Devoted to Her (Dream Date Book 2) (14 page)

“I did. But it’s getting on my nerves.”

Amanda let out a gasp.

“Are you getting tired of me?”

“No! Never. Just…”

“Get out,” Amanda said in a calm voice.

“But, sweetheart—”

“Leave me alone!”

Nathan took a deep
breath. Amanda closed her eyes, deciding to ignore him. Nathan looked at her,
and then he ran his hand through his hair. Helpless, he left the room. Amanda
sobbed.

Nathan returned to the waiting room. He sat down,
thinking about what had just happened.

Damn it. I hope I didn’t screw up.

Nathan didn’t meet anyone’s gaze. He had no interest
in seeing anyone pity him or scowl at him. He needed to think of a way to make
up to Amanda.

Someone walked up and sat down next to Nathan. He
turned his head to see the person. It was Kayla.

“How did things go?”

“Not as well as I hoped.”

Kayla put an arm around Nathan. He looked at her. She
gave him a smile.

“How’s Emmy?” he asked.

“She’s going to be okay.”

The minutes passed. No one wanted to go, especially
the Tilleys and the Crenshaws. Kellan and the black guy Nathan didn’t know were
standing guard outside Amanda’s room.

A short time after Danielle and Judith left to check
on Emmy, another newcomer arrived. The group turned to see who it was.

“Brad!” Florence said. The Tilleys knew him well, as
he was Amanda’s childhood best friend.

“I just landed a short time ago,” he said. William and
Ryan stood up to shake hands with him. “Judith texted me the news. Is Emmy
okay?”

“She’s fine now. The doctors have fixed her up. I saw
her myself, and there’s no more danger,” William said.

“We thought you were filming,” said Florence.

“They’ve gone ahead and started shooting scenes in
which I don’t appear,” Brad explained. “I left as soon as my last scene there
wrapped up.”

Sebastian and Mikayla walked up to Brad. They didn’t
know each other well, but they’d spoken a few times.

“Good morning, Brad,” said Sebastian.

“Good morning, Mr. Crenshaw,” Brad replied, shaking
hands with him. “Mrs. Crenshaw.”

They shook hands as well.

“Do you want to go see Emmy?”

“Yes. Is she awake?”

“She is,” said Florence. “Judith just left to see
her.”

“Thanks. I’d appreciate it, Mrs. Crenshaw.”

“Follow me.”

Mikayla and Brad left
to Emmy’s room.

On Saturday morning, the doctors let Amanda return to
her apartment. However, they decided to keep Emmy for at least another day.
Kellan drove Amanda and Caldwell back to Ithaca.

As soon as they got to the apartment, Kellan and
Caldwell told Amanda to wait outside. She handed him her key. Kellan put his
ear against the door. He signaled to Caldwell, who prepared to open it. On the
count of three, he unlocked the door. Kellan walked in first. The interior was
dark. Caldwell followed close behind.

In a minute, Kellan walked back out. Amanda looked at
him. He was trying to stifle a smile.

“Everything’s clear. You can go in.”

“What’s going on?” she asked. Kellan couldn’t keep
from grinning. Amanda walked forward. When she entered the living room, she saw
a banner hanging from the ceiling. It was right above a single-seater sofa. Purple
letters read, “WELCOME BACK, AMANDA.”

Amanda was unable to stop herself from giggling.

“How corny of him.”

Kellan laughed. Only Caldwell remained impassive,
although he smiled subtly.

“Don’t deny you like it, sweetheart.”

Amanda turned to look at the hall that led to the
bedrooms. She saw Nathan standing there.

“No wonder you weren’t at the hospital when I left,”
Amanda said. “I thought you’d given up.”

Nathan walked forward.

“No way, my love.”

Amanda kept her ground. She looked behind her and saw
that Kellan and Caldwell had left.

“I’m sorry, Amanda. I should have been there.”

“But you weren’t.”

Nathan stopped in front of Amanda. He caressed the
side of her face.

“It won’t happen again.”

Amanda walked past Nathan’s shoulder. He turned to see
where she was going.

“I’m still disappointed. I don’t want to see you now.”

“I love you.”

Amanda shook her head.

“If you truly do, then leave me alone for now. I want
to rest. My head feels as though I’ve been wearing a tight helmet all day.”

Amanda sat down on the sofa, right under the welcoming
banner. Nathan looked at her.

“I’ll summon Kellan and Caldwell.”

Nathan sighed.

“Okay. But I’ll never give up on you, Amanda. You’re
the girl of my life.”

With that, Nathan took a few steps back and then
walked outside. Amanda closed her eyes.

The door opened and closed again. Amanda saw Kellan
walking in.

“Are you okay?”

Amanda nodded.

“I just need some rest.”

“Caldwell and I will be around if you need anything.”

“Thanks.”

Amanda stood up. She
walked to her bedroom. As she passed by the door that led to Emmy’s, Amanda
wished her friend was there.

Not knowing what to do, Nathan went to the bowling
alley he and his friends liked to visit. He wanted to be alone and to find a
distraction.

Sitting at a table, Nathan thought about Amanda. He
couldn’t understand why someone attacked her. And worse, without him knowing
about it. Hilbert was dead, so who else could be threatening her? Nathan didn’t
think Amanda had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. She’d been the
intended target.

I need to clear my head.

A few moments later, Nathan was bowling. He was
throwing somewhat aggressively, which helped to topple most of the pins. After
a half dozen throws, Nathan felt that he needed something else. He was
restless. He stopped playing and turned around, intending to leave.

