Re-reading it again, she focused on the words “my man” and her fear instantly turned to jealousy, mistrust, and anger.
Looking him square in the face , Paden crumpled up the note, threw it to the floor, and said in a deadpan tone, “I didn’t realize you were seeing someone else, CJ. I guess I just assumed I was the only one. Apparently I was wrong.”
As she started to turn away from him and walk away, CJ grabbed her in his arms and made her face him. Sounding scared himself, CJ countered, “Paden, I’m not seeing anyone else. This is all a horrible , cruel misunderstanding. I have no idea who or why anyone would be trying to break us apart. But I assure you, there is absolutely no one else in my life but you.”
All at once Paden felt tired and defeated. First his truck was vandalized. Then her car was damaged. Then there was the curious payment of his hotel bill, and now this.
Whoever it was knew both of their vehicles, where both of them lived , and where CJ’s gigs were and what hotels he stayed in. It was just all too much for Paden to get her head around and she needed time and space to try to figure things out.
Whoever was doing this to them had achieved their objective . She was scared out of her wits. She now understood completely that she would be safer out of CJ’s life, as much as it cut deeply into her heart.
Trying to feign a tone of voice that sounded much braver than she felt, Paden looked at him with resignation in her eyes . “CJ, I don’t think we can be together now. Whoever is doing this isn’t letting it go. I simply couldn’t bear something else happening to you because of me. I think we need to take a break and see if things calm down. This situation is much more than I can handle. I hope you understand.”
CJ was completely floored and devastated. He couldn’t believe his ears. He had only just found her and now he was losing her. His whole world had changed for the better since she had come into his life and he had never been happier. He had already begun thinking about the future and she was always in those plans. And now it was over?
Pulling her close to his chest, CJ wrapped his arms around her and begged, “Please don’t do this, Paden. I promise, we can figure this thing out. Please don’t say goodbye. I can’t bear it.”
All Paden could do was cry as he held her while both of their hearts splintered into tiny pieces. CJ knew something very bad was happening because of them being together and it was a risk he didn’t want to take, as hard as it was to let her go.
CJ could tell by her silence that she felt the same way and his whole world came to a crashing halt. Giving her forehead a gentle kiss, he whispered, “I love you,” and walked into the kitchen to get the box with the dead rat. Knowing she wouldn’t want to see that box again, he slipped out the back door and walked around the house to his truck as a single tear ran down his cheek.
The rest of that week was hell for both Paden and CJ. He had tried to text her numerous times but she never responded. What made matters worse, he and his band were going to be out of town for close to a month playing at clubs across the state. The band was now making enough money from their gigs that they were finally able to quit their jobs thanks to their record company. Although he was excited about the exposure and the opportunities the band was being given, it was hard to get really excited because of what was going on with Paden. Every day that passed that month felt like a week and the only way he could feel close to her was to listen to her on the radio when he was within signal strength of the station. He was completely miserable and heartsick, and now more than ever, very distracted.
Like CJ, Paden was also devastated and kept looking over her shoulder in fear. She had become paranoid and still wrestled with whether CJ was really telling her the truth about not being with any other women. At least the note that
Looking him square in the face , Paden crumpled up the note, threw it to the floor, and said in a deadpan tone, “I didn’t realize you were seeing someone else, CJ. I guess I just assumed I was the only one. Apparently I was wrong.”
As she started to turn away from him and walk away, CJ grabbed her in his arms and made her face him. Sounding scared himself, CJ countered, “Paden, I’m not seeing anyone else. This is all a horrible , cruel misunderstanding. I have no idea who or why anyone would be trying to break us apart. But I assure you, there is absolutely no one else in my life but you.”
All at once Paden felt tired and defeated. First his truck was vandalized. Then her car was damaged. Then there was the curious payment of his hotel bill, and now this.
Whoever it was knew both of their vehicles, where both of them lived , and where CJ’s gigs were and what hotels he stayed in. It was just all too much for Paden to get her head around and she needed time and space to try to figure things out.
Whoever was doing this to them had achieved their objective . She was scared out of her wits. She now understood completely that she would be safer out of CJ’s life, as much as it cut deeply into her heart.
Trying to feign a tone of voice that sounded much braver than she felt, Paden looked at him with resignation in her eyes . “CJ, I don’t think we can be together now. Whoever is doing this isn’t letting it go. I simply couldn’t bear something else happening to you because of me. I think we need to take a break and see if things calm down. This situation is much more than I can handle. I hope you understand.”
CJ was completely floored and devastated. He couldn’t believe his ears. He had only just found her and now he was losing her. His whole world had changed for the better since she had come into his life and he had never been happier. He had already begun thinking about the future and she was always in those plans. And now it was over?
Pulling her close to his chest, CJ wrapped his arms around her and begged, “Please don’t do this, Paden. I promise, we can figure this thing out. Please don’t say goodbye. I can’t bear it.”
All Paden could do was cry as he held her while both of their hearts splintered into tiny pieces. CJ knew something very bad was happening because of them being together and it was a risk he didn’t want to take, as hard as it was to let her go.
CJ could tell by her silence that she felt the same way and his whole world came to a crashing halt. Giving her forehead a gentle kiss, he whispered, “I love you,” and walked into the kitchen to get the box with the dead rat. Knowing she wouldn’t want to see that box again, he slipped out the back door and walked around the house to his truck as a single tear ran down his cheek.
The rest of that week was hell for both Paden and CJ. He had tried to text her numerous times but she never responded. What made matters worse, he and his band were going to be out of town for close to a month playing at clubs across the state. The band was now making enough money from their gigs that they were finally able to quit their jobs thanks to their record company. Although he was excited about the exposure and the opportunities the band was being given, it was hard to get really excited because of what was going on with Paden. Every day that passed that month felt like a week and the only way he could feel close to her was to listen to her on the radio when he was within signal strength of the station. He was completely miserable and heartsick, and now more than ever, very distracted.
Like CJ, Paden was also devastated and kept looking over her shoulder in fear. She had become paranoid and still wrestled with whether CJ was really telling her the truth about not being with any other women. At least the note that
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