Under My Skin (Shady Falls Series Book 2) (23 page)

Chapter Twenty

Mia

“What the hell has gotten into you?” Jen asked. “Your head just isn’t here today, is it?” She took the box of toys out of my hand and placed them on the shelves. “Who is he?” Jen pushed. We always talked while we cleaned up after the students, but it was usually about her escapades.

              “Who’s who?” I asked, shaking myself out of my memories. It was a great night with Jake, and even though we didn’t talk about our future and where we were going from here, we still talked. He wanted me and although I was still worried and feared it wouldn’t last, there was a part of me that trusted him. I finally felt like I could trust him. It felt like a cleansing, an awakening.

              “The guy who has you in la-la land. It has to be a guy, because you sure as hell aren’t normally this out of it.”

              “No one,” I said, rather unconvincingly. “It’s no one. Just had a good night is all.”

              “Well, unless you got some amazing new vibrator, you didn’t spend this good of a night by yourself. So spill.”

              “Look. It’s nothing. I mean, it was definitely something, but it’s nothing … yet.”

              “Oh my god, girl. If you don’t tell me something right the hell now,” Jen shouted.

              Sighing, I cast my eyes down. I was worried she’d be upset. I didn’t want to lie to her. “Jake,” I whispered.

              “You have got to be kidding me, right?” she said abruptly. “It’s about damn time. I knew it, I just knew it. I knew there was still something there. Are you together? What happened?”

              “We had dinner last night. He cooked for me.” I smiled more to myself than at her. I wasn’t about to tell her everything.

              “And …” she drawled out.

              “And nothin’. He’s comin’ to pick me up again tonight so we can have dinner again and talk more. I think … I think we’re gettin’ to know each other again. It was just a great night.” Made even better by the way he made my body sing with his every touch. And even though we didn’t have sex, I felt him more than I felt any other man. He made me feel special. He listened to me, held me, and he told me things. He told me things I never knew. I was already falling for him again. Maybe I never stopped.

              “Now, tell me again what happened with Grant?”

              “Wait, what do you know about Grant?”

              “I know Jake threatened his life and chased him off last night.”

              “What? How?”

              She let out a long breath. “He came by my place last night. Complaining about how Jake won’t let him talk to you and how he thinks Jake is doing something to stop you from forgiving him.”

              “Ugh,” I growled out. “He can’t be serious. What the hell is that guy’s problem?”

              “I told you,” she said flatly. “Didn’t I tell you he was no good? And you didn’t listen to me. Now what the hell is going on?”

              I proceeded to tell her about the race in Homestead and then what happened at the gym. Talking about everything and basically reliving it, I realized how lucky I was to have Jake, Cade, and Gage around. I didn’t think Grant was dangerous, but I also wasn’t willing to find out either. I was happy for the self-defense classes I took in Nashville. After what happened to Toni and being in a strange city by myself, I decided to take the classes just so I wasn’t such a target. I never had to use them, I was probably out of practice. Maybe Jake could give me a refresher course. He and Cade taught Toni self-defense.

              “So the asshole actually went to your mom’s house, then a few days later followed you to the gym? He has some balls.”

              “Yeah, I don’t know what he’s thinkin’,” I sighed. “I mean, does he think I’d go runnin’ back to him if he begged my mom to like him or if he’s always around. All it does is freak me out.”

              “Well, hell yeah it does. He’s creepy as hell. It’s not normal to show up at your ex’s parent’s house. And it’s definitely not normal to follow someone around.”

              “Why am I never in the room when you two are talkin’ shit on people?” Steve asked walking into the room. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you two waited until I left to start your gossipin’”

              “It’s not gossip, Steve,” Jen complained. “Were talking about how Grant is stalking Mia.”

              “I knew that Grant guy was an asshole.” Steve suddenly became extremely serious. “Mia, that’s serious and dangerous. You shouldn’t be goin’ anywhere alone.”

              “I honestly don’t know. I mean, Jake chased him off. I wouldn’t think Grant is stupid enough to keep coming around.” But I knew I was lying to myself and to my friends. I saw him that morning on my way to school. I also saw him when Jake took me home the night before.

              The truth was, I had no idea of what Grant was capable. I didn’t think he was violent or dangerous, but I also didn’t think he was capable of following me around and scaring the shit out of me either. I wasn’t prepared for anything he was doing and I didn’t know how to be ready for him if he became violent.

              “Well, from now on I’ll wait in the parkin’ lot for you in the mornin’ and we’ll walk out together at night. No more stayin’ ‘til ridiculous hours to get shit done.”

              I sighed, but I knew he was right. I had to at least admit I might not be totally in control where Grant was concerned. Hell, I was beginning to realize I wasn’t in control of much where Jake was concerned either.

***

Everything with Jake was amazing. We didn’t go back to his house for dinners, instead he opted to take me to public places. He insisted we needed to spend time together without sex getting in the way. The only problem was I was dying to be in his arms again.

              Even though things were great with Jake, Grant’s craziness was threatening to make me lose my mind. I didn’t tell anyone, but he called almost every day. And every call seemed to get more desperate.

              “Mia, please,” Grant’s voice whined on my voicemail. “It’s just a misunderstanding. I wasn’t following you around. I just happened to be behind you. Please …”

              With that last plea, I deleted the voicemail. I wasn’t going to sit and listen to any more of his crap. It was always the same. Grant had called me every day at least twice a day since Jake told him to leave me alone. He was also seen around the school and the gym numerous times by several different people. My friends were worried and Jake was pissed.

              Toni decided to wait to move in with Julius, so Julius was staying with us every night. Uncle Bobby was in contact with his friends on the police force again. Since he was seen following me around by so many people, I was able to get a restraining order. The problem was, it did little good for me if he decided to ignore it.

