Hidden Temptations

Chapter Eighteen

Finally back at home, the sun is starting to rise. We get out of my mom's new truck, a red 2019 Chevy Silverado. I look over at Sarah’s house, a few police officers are still here, her parents are outside talking to them.

“Do you want me to stay?” Sarah holds my hand. I nod, and we walk inside and to my bedroom.

“I don’t think I can sleep.” I sit on my bed and pull out my phone. There are so many messages I haven’t opened yet. “Ugh, I don’t want to open any of these.”

“Want me too?” Sarah slides up next to me on my bed.

“No it’s okay.” I laugh a little. Most of them just get well texts from people at school. There are a few from family members who live in another state asking how I am doing. There are 3 texts that catch my attention, one from Bryan, Ian and unknown. “Sarah, they texted me again.”

“Who? That Unknown number?”

“Yeah, it must be Peter.”

“We have to tell your mom Addie.”

“I will, I need to see what it says.” I opened the message from Bryan first and I read it out loud.

“Hey, sorry that dance was awkward, I don’t like what I see when you’re with Ian. It should be me.” We both laugh.

“He’s desperate.” Sarah laughs. Her laugh was infectious.

I read the text from Ian.

“Addie, you have to believe me. I meant what I said. I need to see you. Soon.”

“What do I say to that. I don’t want to see him right now. He hurt me by acting the way he did. Am I overreacting?” I throw myself back on my bed and stare at the ceiling. I think about being with him. How safe I feel. I think about our kiss in the gazebo, his body against mine, his lips on my neck, my thighs. I bite my lip.

“You’re thinking about him aren’t you?” Sarah lays down next to me.

“Yeah, what we had in that moment, I would’ve let him do anything Sarah. I think I feel the way he does.”

Sarah cuts in, “You have been crushing on him our entire senior year at school. It just happens that you both wanted the same thing, and you got so close to him, he saved you for Christ sake. I wouldn’t blame you for falling for him.”

“Yeah you’re right. I’m gonna text him back, should I let him know that Peter texted me?”

“Yeah, but read what he said first.”

“Good idea.” I sit up, I stare at my messages, my heart starts to race. I opened it.

“Addie, that was a close one. Next time I will have all of you. I will see you soon my girl.”

“Sarah, get my mom.” She jumps up and runs down the stairs. I can’t cry, it won’t come out. I open Ian’s message again, I read it over again, but I decided to let him know what is going on.

“Ian, I got another text from Peter. Come over.” Sent. He’s a cop, he should know about this.

Sarah and my mom came back up the stairs, and before she could say anything I gave her my phone. She covers her mouth.

“Adeline, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you about him. He is a suspect in your dad's accident as of this morning. I was informed at the police station. They don’t think it was an accident anymore.” I freeze. Am I surprised? I kind of suspected it, but hearing it out loud, just confirms that it’s true. “We need to tell the police about this.”

“Yeah I know, I told Officer Matthews to come over to look at it.”

“Oh? I didn’t know you had his number?”

“Uhh, yeah I do. He gave me his number at the hospital if I remembered anything else about the kidnapping.” I rubbed the back of my neck, I hope she can’t tell I’m lying.

“Oh, alright.” She hands me back my phone and leaves my room. She can totally tell I’m lying.

“Yikes, awkward.” Sarah jumps back on my bed and sprawls out. “Did you text Ian back?”

“Yeah. Just waitin-.”

/Ding/

“This is him.” I flash her the front of my phone.

“Ooo what did he say?”

I read out loud again, “I’m on my way, I’m not alone Addie. My partner is with me.”

Sarah doesn’t say anything.

“Ugh, I need a moment alone with him again, it’s never gonna happen. I think I got him in trouble at work. Ever since he said “I love you, he's been cold and distant.”

“Addie, just give it time. He’s probably just as broken as you are right now. My heart broke when I saw you laying on the floor, I can’t imagine what he feels like seeing you in the cave and then that? It’s a lot.” Sarah sits up and gives me a hug from behind. “It’ll be okay.” She’s right. She’s always right.