Halfway to the door, someone called Nathan. He turned
in the direction the voice had come from.

“Hi! You left me hanging, so I started exploring the
city on my own.”

It was Erika. Nathan took a deep breath.

“There was an emergency. I was away.”

Erika’s expression turned to concern.

“What is it? Are you all right?”

“Yeah. I just need to vent off.”

“Okay. May I go with you?”

“No.”

Nathan started walking away. He opened the door and
left the place. It took a few steps for Nathan to realize Erika was following
him.

“You need to find someone else to take you under their
wing. I can’t do it.”

“Nathan, you promised you’d be my friend.”

“I never promised you anything.”

Erika looked at Nathan as if thinking,
what the
hell?

“You’re being rude,” she said, stopping. Nathan had
reached his car.

“I’m sorry. Today’s not a good day to talk to me.”

Erika nodded.

“I just wanted to help you.”

Nathan looked at Erika. It was because of her that
Amanda was losing her trust in him.

“You’re better off without me. I can’t give you what
you want. Right now I’m too distraught. My girlfriend was attacked, and—”

“What? How is she?”

“Amanda’s fine. She just got back from the hospital.”

Erika’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Amanda? Wait…you’re not talking about Amanda Tilley,
are you?”

Nathan blinked twice. He then nodded.

“Oh, God! Wow. I…I heard about what happened to her. I
mean, she’s awesome and beautiful and…I’m so sorry. Have they caught the
thief?”

“As far as I know, the police are still working on
it.”

“I see.”

“I must get going,” Nathan said. He unlocked his car.

“Of course. Guess I’ll see you later.”

Nathan climbed behind
the wheel. He revved the engine, and Erika stood aside. She watched Nathan pull
out of his space before leaving. Nathan decided to head to a gym. He needed to
hit a punching bag or work the treadmill. It would help him vent.

The sound of knocks on Amanda’s bedroom door woke her
up. She stirred, wondering who it was.

“Who’s there?” she asked.

“It’s me, Kellan. Christopher’s here to see you.”

Amanda yawned. Then she rose up.

“Tell him to wait for me in the living room.”

“All right.”

Amanda grabbed her smartphone from the bedside table.
It was a few minutes past six in the afternoon. She’d slept quite a bit.

I haven’t called Emmy.

Amanda walked to the bathroom, thinking about her
friend. She’d always had a big crush on Brad, and he was now taking care of
her. Brad had flown in from Europe while filming just to see how Emmy was
doing. Amanda wondered if he harbored feelings for her friend.

Brad and Emmy had never been very close, even though
they’d known each other for years. Amanda always felt that Emmy had stronger
feelings for Brad than he had for her. He seemed eager to woo his celebrity
crush, although that wasn’t why Brad became an actor. He truly loved the job.

When she was ready, Amanda walked to her living room.
Christopher was sitting on the couch. He stood up when he saw her.

“Amanda. How are you doing?”

“I’m good. Thanks.”

“You’re sort of alone here, right? What with the rest
of your friends still being in Rochester.”

“Yeah. Judith and Brad are with Emmy. Why?”

“I wondered if you’d like to hang out. You’ll go crazy
if you confine yourself here. A little distraction will always make time go
faster.”

Amanda smiled with indifference. She sat down on the
sofa, putting a little distance from Christopher.

“I have a boyfriend.”

Christopher raised his eyebrows.

“I thought you’d given him the boot.”

Amanda laughed halfheartedly.

“I’m mad at him, but that doesn’t mean we broke up. We
have our fights, just like any couple.”

“I’d have a hard time staying mad at you. You’re just
too charming.”

Amanda rolled her eyes.

“Says the guy who can coerce a smile out of a statue,”
she quipped. Christopher burst out laughing.

“Do you really think that of me?”

“Maybe. You should pay attention to the way Judith
acts around you. She’s your figurative statue. It’s not easy to penetrate her
defenses.”

“Nah. We just met. I can’t be affecting her like
that.”

“True. But if you give it some effort, it’ll pay off.”

“Maybe that’s not where I was aiming for my efforts to
go.”

Amanda looked at Christopher. She tried to figure out
what that statement had meant.

“You’ve got charm, kind of like Robin, but not so
Casanova. And you seem earnest. I think you would be good for Judith, if you
wanted her.”

Christopher nodded, smiling.

Earnest,
he
thought.
Of all things to accuse me of.

Amanda got lost in thought. Christopher watched her,
almost with fascination. After about a minute, she noticed.

“What?”

“You zoned out.”

Amanda scoffed.

“I
so
did not zone out. I don’t do that. I was
just thinking about stuff. Sorry.”

“I don’t mind.”

Amanda blushed slightly.

“Are you still up?” Christopher asked.

“For what?”

“Hanging out. Wouldn’t you like some distraction?”

Amanda shrugged, hesitating.

“Come on. You know you want to.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Anything you’d like to do. It’ll serve me to get to
know this city—and you—better, home girl.”

Amanda laughed, even though she wasn’t in the mood for
it.

“Could you give me a rain check? I’m tired right now,
and my body still hurts. How about Tuesday? I’ll have more free time then.”

Christopher pretended to consider it.

“Besides, I would have to get ready. Us girls do take
our time.”

At that, Christopher chuckled.

“Why? You’re perfectly okay right now. We’re not going
on a date.”