41. Claire

Claire

I crawled into bed shortly after the guys left, and I haven’t been able to fall asleep. I keep having this urge to call Drew and just talk to him, but I’m trying to do life without him. It’s hard.
My body has been extra achy these last few days, and I know if he were here, he’d be rubbing my back and laughing about how absolutely ridiculous Jared is, or something that happened at work… We’d be happy—until Becca calls.

Speak of the devil. My phone has been going off all night since I got home. Becca’s been messaging me nonstop:
“Claire, I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I would really like to meet and talk.”
“Claire, I know I just messaged you, but if you could ask Drewy to call me or text me, I just need to hear from him.”
“Claire, this is ridiculous. I know you made Drewy block me. He would have never done this if it weren’t for you.”
“You’re a total bitch, Claire, and the tighter you hold on to Drewy, the faster you’ll lose him. You’re not the only one who needs him! I’m pregnant, for fuck’s sake! Have a heart!”
“Watch your back, Claire. Watch your back.”

That last message is a little creepy, especially after what Drew’s psychotic kidnapper mother tried. But I’m just going to ignore her. I know if I mention it to Drew, he’ll go full protective mode, and I’ll have security so far up my ass I won’t be able to fart without someone checking on me.
But at the same time, I have to remember it’s no longer just me—it’s me and our little peanut. And if anything happens to our baby, I don’t think I could live with myself.

I decide to text Drew:
“Hey Drew, I know it’s late, but Becca has been texting me all night.”
I screenshot all the messages and send them to him.
“I’m not sure how much of this to take seriously, but I figured you can reach out to her if you want. I just want our baby safe, and with what happened with Moira, I wanted to let you know.”

Within seconds, my phone is ringing.

“Hey Drew, I’m okay—you didn’t need to call.”

“Uhhhh, well this is awkward. It’s not Drew—it’s Jared. Drew isn’t able to come to the phone right now, but he’s sending security to your place. You’ll have two people outside your door and one inside. He said not to answer the door until he gives you the all-clear, just to make sure it’s actually the people he sent.”

“Okay… first of all, is Drew okay? Second, I don’t need three people on me—that’s overkill. And third, how will he know who’s at my door?”

“Babes, he’s got cameras all over the outside of your place. If you thought for one minute you weren’t being watched, you need to take some time for introspection. Drew is crazy about you, and with that baby in your body, this is bound to get worse. Also, he’s fine—just dealing with something else right now. I’m sure he’ll call you soon, if not show up at your door.”

I hear Drew growl in the background when Jared calls me “babes,” so I know he’s there. I just wonder why he isn’t talking to me himself.

“Okay, Jared. Tell him we need to discuss the three guards—and all three will be outside my place tonight, because no one is coming in.”

Jared cuts me off.
“Claire, I don’t usually ask for much, but Drew is having a pretty hard night. Just give him this. Please.”

That makes me pause. Jared is never this serious.

“Jared… is he okay? What’s going on? You’re scaring me.”
My voice wavers a little as I try to control my emotions. Right now, fear is riding shotgun.

“I’m royally fucking this up. He’ll be fine, Claire. Just give him this. He’ll call you once he can, okay? I’ve got to go now. Goodnight.”

I stare at my phone, not sure what’s going on or what to do. Within a few minutes, I get a text:

“I love you, Claire. Don’t be worried—I’m fine, baby. Just dealing with a few things, but I’ll see you as soon as I can. Try to get some sleep, baby.”

There’s no way I’m getting any sleep tonight.