Sterling Shore: Tagged And Ashed Part 12

"He's running late. Major wine emergency. Some of the labels were a fraction of the way crooked." She says it deadpan, but I see a smile barely creeping up when I look back down.

I almost envy Kade. I've never seen anyone look at someone the way she does him. Wren shouldn't get married until he finds that.

"What's really keeping him?" I ask, trying to seem genuinely interested, though my mind is focused on anything but this conversation.

"A big sale." She gets quiet, and then she looks around. "So, do you really like this girl?"

Too much.

The photographer curses, drawing our attention before I have to answer that aloud, and I stifle a laugh when I see her camera bag has fallen apart. All of her things have spilled across the lawn. I wish I could revel in her misery, but the longer it takes her to get her s.h.i.+t together, the longer it takes me to get back to Ash.

As.h.i.+ara I'm not sure what I was expecting from Tag today, and I don't know why I stuck around. It's going to be even harder to leave now.

Maybe we could see each other after this - find out if there's anything there. My taxi is supposed to be here any minute now, since I forgot to cancel. I'll just pay him and send him on.

I can't help but glance out the window to sneak a peek at Tag. Maybe he won't catch me.

I swallow hard when I see a girl rubbing her hand up his arm, smiling and laughing as they stare at the mess of things the photographer is picking up. They seem really comfortable together. I'm sure she's one of the many girls he's been with.

I can't stay. I'm just another nameless notch on his endless belt. I'll simply be making myself look like the fool chasing after him if I stay. Everyone here is probably already laughing at me.

I cringe when I see him wrap his arm around her shoulders. Here I was thinking I was something special, when in all actuality, I'm just another girl he f.u.c.ked. I'm so stupid.

Tearing my eyes away from the awakening sight below, I head over and grab my bag. I'm glad I finished packing now.

I guess it's a good thing I didn't cancel that taxi after all. At least the front of the house is s.h.i.+elded from view. Tag won't even know I'm gone. He'll probably be with that girl before he even notices I'm missing - if he even notices at all. It's not like it matters.

Tag could be an amazing guy, and he is, but he hides behind a shallow facade. I'm not naive enough to think I can change him. I'm not that girl. I don't go in with blinders. I knew what this weekend was, and now I know what it is - over.

I head down the stairs, dragging my bag rather loudly. It thumps down the staircase until I reach the front door. I'm surprised to see the cab already outside. No one ever called me.

"Ms. Branderwood?" the guy asks, putting his phone away. "I was just about to call."

I smile warmly, though he doesn't realize it's forced. He takes my bag, and I climb into the backseat, ready to get away from this nightmarish wedding that hasn't even happened yet.

I tell the cab driver my address just as my phone buzzes with a new text message. I glance down, opening up the message from the unknown number, and my mouth tries to tremble.

Pretty girls are only pretty as long as their faces are intact. Be careful... pretty girl.

I get sick, tears swell up in my eyes, and my hands visibly start shaking. Not again. I thought this was over.

My phone starts buzzing again with an incoming call from a restricted number, and I choose the ignore option promptly. I don't need to hear some pervert breathing heavily.

I dial another number, calling my other best friend - my only best friend now, I suppose.

"Ash? Hey girl. How's the wedding?"

I bypa.s.s the chipper h.e.l.lo. "Shannon, are you still friends with that cop?"

"He's calling you again?" she asks, her tone worried and serious.

"Yeah."

"I'll call Jimmy right now. You can crash at my place tonight, if you want."

Tears start slipping free at random. This was h.e.l.l the last time. I pray Shannon's friend can help.

"That would be great, Shannon. Thanks."

Chapter Six.

Extinguis.h.i.+ng Flames As.h.i.+ara "So you haven't talked to him since the wedding?" Shannon asks as I sit down in her chair to get my hair done in her salon.

"No. I told you. It was a fling. A hot fling, but a fling. For once I was carefree, fun, and a little dirty."

"It's just weird he hasn't tried calling in six weeks. I mean, from what you and Billy have told me, he didn't sound like a guy who wanted just a fling."

My heart sinks as I stare in the mirror at her oblivious face. She has no idea how bad this fight with Billy has been hurting me.

"Billy's been coming in?"

She looks up from snipping my hair, suddenly registering the reason for my pause, and then her dark eyes soften.

"I'm sorry, but yeah. He has gotten a few haircuts since the two of you got into it. He mentioned the fact you changed your number, and he even asked me if I had your new one."

"You didn't give it to him, did you?" I worry.

"Of course not. I told him if he wanted your friends.h.i.+p back, I was doing him a favor by not letting him call you like a coward."

I breathe out a sigh of relief, and my body visibly relaxes.

"Speaking of the reason you changed your number... Jimmy can't get approval to investigate using police resources unless this guy makes a physical appearance of some sort," she says in a huff.

"I wish he'd find someone else to screw with," I grumble, steadying my trembling hands.

Shannon doesn't need to know how crazy scared I really am. She'd never let me stay alone if she did.

"What does his voice sound like?"

"I don't know."

"What? I thought you said he makes threatening phone calls."

"I said he makes phone calls and threats. He just sits on the other line, breathing heavy. A while back, he sent flowers with threats, and random notes would pop up on my door, car, windows... various other places. The notes had the worst of the threats. I gave them all to the police the first time this happened. Eventually this guy will move on or make a mistake. Either way, the punishment for hara.s.sment is barely a slap on the wrist."