              I was sick of his constant calls and his interference in my friends’ lives. Jake had started to pick me up in the morning and after school every day. No one seemed to do what they needed to do, too worried about me.

              “Sonofabitch!” I screamed when my phone rang again. I ended up giving him his own ringtone so I knew not to even look when I heard it. “You piss me off, you fuckin’ jerk, you get on my nerves,” rang out from my phone alerting me to Grant’s nonstop calls.
The Rodeo Song
by David Allen Coe always made me laugh, but the lyrics were perfect for Grant.

              Ignoring the call again, I buried my head under my pillow. I’d been hidden away in my apartment all day long. Jake was busy with something he wasn’t telling me about, which worried me. I was terrified he’d finally decided I wasn’t worth the effort because of this shit with Grant. We’d had several dates since we almost had sex. Normal dates where we talked about the past and the present. We talked about my time in Tennessee and about how he and Cade came to be in Mooresville. It was good to hear, but it all made me long to have that time back so I could make different choices.

              Immediately my phone rang again; Grant calling again, goddamn-it. Ripping the pillow from over my head, I jammed my finger on the answer button. All I wanted to do was tell him to go to hell so I could get on with my life. I was worried about what Jake wasn’t telling me. I was worried about my friends holding up their lives for me. I wasn’t going to let it happen anymore.

              “What do you want, Grant. Why can’t you get the hint and leave me alone?” I knew I sounded frustrated and annoyed, but I was done with this ridiculousness. He needed to get the hint and move on.

              “Finally, Mia. I’ve been calling for days. I’ve been so worried. Why has that asshole been driving you around? Is he stopping you from answering your phone?”

              “Oh my god, are you delusional? This has nothing to do with him.”

              “I know they forced you to get a restraining order,” Grant continued. “It’s fine. I won’t let anything come between us. I know Jake has been lying to you. He’s been keeping you from me. But that’s all done, isn’t it? I’ve got you back now, don’t I? That’s why you finally answered.”

              “No, Grant. You don’t have me back. I don’t want anything to do with you. I don’t want you. You need to leave me alone.”

              “I know you’re just upset, finding out Jake’s lying to you. I know how that feels because that’s how I felt seeing you with Jake. But I knew you still wanted me. I saw how you flinched when Jake hit me. I saw it was Cade and Gage holding you back from coming to me. They’re forcing you to stay away from me. They’re all jealous of what we have. Even Toni’s jealous.”

              “Get it through your hard head, Grant! I don’t want you! Stop calling me!”

              With my shouts, Toni came running into my room. She had a look of fury and fear in her eyes. Julius came in behind her, poised and ready for a fight. They must have thought he got into the house somehow.

              “Is Grant on the phone?” Toni whispered.
              When I nodded, she came across the room. Took the phone from my hand and pressed the end button. Pressing the screen she focused on the phone.

              “We’re blockin’ his phone number. He can’t call you anymore. Why were you talkin’ to him anyway?” she asked. “Honey, you shouldn’t let him get to you. He ain’t worth it.”

              “I was just so sick of him callin’. I couldn’t take the ringin’ anymore. I just wanted to tell him to leave me alone.”

              “You did tell him. But you were listenin’ to him to, Mia. What was he sayin’? Don’t let Grant poison what you got goin’ on with Jake. That’s what he’s tryin’ to do. He’s tryin’ to get you to think Jake’s messin’ around on you. Grant’s tryin’ to get you to question things so you go back to him. He ain’t gonna be happy until he destroys you.”

              “He ain’t Todd, Toni.” The moment I said the words and saw her flinch, I regretted it. I knew she was right. Grant had gotten inside my head and made me question everything, even my best friend. The one person who had always been there for me, no matter what. And here I was bringing up her past and throwing it around like it was nothing. What that asshole Todd did to her was inhuman and horrific. Todd tried to destroy her in every way possible and here I was bringing it up like it meant nothing.

              “God, Toni. I’m so sorry. You’re right, Grant got into my head. But that’s no excuse. That was messed up. I’m such a terrible friend. Look at me.” Tears poured from my eyes.

              “I know you’re sorry, Mia. But you gotta stop listenin’ to him. You gotta stop talkin’ to him. He’s a cancer and he’s gonna do nothin’ but get inside your head and make you question everything. And quite honestly, he ain’t much different than Todd. He ain’t much different at all.”

              “You’re right. God, I know you’re right. I’m so sorry,” I sobbed. “I don’t know if I’m comin’ or goin’ anymore. I can’t think straight. I just want things to go back to normal. He’s screwin’ up my life and I’m disruptin’ everyone else’s lives. I can’t do this anymore.”

              Toni sat next to me on the bed, wrapped her arms around me, and hugged me. “That’s what he’s tryin’ to do. He’s tryin’ to break you down and separate you from your friends. This is what men like him do, Mia. They separate you from your friends. They try to make you rely on them alone so you lose everyone around you. You gotta break away from him before he succeeds.”

              “You know what we’re doin’ tomorrow?” Julius said from the doorway. “We’re goin’ out tomorrow and gettin’ you both new phones. That way we can eliminate him callin’ either of you.”

              I looked between Julius and Toni and realization struck. “He’s been callin’ you too?”

              Toni nodded. “Yeah. I don’t know how the hell he got my number, but he did. I blocked him too, but he’s called from different phones.”

              “So we’re gettin’ you both new phones and you don’t give the number out to anyone but the people who must have it,” Julius said firmly.

              “I can’t let you buy me a new phone,” I argued, but all that did was make Julius furrow his dark brown eyes at me. He was a huge man and he could be extraordinarily intimidating when he wanted to be.