Chapter 32

Renee’s POV

“She can’t,” I hear Eric say from somewhere behind me. I turn around and sure enough is hovering behind me.

And why is that?” I demand.

Eric looks at Jasper when he speaks. “She made a mistake at work and that order is going to be now and delivered,” Eric brings his eyes to me. “Remember that million dollar mistake?“

I suck on the inside of my cheek. “I remember”

“Oh, that. “Jasper says as if he knows what Eric is talking about because a big mistake that might normally be something you would share with your significant other. I look at him as she.

I’m sorry Jasper,

“Nothing for you to be sorry for,“ Jasper says, and then looks at Eric. “Who is cutting into our date nights, and Jasper ads, but still I can take that as a challenge. He swears his shoulders towards Jasper.

“It’s just business,” Eric says flashing Jasper they ride grin. I see jaspers jaw, clinch and clinch.

“That’s all right, “Jasper says gently. “There will be plenty of weekends where we can get dinner,” he winks at me playfully.

“ I wouldn’t count on that, “Eric cut in. “Work has been very busy.”

The tension Eric and Jasper is becoming palpable.

“ Surely Renee does not want to spend all of her time to work. That’s not good for the heart,“ Jasper says, and then he cocks his head, tilts his chin towards Eric. “Eric shouldn’t you be coming down on the work that you suffer from headaches?” Doesn’t miss.

“I am perfectly healed,“ just then the waitress comes over and sets that pizza down on our table.

Can I get you anything else?“ Her chirpy voice breaks through the tension .

“Nope, we’re all good!” I say trying to match her enthusiasm and keep the mood light. I was starving but looking at this greasy pizza my stomach turns.

Eric and I are going to spend a weekend away together.

Just when I think we’re past this conversation, Jasper chimes in. “I’ll watch Debbie while you’re away,”

“No, she can come.” Eric says and the possessiveness of her surprises me.

“No, it’s not good for her health;” Jasper says. I get annoyed. Since when did I lose the right to decide anything?

“Of course, it’s whatever you want to do Renee” Jasper quickly adds picking up on my irritability, but it’s a tad too late.

“I’m sure Debbie would appreciate the trip,” Eric says as if the decision is final.

I take a bite of my pizza and nearly burn the roof of my mouth. I drop the slice and freeze spellers on my shirt. Great.

I hurry to dunk my napkin in my water and start dap my shirt. “No she’ll stay,” I say, flustered. This trip is going to be stressful enough, I don’t need to add Debbie to the mix. Besides, Jasper has. A point if anything happens to her at least he’ll be right there. I’ll give Margaux a heads up too, just in case.

When the weekend arrives, I lay in bed with Debbie nuzzled next to my chest. She was extra clingy last night when she realized I’ll be leaving for the next two days.

I can’t say that I mind. When Debbie isn’t being little miss hyper drama queen, she can be a real cuddle bug.

I wrap my arm around her and breathe in her scent like I used to do when she was a baby. I close my eyes and pretend we’re going to have a lazy Saturday, just the two of us.

Unfortunately that day dream is cut short because I have to get to the airport.

I gently slide out of bed, careful not to disturb Debbie.

An hour later when I’m ready to go I hear her stir just as Jasper comes in through the front door.

I greet Eric at the door. “Prepare for tears,” I fair warn him.

Just then Debbie appears in the foyer, her hair all tangled and her teddy bear hanging limply at her side. Sure enough, her eyes are bright red.

“Do you have to go?” She says. My own heart breaks.

“You’re going to have so much fun with Jasper, I’ll be back before you know it,” I tell her and wrap my arms around her.

Jasper crouches down and rustles her hair. “I was thinking we could go to the water park,”

Debbie burrows her face in my leg, “it’s too cold for that,” she says her voice muffled.

“Not the indoor one,” Jasper points out. Debbie moves ever so slightly so that one eye peaks out we’d looks at Jasper. After a minute, a smile spreads across her face.

“Look at that, I’m already forgotten,”

We wrap up our goodbyes and I drive to the airport.

I pull up to the window to pay for overnight parking. The attendant asks for my ID. I hand it to him and he lowers his sunglasses as he looks at it, then back at me, then back at the ID. “Park in the first spot on the first floor,” he says and presses a button so the gate lifts and I can drive through.

I look at him confused. It’s Saturday morning at the biggest airport in the city, no way the best spot in the parking garage is available and I’m pretty sure it costs something to park overnight.

“Alpha Eric’s orders,” he says which sums it up. Then the attendant hands me a slip of paper. I look at it and it has a name and number on it. “When you return call our valet service,” he says.

I toss the paper in the back seat as I pull forward. I can get my own damn car.

I start to wonder if this whole business trip is really going to be a ploy where Eric shows off his money and connections as though to prove something to me.

Just as I park, I get a text from Eric:

Just got inside, we’re at gate 4.

Noted.

The hustle and bustle of the airport while around me. I haven’t flown since Eric’s and my honeymoon. We went to some private island and I basically spent the entire vacation alone because Eric was working.

The business and high security at the airport paralyze me, but I suppose if I can navigate a probate island in the middle of nowhere then I can do this.

I hike up my luggage and join the crowd. I get in line to get checked by security. The line is long and looks as though it’s going to take hours to get through. Somewhere behind me a baby is crying.

Just then a tall officer dressed in all blue comes up to me. “Renee ‘Williams’?”

I look up at this man and my heart catches in my throat. He’s looking at me like I’m a criminal. “Yes?” I say, my voice shaking.

“Come with me,” he orders. A few people standing by look at me curiously, I’m sure some are wondering if I’m a criminal. I’m starting to wonder the same thing. Somehow, I manage to get my legs moving. The officer keeps his back straight and his head high as he cuts through the line.

I keep my gaze down, trying to avoid the suspicious glares of onlookers.

He leads me right to the here my gate is, Eric is seated in a seat looking down at his phone but instantly looks up when we near.

“Thank you, Dan,” Eric says nodding toward the security officer.

Eric hands him cash and Dan walks away. My heart rate slowly begins to return to normal as I realize what just happened. Then anger takes over my anxiety.

“A heads up would’ve been nice,” I say to Eric. He looks at me like he doesn’t understand why I’m upset.

“I did you a favor by getting you cleared through security,”

“I thought I was going to be arrested,” I argue.

“For what? Stolen identity?” Eric smirks. Before I can answer a voice comes over the loudspeaker. Our plane is deleted.

In unison everyone gathered at the gate groans. Myself included. This is going to be a long weekend.