"I wish that a.s.s would show himself. I'd give him more than a d.a.m.n slap on the wrist for f.u.c.king with you," she says with a thug-like att.i.tude that makes me smile.

"I'm sure you would, but until he slips up, it's on me. For now, I just need to concentrate on work. I've got a few clients to meet this afternoon, which is why I'm getting my hair cut."

"Well, these layers are perfect. I'm sure you'll land their accounts, and you'll make their websites look phenomenal."

Tag "Sir, your one o'clock is here," Sidney, my a.s.sistant, says as I grumble behind my desk.

Loosening my tie, I reply, "Thanks. It'll be short. Have you pushed back my other appointments as I asked?"

"Yes, sir. Do you need anything else?"

I shake my head to dismiss her, and she scurries out. I can remember when I used to f.u.c.k her and enjoy it. Now, my d.a.m.n c.o.c.k won't do anything but stay soft. I don't know what's wrong with me.

Is it possible to have erectile dysfunction at twenty-six? I mean, maybe I've overused the d.a.m.n thing. It hasn't worked since the wedding.

Coming back from the elongated photo shoot to find Ash gone without so much as a goodbye was enough to ruin any ideas I had about us. I'm glad she walked the h.e.l.l out when she did, instead of letting me make a fool of myself.

"Evening, Tag," Bity says as he walks in, looking like a professional.

"Hey, Bity," I murmur very cordially. "Want to tell me why you requested this meeting?"

He frowns, and then he sits down in the chair across from my desk as he stares at his hands.

"So you know... this isn't easy for me. I was hoping you've been in contact with Ash. She moved, changed her number, and now I can't get a hold of her. It has me worried. Even her work number has changed, and she has never changed it before," he says in a quick rush, his eyes finally coming up to meet mine.

I take a deep breath, and then I pull up her business website on my computer.

"Have you tried emailing her?" I ask while spinning my monitor around to show him the screen.

"I did, and got nothing. It's possible she didn't bother reading my email, but I'm still worried."

I've been worried, too. I won't tell him that though. Melanie called to ask me to keep an eye on Ash since her stalker was back. Until now, Melanie has never asked me to do anything at all.

"You were there when this guy was hara.s.sing her before. Did he ever cross any lines in the physical sense?"

His eyes widen and then narrow in confusion.

"No, never physical. She told you about all that?"

"It came up," I say casually, refraining from disclosing the circ.u.mstances.

"Mom and I were the only ones to know. She never even told her parents. I'm surprised she shared it with someone she barely knew."

I thought it was because she wanted more, but instead, she bolted. I know that maneuver better than anyone. Still, I'm worried about her.

"Did she ever say what he said over the phone?"

"Nothing. He would just breathe heavy. The notes he sent were threatening though. h.e.l.l, they scared me. It's why she spent nights at my place until she found a new apartment. I wouldn't let her stay alone."

"What did they say?"

"Some were graphic depictions of the type of rape and torture the sick b.a.s.t.a.r.d thought she deserved. Others were different drawings of the ways he wanted to kill her. It was the most s.a.d.i.s.tic, twisted s.h.i.+t I've ever seen."

I get sick at my stomach. This is a h.e.l.l of a lot worse than I thought. She downplayed it big time when she confided in me during our game of truth.

My anger toward her for fleeing is suddenly replaced with fear. If this is why she changed so much so quickly, then she needs protection. I'll hire her some bodyguards if I have to.

"I just really need to talk to her," he mumbles, making it almost a guilty whisper. "What I said was stupid and petty. I don't want it to end our friends.h.i.+p. I know you don't care, but I love her like a sister. Right now, she doesn't really have anyone else. With her parents now out on the road, she's alone. It's always been us against the world, and now she's having to deal with this alone."

This is the first time I've ever seen Bity show concern for anyone but himself. I suppose Ash has that effect on everyone.

"I'm sure the two of you will make up if you're seriously her friend. Until then, I need to get going. I've got a couple out-of-office meetings to attend."

"Thanks for at least meeting with me. I would have just called, but I didn't think you'd really talk to me after... well, everything."

I wouldn't have.

"Just tell me something. Did you talk Ash into leaving the day of the wedding?"

He looks at me, keeping his eyes honest and his lips tight.

"No. I actually went to tell her I was sorry after we finished up with the photo session, and I found her room completely cleaned out. As much as you and I don't get along, I was going to tell her it wasn't my business and I crossed a huge line with what I said."

Yes you did.

At least I know Ash left on her on accord. It makes swallowing how much I miss her all the more infuriating though. I wanted to blame Bity so I could forgive her. Now... I just want to get the h.e.l.l over her.

As.h.i.+ara "Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Kent. I promise I'll do what I can to make you pleased with your website," I murmur while shaking the hand of the portly old man.

I rarely have to do a face-to-face. Only the Sterling Sh.o.r.e clients want to meet me, since they're so close. I hate it. I prefer to be a hermit. People often annoy me.

"I'm sure you will. I love your work. You came highly recommended, and now I see why. I'll see you in a couple of weeks."

I nod as I stand from the table, and the waitress rushes over to hand him the check.

"I'll get it," I offer sweetly.

"Nonsense. I asked for lunch, so I'll take care of it. A pretty girl such as yourself shouldn't be out paying for a business lunch. Until next time, Ms. Branderwood."