My CEO's Blackmail Tape - Chapter 18: Chapter 18
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He had to know I was still awake. That's the only reason he'd ask.
My heart hammered against my ribs, but I gritted my teeth, squeezed my eyes shut, and played dead.
When I didn't answer, he let out this heavy sigh and went quiet.
The night dragged on, still as a pond at midnight. We lay there back-to-back, miles apart in our heads.
Half-dozing, it hit me like a bucket of ice water—Nathan hadn't used protection. And I'd completely spaced on grabbing Plan B on my way home. Jesus, how could I be so stupid?
They say every minute counts with that pill. Panic shot through me, but with Daniel right there, I couldn't exactly make a midnight CVS run. Any hope of sleep evaporated.
I white-knuckled it till dawn. The second Daniel's breathing evened out into soft snores, I slithered out of bed like a thief.
Plenty of 24-hour pharmacies dotted the neighborhood, but no way was I risking my usual spots. Those clerks knew me from all my allergy med runs. One offhand comment to Daniel and my life was over.
The morning air bit through my jacket as I power-walked to some sketchy corner pharmacy, grabbed the pill, and snagged a water bottle from a bodega.
Only when I'd choked it down did my pulse stop trying to escape my throat.
My watch confirmed it: exactly eight hours since Nathan.
Rounding the corner to our building, I skidded to a stop. The living room light blazed.
Had he woken up the second I left?
Shit. Shit shit shit.
He'd demand to know where I'd been. What possible excuse worked for a 5 AM disappearing act?
I paced the sidewalk until my nerves frayed, rehearsing lines before finally trudging upstairs.
Daniel sat rigid on the couch, face like thunder.
I tossed my keys on the entry table, toeing off my shoes with forced casualness. "Up early, huh?"
He turned slowly, eyes dark. "Early? You're the one who vanished."
"Couldn't sleep. Been stress-eating all week, figured I'd burn it off." I swiped at my dry forehead, panting for show.
Some tension left his shoulders. "That's it?"
I chugged a glass of water and flopped next to him, pouting. "Where else would I go? Think I've got a secret boyfriend or something?"
He scratched his neck, looking sheepish. "No, I just... got worried."
I got it. With his bedroom issues, paranoia came with the territory. But when those puppy-dog eyes met mine, guilt twisted my insides all over again.
Over breakfast, he kept shooting me these loaded looks, opening his mouth then closing it.
Had he guessed? My oatmeal turned to cement in my stomach.
When the silence stretched too long, I snapped. "Spit it out already."
He stared at his coffee for an eternity before mumbling, "Stay away from Sophia Hill. I don't want her in your ear."
I pressed him until my voice went hoarse, but he clammed up, leaving me fuming.
At work, I cornered Sophia immediately. She swore on her mother's grave she hadn't said squat to Daniel.
Weird. He'd never policed my friends before. What the hell was going on?
My heart hammered against my ribs, but I gritted my teeth, squeezed my eyes shut, and played dead.
When I didn't answer, he let out this heavy sigh and went quiet.
The night dragged on, still as a pond at midnight. We lay there back-to-back, miles apart in our heads.
Half-dozing, it hit me like a bucket of ice water—Nathan hadn't used protection. And I'd completely spaced on grabbing Plan B on my way home. Jesus, how could I be so stupid?
They say every minute counts with that pill. Panic shot through me, but with Daniel right there, I couldn't exactly make a midnight CVS run. Any hope of sleep evaporated.
I white-knuckled it till dawn. The second Daniel's breathing evened out into soft snores, I slithered out of bed like a thief.
Plenty of 24-hour pharmacies dotted the neighborhood, but no way was I risking my usual spots. Those clerks knew me from all my allergy med runs. One offhand comment to Daniel and my life was over.
The morning air bit through my jacket as I power-walked to some sketchy corner pharmacy, grabbed the pill, and snagged a water bottle from a bodega.
Only when I'd choked it down did my pulse stop trying to escape my throat.
My watch confirmed it: exactly eight hours since Nathan.
Rounding the corner to our building, I skidded to a stop. The living room light blazed.
Had he woken up the second I left?
Shit. Shit shit shit.
He'd demand to know where I'd been. What possible excuse worked for a 5 AM disappearing act?
I paced the sidewalk until my nerves frayed, rehearsing lines before finally trudging upstairs.
Daniel sat rigid on the couch, face like thunder.
I tossed my keys on the entry table, toeing off my shoes with forced casualness. "Up early, huh?"
He turned slowly, eyes dark. "Early? You're the one who vanished."
"Couldn't sleep. Been stress-eating all week, figured I'd burn it off." I swiped at my dry forehead, panting for show.
Some tension left his shoulders. "That's it?"
I chugged a glass of water and flopped next to him, pouting. "Where else would I go? Think I've got a secret boyfriend or something?"
He scratched his neck, looking sheepish. "No, I just... got worried."
I got it. With his bedroom issues, paranoia came with the territory. But when those puppy-dog eyes met mine, guilt twisted my insides all over again.
Over breakfast, he kept shooting me these loaded looks, opening his mouth then closing it.
Had he guessed? My oatmeal turned to cement in my stomach.
When the silence stretched too long, I snapped. "Spit it out already."
He stared at his coffee for an eternity before mumbling, "Stay away from Sophia Hill. I don't want her in your ear."
I pressed him until my voice went hoarse, but he clammed up, leaving me fuming.
At work, I cornered Sophia immediately. She swore on her mother's grave she hadn't said squat to Daniel.
Weird. He'd never policed my friends before. What the hell was going on?
End of My CEO's Blackmail Tape Chapter 18. Continue reading Chapter 19 or return to My CEO's Blackmail Tape book page.