“Adeline! Sarah! Officer Matthews and Turner are here!” My mother screams from downstairs. Sarah and I both head to the stairs. I make sure to grab my phone. She runs straight down, but I stop at the top. What do I do? Act normal? I can’t control myself around him. I walk down the stairs and Ian is standing in the doorway, he gives me eye contact, it was as distant as it was at the station.

“Here.” I gave him my phone with the message from Peter right on the screen and walked into the kitchen.

“Addie.” He wants to say something, but he watches me as I walk into the kitchen. I’m being as cold as he is to me.

Ian’s POV

I hand the phone to Turner. “May I?” I look at Mrs. Marten and point in the direction Addie went. Kim nods at me, and I go after Addie. Walking down the hall, I try to come up with things to say. How do I approach this? She’s everything to me and I think I’ve ruined it.

Addie’s POV

“Addie can we talk?”

“About what? I gave you my phone.” Ian steps closer to me, puts his hand on the counter and leans in to whisper.

“About us Addie. I know I’ve been cold, but I have to be if I don’t want to lose my job. I went too far by running into Sarah’s house without backup but I couldn’t wait. I knew you were in trouble, I had to get to you.” He places his finger under my chin, and makes me look at him. “I care for you Adeline, and if anything happens to you, I will lose my mind.”

Do I kiss him? Will he kiss me back or will he push me away. I need to find out. I stand on my tip toes and kiss him. He grabs my face, and kisses me back passionately, his tongue slips in my mouth, it rubs against my tongue and he slowly closes his lips on mine. He puts his forehead on mine.

“This is exactly what I can’t do.” He turns and walks away. I stay put, I lean on the counter, look out over our backyard, the sun has barely come up and there’s a dim light out there that wasn’t there before. I act normal, like I haven’t noticed it yet.

“Officers! There’s someone in my backyard.” I yell to them, but just loud enough they could hear me.

Ian’s POV

I rush out the front door with Officer Turner at my six, we both pull our guns out of our holsters, time to meet your maker Peter Warren. We get to the side of the house, the gate to the backyard is open. I wave Officer Turner to go right. I take a few steps forward and I see a dim light in the bushes. I draw my weapon, at eye level, I sneak up behind the figure.

“Put your hands up, Warren.”

Hands go up.

“Who the hell is Warren?” It’s Bryan Davis, the one Addie went on a date with, that I purposely interrupted. I put my gun away.

“Stand up, turn around.” I take my handcuffs out and slap them on his wrists.

“Ow! That’s too tight!” He jerks his shoulder up. I grab his arm and walk him back to the front of the house.

Addie’s POV

“Bryan, what are you doing here?” I heard Sarah. I walk to the front door, and sure enough, it’s Bryan Davis.

“I was just about to text Addie to meet me in her backyard, but then I saw you two in the window-.” Ian jerks Bryan’s wrist and makes him shut up.

“Talking, all we were doing was talking about Peter and the case.” I said quickly before my mom could ask any questions. “What makes you think that creeping in my backyard is a good idea after everything that has happened?” I walk up to Bryan, he looks down and rolls his eyes.

“What do you want me to do?” Ian is still putting pressure on Bryan’s wrists.

“Let him go, because he isn’t allowed back here. Ever.” Bryan looks up, he gives me some puppy dog eyes. Ian takes the handcuffs off and urges Bryan to walk away, and he does.

“About this text Ms. Marten, we need you to consider getting a new phone number.” Officer Turner hands me back my phone.

“First thing in the morning.” My mother walks back inside and Sarah follows her. Officer Turner goes back to his squad car, for a brief moment, it’s just Ian and I.

“Bye.” I turn and walk toward the front door.

“Addie.” I stop and turn around, his eyes are filled with love, compassion and lust. I just smile, and turn around to head inside.