Dream Date (44 page)

“I texted her,” Claire explained to Nathan.

“I’m all right,” he told her, squeezing her hand. Kayla’s face was streaked with tears.

“Claire gave me the scare of my life. When I heard you were in a car crash, I thought the worst. I was so scared for you, Nathan.”

“Thankfully, the crash wasn’t catastrophic. I barely remember it.”

“You don’t remember anything?” Kayla asked.

“No. I’m having a hard time.”

“The doctor said that’s normal,” said Oswald.

“Okay, we’re leaving,” Claire said, taking Oswald’s arm. “Let’s go. Bye, Nathan. Take care.”

“Thanks, Claire.”

She and Oswald left together. Ashton decided to go with them.

“I’ll take a look at your car, okay? Get well, bro.”

“Thank you. See you later.”

Ashton nodded, and left. Nathan looked at Kayla.

“I’m sorry,” he said. Kayla frowned in confusion.

“For what?”

“For not being able to truly love you.”

More tears fell down Kayla’s face. She sobbed.

“No, I’m sorry for that underhanded stunt I pulled at the hotel. It was horrible, coming from me.”

“I don’t judge you. You were just…hurt.”

“I was,” Kayla admitted. “When you told me that you were in love with Amanda, pain blinded me. I couldn’t think rationally. When this guy came to me with a plan to win you back, I didn’t think twice.” Kayla paused, wiping part of her face. “I shouldn’t have tried to force you to be with me.”

“I have nothing to forgive you for, Kayla. I’ll always love you. I couldn’t ask for a bestest friend.”

Kayla smiled, closing her eyes. Nathan leaned up and kissed her on the forehead.

“You’re a magnificent woman, Kayla. I’m sure that, one day, you will find someone who will love you as much as you deserve.”

Kayla’s eyes glistened.

“Thanks.”

“No. Thank you for being here.”

“You can always count on me.”

Judith knocked on Amanda’s apartment door, getting jumpy. She was afraid something had happened to her friend. Kellan had called Judith to let her know about the incident that morning. As soon as it was her lunch hour, Judith drove to Amanda’s straight away.

“Who is it?” Kellan’s voice asked.

“It’s me, Judith.”

The door opened. Kellan looked at Judith. She noticed faint, dark shadows under his eyes.

Judith entered the room, and Kellan closed the door. Amanda was sitting on her sofa, holding a cup of coffee in her hands. Her expression looked distressed. Sitting next to her was a young man Judith didn’t know.

“Hi,” the man said, standing up. “You must be a friend of Amanda. I’m Dalton Velásquez, NYPD.”

Judith shook hands with Dalton.

“Amanda, are you all right?” Judith asked, rushing towards her friend. Amanda looked up.

“No. I feel terrible.”

Dalton spoke.

“He got to her.”

Judith froze, knowing who Dalton was talking about.

“Oh, no. My God, Amanda. What did he want?”

“He threatened Nathan,” Amanda said simply, ignoring Judith’s question. “Hayden just called an hour ago. Said Nathan was in the hospital.”

“Hayden?”

“Yes, he’s a private eye. He’s going to help us with this case,” Dalton said.

“And Nathan’s in the hospital? Is he okay?”

“No. Hayden told me he was in a car crash.”

Judith covered her mouth with her hands.

“Oh, my God.”

Amanda shook her head, closing her eyes. Tears started running down her cheeks.

“I gave in to my feelings! I should have known what Hilbert is capable of.”

“This was nothing that you did,” Dalton said, placing a hand on Amanda’s shoulder.

“Yes, I’m responsible! I should have known I was putting Nathan in danger, but I got the delusion that somehow, we could be happy together.”

“If this is anyone’s fault, it’s mine,” Kellan said. “I don’t deserve to call myself your bodyguard anymore. They’ve gotten past me twice. Once is bad enough.”

“Don’t torture yourself, Kellan. These people aren’t your everyday street crooks,” Dalton told him.

“Cheap thieves, hit men, what’s the difference? I was trained to defeat them all.”

“I don’t blame you, Kellan,” said Amanda. “This was my entire fault. I should have known better than to defy this man.”

“Amanda, I’m sorry, but if you want to help Nathan,” Dalton began, “you need to help us stop Hilbert.”

Dalton walked off and stood near the entrance to the kitchen. He sent a text to Hayden.

