorstep in the dark.” As much as I wanted to wake up with her Christmas morning, I know better than to go to her tonight. Distance is probably the best thing for us. The party has died down by the time we get back, and I’m happy to see that Patrick is gone. How would I explain that I’m sleeping at Declan’s tonight? Declan searches for Nikki, but his mother informs him that Patrick took her home. Declan is in a foul mood as he goes to his bedroom and I follow him up the stairs, going into my own room, shutting the door and flopping on the bed. I close my eyes, but sleep doesn’t come and I want to get up and out early, to put the phone on her doorstep. That way she’ll find it when she takes Mabel for her morning walk.
I toss and turn until morning and rub my sleepy eyes as the light shines in through the slant in my curtains. Walking quietly through the house, not wanting to wake anyone, I head to the front door when I notice some extra gift bags. Sure that Donna wouldn’t mind me using one, I drop the phone in and a cool morning breeze washes over me when I step outside. I quietly back my car out of the driveway and head to Josie’s. I sit in the car for a minute, my insides twisted up, and finally force myself to put one leg in front of the other. I walk around the shop to her back door, put the bag on the doorknob, and head back to my car.
I knew better than to start anything with her and now I’ve fucked everything up, hurt the one woman who would never hurt anyone, and has been through so much pain herself. I love her, there’s no denying that, but she’d be better off without me in her life messing everything up.
16
Josie
My barking dog pulls me awake. I open one eye and then the other, my gaze going straight to my gigantic tree. I’m on the sofa and the Douglas fir eats up the whole room, so it’s not a surprise that it’s the only thing I can see.
Wrong.
Mabel pokes me with her wet nose. “What’s up, girl?” Through puffy eyes from crying, I check my phone for the time and groan. “You’re up way too early.”
Her tail wags and when I try to roll over, she barks and barks and barks some more. “Ugh, you’re not going to let me sleep, are you?”
She runs from the sofa, through the kitchen, and barks at the back door. “Fine, I’m coming,” I say, reluctantly forcing myself up. Exhaustion from a very sleepless night pulls at me as I trudge to the kitchen, pull on my boots and coat, and leash Mabel. I hate that I cried over Brody. Brody who helped with Mabel, took me on a horse-drawn carriage ride, and showed me how to live again. Brody who was using me for some stupid game between him and his best friend.
Mabel barks at me and it pulls me out of my stupor. “Okay, okay, what is your rush this morning anyway?” As she practically drags me down the stairs, I try to think about something other than Brody, but can’t. Honestly, why would he invest so much time in getting to know me, doing things with me when all he had to do was ask and I would have gone with him. After all, he was doing me a favor by p
retending to be my boyfriend. I guess he liked the thrill of the chase, being able to sweet talk me. Maybe it was all ego driven.
I open the door and I’m blasted with a cold breeze and Mabel tries to pull me to the road, which is so strange. “We’re going to the park, girl. Wrong way.” I go to close the door, and that’s when I notice the gift bag on the doorknob. I stare at the bag for a moment, glancing around. I snort. “Looks like Santa came, Mabel.”