Hey Jude (Lennox Valley Chronicles #1)

I pause, holding his gaze, then nod again before leaving the deli. Hopping back into my truck, I quickly pull a U-turn out of my parking spot and speed toward home.

45

OLENA

Driving back to the property is torturous as I navigate the rush hour traffic. I dart my eyes between the road and the digital clock on my dashboard, sending fervent wishes to the universe that Jude won’t leave before I get there. The drone of traffic all around me is a continuous backdrop to my buzzing anxiety. It’s not until I get onto the quieter roads closer to the Faulkners’ that I can think a bit more clearly.

I realize I don’t even know what I’ll say to him. Attempting to formulate a plan in my mind is like wrangling the flailing tentacles of an octopus. What if I drive all this way and then can’t pull a coherent sentence together?

My thoughts are so complicated and swirling in all directions. There’s a good chance I could make this worse with my babbling. If I even get the chance. My heart sinks at the thought. What if he doesn’t want to talk to me?

Pulling into the Faulkners’ driveway, I let out a curse. I’m too late; Jude’s truck is already gone. Fucking traffic. I park anyway and run to the sunken garden, hoping, at the very least, to find my phone. It’s gone. Damn it! Someone must have found it before everyone left for the day.

I run back to my car and quickly throw it into reverse. Smiling with renewed resolve, I back onto the roadway and drive the short distance to Jude’s house. He likely went home after work. I can talk to him there in private—and, right now, that’s more important than my phone.

My heart is in my throat when I finally pull into his driveway and his log cabin house comes into view. I deflate with a shaking exhalation when I see his truck isn’t here either.

Not knowing where else he’d go, I get out of my car and pace in the driveway for a moment. I need to talk to him. It suddenly feels so urgent. Maybe he’ll come home soon; I can wait here until then. Looking at his house, all the memories of being here with Jude come into focus. That emotional night out here on his front porch, getting dressed in his bathroom, my back pressed up against his front door, that time in the shed… Oh my God, the shed… I let out a long breath.

Standing here alone now, a fresh ache forms in my gut as I realize how much I miss him. I walk up to the porch and knock on the door, although I know in my heart he’s not home. I adjust my purse on my shoulder and wait for the answer that doesn’t come.

“Well, looks like I finally got you alone,” a familiar voice comes from behind me, and I freeze.

No.

I spin around to see Sean standing near my car, his hands in the pockets of his brown leather jacket.

“What are you doing here?” I ask in shock. “How did you know where…” I trail off, shaking my head at him. I already know the answer. The asshole followed me here, just like he followed Wyatt. I had been so caught up in my own thoughts and my plan to talk to Jude that I hadn’t been paying attention to the other cars around me. I know I didn’t hear him drive up and I don’t see his car anywhere. I bet he parked it on the road and walked down the driveway specifically to arrive undetected. I feel sick looking at him.

“This your new boyfriend’s place?” Sean lifts his chin, indicating the front door. His eyes look glassy and heavy-lidded.

I consider how to get out of here. I can’t call the police without my phone.

“Fuck you, Sean.” Anger rises up through my panic.

“Aw, I just wanted to meet him, that’s all.” His expression is hateful.

“He’s not here,” I say, stalling, trying to think of something, mentally mapping my exits. There aren’t any. Not unless I want to run down all those steps and jump in the river. Right now, that ice cold water might not be my worst option.

“Well, that worked out, I guess.” Sean sniffs harshly. He raises his eyebrows, his eyes still squinting slightly. “I get some time with my baby.”

Ugh, stop calling me that. It feels so vile.

He looks deranged. He takes a step toward me.

“Stay away from me,” I say, my heart hammering. I don’t step back, though my instincts scream at me to get away.

He stops. “Aw, now, why would you act like that, Olena? I’m not gonna hurt you.” He smiles in a way that gives me zero reassurance.

“You already have, you fucking asshole.” I spit out the words. He’s ruined so much for me that he doesn’t even realize. My cheeks feel flushed. I grip the strap of my purse.

He smiles ruefully and shakes his head. “You need to stop talking to me like that.”

“You deserve it,” I say quietly. Too quietly for him to hear.

“What did you just say?” His eyebrows draw together and he raises his chin.

“I said you fucking deserve it, Sean!” I don’t know where this confidence is coming from, but I’m embracing it because I’m sick of his shit.