Page 65 of Fight or Flight

But I won’t do it. I can’t.

I need to stay strong. For Aidan. For Jenny. And most importantly, for myself.

I turn my body away and lean my head on the cold wall before I allow the exhaustion to pull me under.

CHAPTER XXII

AIDAN

I swallow the nerves and straighten my tie one more time in the little mirror before I exit the car I parked in front of my boss’s house. The suit I bought especially for this occasion isn’t exactly uncomfortable, but it does feel strange. I don’t remember ever wearing something so pricey.

I grab the small bouquet of pink roses from the back seat and step on the doorstep to knock.

Claire always says she doesn’t need fancy. That all she wants is to spend time together, and I believe her, but I still want to give her the princess treatment I know she deserves. Even if it’s just this once. So, for tonight, I got us a reservation at a restaurant that is normally way out of my price range.

I’ve been doing some extra work on the side without telling anyone besides Tommy. Partially because I need the money but also because it keeps me occupied enough not to want to run back to Claire as soon as we’re apart. She wants to take things slow, and I respect her wishes.

My girl loves surprises, so the only thing I told her was to wear a dress. I bounce lightly on my feet to shake off the excitement at seeing her face as I wait for the door to open.

However, it’s not Claire opening the door, but Jenny looking spooked.

“I was just about to call you,” she says and swallows.

“Call me? Why? What happened?” I look behind her shoulder, searching for Claire. “Is Claire not ready yet?”

“She’s not here,” Jenny says, and my eyes move back to her slowly. Now that I give her a closer look, I notice that she’s not just spooked. She’s actually shaken to the core.

“Where is she? What happened?” I step inside and look around as if Claire were hiding around somewhere.

Jenny closes the door and goes to sit down on the couch. Her hands go to her ginormous belly, and she moves them up and down in a soothing gesture.

“I don’t know. She wasn’t here when I came back from the doctor’s. There was a note left on the kitchen counter stating that she was going to pick something up from a store. At first, I wasn’t really worried. You know Claire likes her cycling trips to the city, but it has been hours. And I know she was excited about your date.” Jenny’s voice sounds almost monotonous, drastically at odds with her terrified face.

My heartbeat speeds up as all the dark scenarios run through my head, every possible accident and occurrence making an appearance.

“Have you tried calling her?” I ask, and I am already taking out my phone out of my pocket.