The Girl in the River: The Complete Collection by Reese Patton

Author:Reese Patton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-04-28T03:22:04+00:00

Eleven

“How is she?” Ian looked up from behind his desk.

Merideth didn’t bother answering. She stomped across the floor and slapped the back of her hand against Stone’s shoulder. “You didn’t tell her anything?”

“There wasn’t a good moment.” Stone crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at her, daring Merideth to argue with him.

“So instead you dragged Vivian here and expected her to follow?”

“I didn’t drag her here.” Stone stepped closer to Merideth, narrowing the distance between them.

Ian stepped out from behind his desk. “Merideth, Stone ran into some complications.”

Merideth rolled her eyes and shook her head at Ian. “What sort of complications? A traffic jam?”

Jason cleared his throat from behind her. Merideth looked around the room, noticing for the first time the grim expressions on all the men’s faces. She rubbed the back of her hand across her lips and looked at Ian. What wasn’t he telling her?

“Merideth, sit down.” It was Jason who wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her to the couch.

Ian watched her, almost staring at her, but he said nothing. Instead, he stepped in front of Stone, acting as a physical barrier between them. Stone’s glare hadn’t abated, if anything he looked angrier. Merideth was used to Stone being frustrated or annoyed with her—although he hid it remarkably well. Throughout her brief pseudo relationship with Ian, Stone never exhibited any kind of anger.

Ian looked over at Stone and narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t tell her anything, Stone. Step back.”

Merideth stretched her fingers out and tilted her head to the side until it cracked. She understood Ian’s desire to keep her safe. She didn’t agree with it, but she could understand it. What she couldn’t comprehend, was his conviction that keeping her in the dark would ultimately keep her safe. It reminded her of the puppies on her parents’ farm. When they got caught misbehaving, they’d freeze. The puppies had been convinced that if they didn’t move, her mother couldn’t see the almost destroyed shoe hanging from their mouths.

Taking a deep breath through her nose before exhaling and counting to five, she closed her eyes. “What didn’t you tell me, Ian?”

“Stone ran into some complications by way of men who didn’t want Vivian to go with him and would do whatever it took to prevent it,” Jason answered again.

“Do you think I won’t be angry with Ian, if you’re the one who delivers the news, Jason?” Her head pivoted toward the man sitting next to her. “All you’re doing is ensuring I am as angry with you as I am with Ian.”

Ian covered his eyes with his hand and rubbed it across his forehead. “Merideth–”

“No. Don’t Merideth me. My name is not a tool for placation.”

The three men shared a look and Merideth’s frustration grew. Somehow, they held a silent conversation, and all Merideth wanted to do was jump from the couch and storm out of the room. Jason’s arm tightened around her shoulder, holding her in place.

Ian spoke up. Unfortunately, his explanation did nothing to ease Merideth’s anger, it only added to her anxiety.

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