On the Record (Record #2)(90)

“No farther than the end of the driveway. Long enough for you to realize how stupid it was,” he said. The dimples in his cheeks were visible as she hastily stepped out of the car. She moved her hand behind her body to keep it from his vision.

“Night,” she said, moving to push the door closed with the other hand.

“Hey!” he called, stopping her.

The blood pumped through her veins. She was this far. He couldn’t know. She was this close!

“Yeah?” she murmured.

“You forgot your purse,” he said, pointing at the small bag on the floor.

Liz breathed out heavily. Oh thank God! She grabbed the purse off of the floor of the car, slammed the door shut, and practically sprinted into her house. She shut the front door and leaned her back against it, breathing in and out heavily, her chest heaving.

“Holy shit,” she whispered into the quiet house.

She slid the lock into place carefully before taking the phone back into her bedroom. She kicked off her high heels, stripped out of her party dress, and then threw on some sweats. Taking a seat on the bed, she opened the phone, swiped her finger across the touch screen, and it lit up in her hand.

She was in.

Her hands trembled as she searched Clay’s contacts for Brady. There were four numbers listed: D.C. office, N.C. office, personal, and work. Since she had gone to the trouble of stealing Clay’s phone, she transferred all of them into her phone, even though the only number that she was planning to use tonight was his personal one.

Liz placed Clay’s phone down on her nightstand before pulling back up Brady’s personal number and clicking Send. She could hear her heart beat in her ears as she waited for him to answer. It rang four times and then went to voice mail. Liz ended the call. She couldn’t leave him a voice mail.

All of that trouble, and he didn’t pick up her call.

She sat on her bed for a solid minute, just staring off into space wondering what the hell her life had become. How the hell had she gotten to this place? All she wanted to do was find a way to make it right, and still she couldn’t do that. She had blown her second chance and didn’t deserve another one. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to fight for that.

Then the lightbulb turned on. Clay’s phone. He would answer Clay’s phone. She would have to do some major explaining as to how she acquired the phone, but at least she would get to speak with Brady.

Liz snatched the phone back off of the nightstand, found Brady’s personal number, and dialed. Her foot tapped anxiously on the floor.

Ring.

She could get through this. She just needed to talk to him.

Ring.

She didn’t know what she was going to say, but it didn’t matter. She would wing it. It was Brady. She had to do something.

Ring.

He wasn’t going to answer. She had done this for nothing . . .

“Clay,” Brady’s gruff voice scolded through the phone, “where the f**k have you been? We’re on lockdown over here. Everyone is freaking out and you just disappear. This is so like you. Why can’t you do one thing that would make someone other than yourself happy?”

“Brady,” Liz whispered into the phone.

There was a pregnant pause on the other line. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Liz?” he breathed in disbelief.

Chapter 25

TALK FIRST

Hey,” Liz said softly. All of the bold words that she had been planning to say to him flitted out of her mind at his smooth, sexy voice.

“You’re calling me from Clay’s phone,” he said, confused.

“Yeah.”

“How did you get Clay’s phone?”

Liz bit her lip. Well, this was going to be fun. “It’s kind of a long story. I had to get hold of you. I really need to talk to you. Can we meet up?”

“What?” he asked, and then seemed to realize what she had asked. His voice turned cold. “No. I think that is a terrible idea. I told you.” He took a deep breath and then whispered, “I told you not to call me again, that I wasn’t going to be there when he hurt you.”

“I know, but . . .”

“I don’t make promises that I can’t keep, Liz. You know that.”

She swallowed. She knew that perfectly well. It was the reason he had never said I love you. Not because he didn’t. That thought pushed her forward.

“I know. I know you did. And I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything. For leaving, for being with him, for telling him, for ruining things, for hurting you.”

“Liz, I really don’t want to hear it,” he said.

“Well, I’m going to tell you anyway,” she cried desperately. “I f**ked up. I didn’t mean for things to happen like this. And I have so much that I need to tell you. Just please, please . . . meet me in person. If you didn’t care about me, then you wouldn’t have broken up with Erin. I know I don’t deserve another chance, but give me one anyway. Please.”

Brady sighed heavily into the phone. “Who told you about Erin? I’ve kept it out of the news entirely.”

“Um . . . Clay,” she whispered. She had so much to explain to Brady. She just desperately wanted to do it in person.

“Why do I have the sinking suspicion that I don’t want to know how you are suddenly this well acquainted with my brother.”