“Are you going to help us?” asked Judith.

“Yes,” said Amanda, her expression resolute. “But don’t say anything to Nathan. I must let go of him, for his own safety.”

“Amanda, you can’t sacrifice your happiness.”

“I have to. For now, at least. Promise me you won’t tell him anything.”

Judith exhaled.

“Okay. We’ll do this your way.”

“And don’t let Hilbert know I gave him away. He told me he’d kill Nathan if I set the police after him.”

“We won’t let it get to that,” Kellan assured Amanda.

Dalton turned towards both of them.

“Hayden is now looking into Melendez’s whereabouts.”

Amanda nodded. Judith gave her the cup of coffee back. The former drank just to do something. She was too tense to think straight.

Hayden had contacted Hilbert’s father, who’d claimed that his son couldn’t be reached. Allegedly, Hilbert was in a very important meeting. Hayden almost chuckled at the lame excuse. The senator was just covering his (and his son’s) back. By the time Hilbert could be tracked down, he was in Manhattan—in a meeting. When Hayden called the secretary, she told him Hilbert had been there all along.

On Friday, Nathan called his father once the doctor had cleared him to return to his apartment.

“
Son! I’m so relieved you’re calling. Are you okay?”

“Yes, dad. I’ve only got a few broken bones.”

“
Thank goodness you’re alive. When the police called to inform me you’d been in an accident, I about had a heart attack.”

“You all right?”

“
Yeah, don’t worry about me, son. You should rest, so you can recover.”

“Thanks. How have you been doing, by the way? Have you moved to the new house?”

“
Yes. I would have called you real soon if…well, if this hadn’t happened. Right now I’m setting up the workshop and sending announcements on the papers.”

“And online,” Nathan said.

“
That too.”

“When did you move?”

“
Just this Wednesday. It’s a nice house. I’m going to send you some photos.”

“Or have your assistant do it.”

Jeffrey wasn’t tech-savvy, so he had an assistant who dealt with that stuff.

“
You caught me.”

Nathan chuckled.

“
Son, I also wanted to ask you about something. A little birdie told me you’re dating a sweet young lady. Is that true?”

Nathan paused before replying, narrowing his eyes.

“Ashton told you, didn’t he?”

“
He did. When am I meeting this lady?”

“I don’t know. We only just started dating, I think. It’s unofficial.”

“
Oh, I see. What’s her name?”

“You know her. Amanda Tilley.”

“
So you finally managed to conquer her heart?”

Nathan didn’t reply. He smiled.

“And Kayla? Do you two still talk?”

“Yes. We’re great friends now.”

“
That’s good, but thread carefully, son. Ex-girlfriends can be unpredictable.”

“Not Kayla, dad. I assure you, we’re on good terms.”

“
Glad to hear. If she’s not friendly to you, tell her she can talk to me.”

“Ha ha. I will.”

Jeffrey laughed.

“
Okay, son. I’ll let you rest now.”

“Thanks, dad. Have a good day.”

“
You too. Get well soon.”

“Bye,” said Nathan, and hung up. Just then, someone knocked on the front door. Nathan answered it and saw Ashton outside.

“Hey, bro,” he greeted. “You don’t look messed up at all. You’re lucky.”

“I know,” said Nathan, letting Ashton enter. “What’s up?”

“I’ve got bad news.”

Nathan’s expression became serious.

“Officer Velásquez and I checked your ride. You won’t guess what we found.”

Nathan stared, waiting for Ashton to answer.

“The brakes have been tampered with.”

“What? Someone cut my brake cables?”

“Yes. Your ‘accident’ was no accident. It was a murder attempt.”

Nathan gasped, shocked by the development.

“Who’d want to kill me?”

“Good question. Wouldn’t you have any idea?”

Nathan thought whether he should tell Ashton the truth. He probably could do without it, at least for the moment.

“I don’t know.”

Ashton sighed.

“Since there’s the evidence, Officer Velásquez and a private investigator will be working together. They’ll find out who might want to kill you.”

“Wait. The NYPD is investigating a trivial car crash?”

“Don’t ask me. I don’t know how or why the guy got involved in this.”

“Have you heard anything from Amanda? She won’t answer when I call.”

“I have no idea, man.”

“Is she okay, at least?”

“I’m not sure. I…you know I don’t talk to Judith anymore.”

Nathan sighed.