I stared at the phone slightly stunned and then reached over and picked it up.
“Hey,” I pushed the syllable out of my throat.
“Eden?”
“Yep, it’s me.” This time the words came out through sobs.
“Do you hate me?” she asked and her words broke too.
“Never.”
“Is my brother, the ass, standing there listening in?” she asked.
“Yes, yes he is.” I wiped my eyes.
“I told you he was an ass.”
“You did warn me.”
“But he really cares for you, Eden. Frankly, I can’t stand to see him mope around here like Mr. Poopy Pants.”
A laugh spurted from my mouth.
“Is she calling me Mr. Poopy Pants again?” Jude reached for the phone, but I waved his arm away.
“Eden, I want you to come back. I think it will really help me. I confess, the medicine is already helping me feel better. It makes me feel kind of numb but a good numb. Like I could let some things go and not go ballistic about them.”
“That’s great, Finley.”
“So will you?”
I paused and looked at Jude. Everything about him still stole my breath, but I wasn’t sure if I could handle all of it again. “I’ll think about, Finley.”
“I’ve only got one more thing to say then. Come back, come back, come back.”
“Actually, that’s three things.”
“No, it’s me remember. Three times is once in my world, otherwise I would have repeated come back nine times, which I could still do if it would help convince you.”
I smiled. “You sound good, Finley. Like your old, quirky self.”
“Thanks . . . I think. Promise me you’ll think about it.”
“I will.”
She hung up. I handed Jude the phone and raised my brow at him. “You play dirty.”
“Yep, I guess I sort of do.” He looked toward the small staircase that led up to my room. “Are you staying here by yourself?”
I shrugged slightly embarrassed at my situation. “The rent is free as long as I’m here to open up early. The owner’s a nice, old man, but the place is too much for him to run.”
“It’s not safe, Eden. This neighborhood sucks, and the lock on that door can be snapped with one good shove.” He took hold of my hand and even though he only touched my fingers, I could feel it through my entire body. “Come home with me, Valley.” It was the first time he’d used the nickname since that horrid night, and while I’d always thought of it as humorous and even a bit annoying, the sound of it now made my heart ache for him.
“I need some time to think about it, Jude.” I looked around the place. “I’m on my own here, working at this diner, and I kind of like it. Independence feels good.”
“But you will think about it?” He walked to door and looked back. “Lock this thing as soon as I walk out.”
“Yes, Sir.”
He looked at me as if there was nothing in the world he wanted more than to kiss me and there was nothing I wanted more, but the incident was still too fresh. And he knew it, just like he knew he was going to leave without that kiss. He pointed at the lock. “Don’t forget.” He walked out and turned in the direction of the bar, and I wondered if that was where he was headed. Then he crossed the street to the construction site. I watched him for a moment and then dragged my tired legs upstairs.
The onion smell was particularly stubborn, and I had to go through the torturously slow process of washing my hair twice. Getting up before five had made me super tired in the late afternoon and with a completely unwatchable television set, I fell asleep with a towel wrapped around my wet hair and my mind wrapped around Jude King.
CHAPTER 25
A high-pitched scream woke me from a sound sleep. I jolted up in bed, and the towel unraveled and fell onto the floor. The room was dark. I felt for the light switch and flipped it on. A frightening stillness followed, and I listened over my pounding heart for another noise but silence followed. Momentarily, I wondered if the scream had just been part of a dream and then I heard voices down below on the sidewalk. I pressed my face against the window to get a better view of the bar next door. Several of the street lights overhead were broken, and the sidewalk was dimly lit but I could see several figures rustling around in front of the bar. Then