From Darkness (Hearts & Arrows Book 3)(76)

She brightened up as a spark of hope lit in her. “I can fax them all of his info and offer a reward for information.”

“Fax? That’s current.”

Josie laughed. “I’ve got an online fax account that can send to fax machines via email.”

“Fancy,” he said with an eyebrow wiggle. “That’s a damn good idea. We’re sure to get a hit off one of them. All right. We need to leave as soon as possible. How much time do you need?”

“Just let me get my stuff together. I need to call my dad at some point too, but I might wait until we’re far enough that he can’t say no.”

“Probably smart. Anything I can do?”

“Start researching the motels and get a spreadsheet going.”

He was already typing in a search term. “On it.”

Josie headed back to her room and grabbed her duffel bag. Her hands trembled a little as she packed, excited and nervous and not exactly sure what had gotten into her. That bastard had found a way to wiggle his way in and in a way that was undeniably chivalrous even if he’d done the opposite of what she’d said and even if he was a jerk who had left her.

She felt the rush of adrenaline that came with every chase, the clarity that it brought. The relief she found in having a plan was a tangible thing. There was nothing she hated more than winging it. It made her downright crazy. The last few days had been proof of that.

Josie came out with her bag, and Jon turned with a smirk on his face.

“Got your toothbrush?” he joked. “You can’t use mine if you forgot it.”

She tried not to think about the fact that she’d be sleeping in the same room as him. “I got it. Don’t forget your hair ties because you can’t use mine.”

“I’m good.” He held up his wrist where a couple of rubber bands were wound.

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile.

He hurt you. He left you. He chose her.

“Come on, let’s get going.”

He snapped her laptop closed and handed it to her.

She cradled it in the crook of her arm and grabbed her keys. “I’ll drive.”

“Oh no, you won’t.” He chuckled. “We’re taking my car.”

Josie propped a hand on her hip and eyeballed him. “I’m driving. My car gets better gas mileage.”

“No way am I riding across the country in a Mazda. We’re taking my Jeep.”

“Your Jeep sticks out too much. Could your tires be any bigger?”

“As a matter of fact, yes, they could. I’m driving. I’ll pay for all the gas, and it doesn’t matter what car we take because your hair draws more attention than if we were driving a Testarossa.”

“Jon, come on—”

“Stop being a control freak, Jo,” he said with firm tenderness.

She knew there would be no arguing with him, not with that look on his face.

“Look, it’ll give you the time to research while I drive because I’m never gonna drive a Mazda.”

She sighed, knowing it was a lost cause. “Fine, you win.”

“Thank you. Now, let’s go.”



They walked the block to Jon’s apartment, and he turned to her when she paused at the foot of the stairs to his building.

“Come on up, Jo.”

Josie looked warily at the door, not wanting to see what was inside. “I’ll just wait here.”

“I need you to make sure I don’t forget any other important supplies. You know, like headbands and extra underwear.”

She shook her head. The last thing she wanted to see was the home he shared with his family, and the last person in the entire world that she wanted to see was Tori.

“I’m not going in there, Jon.”

“Tori’s not home, and neither is Lola,” he said, soft and serious.

Josie squirmed and shifted her duffel bag on her shoulder. She’d been so sidetracked before they left that she didn’t realize she had to pee until they started walking. She was ready to get on the road and didn’t want to pull over unless they had to, so she figured, if no one was there, she could bear seeing reminders of the reasons Jon had left her so long as the reasons themselves weren’t around.

She waved him on. “Fine, fine.”

They made their way up the stairs and to his door, and Josie braced herself for what she’d see—proof of his family, proof she had no interest in acknowledging.

But when they stepped in and Josie heard a little girl yelling, “Daddy!” as she ran through the apartment, she went numb, wishing she could sink into the floor as the toddler jumped into his arms.

And just like that, her traitorous warm, hopeful feelings about Jon were gone. All that was left was her feelings of regret and foolishness.

She’d been stupid to get her hopes up. So, so stupid.

“Hey there, baby. What are you doin’ here?” His voice was tight, and she knew he was just as surprised as she was.

Well, maybe not just as surprised.

“I thought you and Mama were going to the zoo?” He smoothed her hair with his big hand.

Josie wanted to die. Her insides physically reacted to seeing him holding her like that, looking at her like he was.

“No zoo,” Lola said. She poked her lip out.