The Protector (Game of Chance, #1)(71)

There was silence for an uncomfortably long moment.

“God, I don’t like this,” Susie said.

Carlise sighed in frustration. “I want you to be happy for me. Is that so hard?”

“Honestly? Yes. Remember, I was with you when you first met Tommy, and you said similar things to what you’re saying now. You gushed over how great he was and everything he did for you. Then things turned bad, and now you have a stalker. Wait—have you gotten any notes or messages from him since you’ve been there?”

“There’s no cell service here and the Wi-Fi is buggy, but Riggs checked my phone and said that yes, he’s still leaving me awful messages.”

“Wait, wait, wait! You haven’t seen them for yourself? Seriously? Car, you’re being extremely dumb right now!”

Susie sounded pissed, and Carlise wasn’t sure why. “I trust him, Susie.”

“It’s been a week and a half! You don’t even know him!” she yelled.

“I do!” Carlise retorted, her own voice rising.

“You’ve fucked him, haven’t you?” she asked abruptly, as if just realizing that was a possibility. “That’s why you’re acting like this. He’s mesmerized you with his magic cock, and you’re in some sex haze.”

Now Carlise was pissed. “I have. And it was awesome. The best I’ve ever had. He actually cares about my pleasure—unlike Tommy, who only wanted to stick his dick inside me and get off, then go to sleep. I’ve never been with a man who wants me as much as Riggs does.”

“Of course he does. He’s living in the middle of nowhere. How many women just show up on his doorstep during a storm? Seems awfully convenient that you’re stuck there if you ask me. God, he could have an STD or something.”

“Now you’re just being a bitch,” Carlise seethed.

“And you’re being reckless and ridiculous. You need to come home. Now. Before he manages to drain your bank account or convince you that he wants to get married and have fourteen babies.”

Carlise’s stomach tightened, and she put a hand on her belly. Babies with Riggs. That sounded heavenly.

She knew Susie was trying to shock her into seeing the situation from the outside, but she’d actually achieved the opposite. Carlise longed to give Riggs children. They could come up to the cabin in the summers, and their kids could run around safely to their hearts’ content. They’d sit by the fire at night and read books and simply enjoy spending time together as a family.

“Carlise? Are you listening to me?”

“No,” she told her best friend calmly. “When you meet Riggs, you’ll see how wrong you are. He’s one of the good guys, Suz. I promise.”

She sighed heavily. “What are you doing about your stalker then? Have you even read my emails? You know I’ve been getting weird gifts, right? Since he can’t find you, he’s apparently trying to get to you through me.”

“Oh no,” Carlise breathed, her stomach now twisting for a different reason. Tears pricked her eyes. “Suz, you need to be careful.”

“No shit,” she retorted. “What I need is for you to get back here and make this stop.”

“And how do I do that?” Carlise asked, completely seriously.

“I don’t know! But hiding out in Maine and pretending you’re in love with this Riggs person isn’t helping.”

“I know running didn’t help anything,” Carlise said with a sigh. “But I’m not pretending. I really do love him.”

“You’re killin’ me,” Susie said sadly. “I miss you, Car. I miss talking to you, laughing, having my best friend around to tell all my good news to.”

“I miss you too,” Carlise reassured her. “And good news?” she asked, wanting to lighten the mood of the call.

“Yeah. I have a new boyfriend.”

“You do? That’s awesome! Who is it? Someone I know? Where’d you meet him?”

“Yeah,” she said, sounding almost shy. “He’s great. Loves me so much that he hates when someone looks at me wrong. He’s possessive but in a good way.”

Carlise wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. Tommy had been possessive, too, and at first, she’d thought it was flattering. It soon turned stifling, and he was scary when he confronted people who’d simply said hello to her.

But after finally calming her friend, she was unwilling to upset her again or rain on her parade.

“I’m happy for you,” Carlise said. And she really was.

“Thanks. I’m happy too . . . except for my best friend not telling me where she was going or not being able to get in touch with her for the last week and a half.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll be better at staying in touch from here on out.”

“Good. I really do appreciate you calling, Car. And I’m sorry I flipped out. Will I talk to you again soon?”

“Yeah, you will,” Carlise reassured her. “And please don’t be mad at me,” she pleaded. She was uncomfortable with a lot of their conversation, but Susie was still her best friend. Things would calm down, and she’d realize once she met Riggs that she had nothing to worry about.

“I’m not,” Susie said with a sigh. “I’m just worried about you.”