Read Online Fall With Me by Bella Forrest - Free Book Online Page B

lazy or too stupid to amass large sums of money on their own. It’s really not difficult, you know.”
    “What? Extorting you? Because there actually were two men, who are probably dead now, who said they were going to kill me unless you paid them 7.2 million dollars. And confessed to something. What on earth could you possibly have to confess to, Dad?”
    There’s a lot he could confess to, I’m sure. A thing or two I might even be privy to, if you want the truth, though I’m no snitch. I wonder, though, just what sort of things he’s done that has pissed off someone so badly they’d demand that much money and a confession.
              “Is there something you need, Griffin? Because if not, I’ve got things to get back to.”
    “Of course. Don’t want to keep the putting green waiting. But yes. While I was being kidnapped, I lost my wallet. Can you believe it? So I need some money.”
    “Call your mother. She’s probably at home. She can transfer whatever you need into your bank account. You might also want to consider getting a job. Getting your life together and stop living off my dime. That thought ever cross your mind? You think your brother would call me with some ridiculous story like this? Get back in touch when you’ve got some good news to share. Like I said, I’m in the middle of something important right now, so it’s not really a good time to be talking about this.”
    “Okay, great!” I say. “Try not to go eight over par this time! Bye, Dad!”
    I throw the phone down and wonder how it’s possible my father is such a fucking douchebag.
    I take a few calming breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Ommmm . I had relations with a yoga teacher once, and aside from being wonderfully flexible, she taught me how to breathe. How most people go through their whole life not really being conscious of breath, and how, in almost any situation, taking a step back, looking inward, and focusing on breathing, will help you feel better almost immediately.
    I pick up the phone and dial Cam’s number.
    “It’s Griffin,” I say when he picks up.
    “I know who it is,” he snaps. “Where are you? What the hell is going on?”
    “Well, I’m okay, if that’s what you’re asking.”
    “So you’re not . . . you’re not kidnapped?” A hard edge is starting to creep into his tone.
    “I was kidnapped. And managed to escape, with the little help of an overzealous cetacean.”
    “A what?”
    “A whale.”
    He lets out a noisy breath. Cam, I can assure you, is not one of those people who pays much attention to the way they breathe.
    “Griffin,” he says, his voice low. “I am going to ask you this one time. Once, you got that? And you better tell me the truth.”
    “Okay.”
    “Are you just fucking with me here?”
              “No! Do you seriously think I’d call you out of the blue and tell you that I’d been kidnapped?”
              “The answer to that question is so blatantly obvious I’m not even going to dignify it with a response. So what happened, then? Where are you now?”
    I tell myself the concern in his voice is because he actually does give a shit about what happens to me. “I’m in California. Half Moon Bay. Nice place, actually.”
    “Are you coming back to New York?”
              “Eh . . . not right now—”
    “Because I’d really like to speak to you. In person.”
    I straighten. “You what?”
              “You should come back to New York. I’ll come get you at the airport. I need to talk to you.”
    “Uh . . . well. Okay. Okay, maybe I can do that. I mean, I will eventually, but I was sort of enjoying myself out here. I’ve got a job, even. Cool, huh?”
    “A job? You, Griffin Alexander, all of a sudden have a job? What, are you settling down now? You need to get your ass back to New York, because I really need to talk to you about this.”
    Hmm. This is interesting. If