#Chapter 85 – Jane Sets a Date

Jane

“I swear he’s losing it.” The man in question is back home with our pups, while I try to wrap my head around what just happened with the help of Linda and Eric. I’m seated on my friend’s plush sofa, with Eric beside me and Linda looking on from the kitchen while she brews a pot of tea. “He threatened to blackmail me tonight.”

“I warned you he wasn’t really going to let the pups go.” Eric frowns, “what on earth did he try to blackmail you with?”

My face flushes with color as I stare at my lap, fidgeting nervously. “Well…” I begin, trying to find the courage to speak the

words aloud.

“Oh I know that look!” Linda chimes in, a

note of humor in her voice. “What did you do, you bad girl?”

“I sort of slept with him.” I confess,

burying my face in my hands rather than

face their scrutiny. “So he threatened to tell Eric so he’d call of our wedding.”

“I knew it!” Linda exclaims, “How did it

happen, when did it happen – I want

details!”

“You slept with him?!” Eric adds,

sounding appalled.

“It was the other day, when we went wine

tasting.” I share, peeking at Eric through my fingers and seeing his furious face.” We got a little tipsy and -”

“You were drunk?” Eric repeats,

immediately rising to my defense. “He took advantage of you!”

“He didn’t.” I murmur. “I mean yes I

lowered my inhibitions, but I wanted it.

I’ve been resisting him for so long.” Eric is fuming, and I suddenly feel very guilty for sharing this with him when I know he has feelings for me. “I’m sorry.” I profess, resting my hand on his arm, “I shouldn’t be sharing this kind of thing

with you. I’m not trying to be insensitive, I just… I told him you already knew.”

“No it’s okay.” He assures me, quickly covering my hand with his own, “I need to know these things if I’m going to help you. If he says anything about it, I’ll pretend I knew all along.”

“Are you sure?” I inquire hesitantly. “I feel like I’m asking way too much of you.”

“I’m sure.” Eric promises, “and if you ask me Ethan isn’t losing it, he’s just showing you his true colors. If you want to see the man behind the mask you should keep pushing him, otherwise

you’ll simply be letting him fool you

again.”

Linda, clearly reading my slightly affronted energy, interjects, “I don’t think she “let” him do anything.” She says with a frown, her eyes locked on Eric even as she speaks to me. “And I don’t know that pushing him is a good idea, Janey. He’s clearly feeling desperate and

more conflict isn’t good for anyone. I

you force him into a corner he might lash out and do it

the

Eric tells

gotten along like gangbusters, but now she actually seems annoyed

him then it’s

cautious. Why are you giving

argue, you

discord at home. I just want to

softens almost immediately, patting my leg in comfort, “I’m sorry, you’re

better I might think she was angry he’s giving me

him. “I don’t understand.” She muses, finally turning away from him.

my lips, “my best guess is that they were eavesdropping again. Eric you were with them today, did

distance and racking his brain. “No, they seemed fine. But if they overheard something and asked Ethan about it, I doubt they

The pups would have certainly been impatient to find out the truth about whatever they heard, so it must have happened today. A niggling doubt enters the back of my mind. The only two

Linda presses, her brow

expression.

“I just…” Trailing off, I rise to my feet, beginning to pace. Is that tea

me check,”

Jane, this clearly isn’t nothing.” Eric observes, standing

Ethan just made a very public statement blaming Eve for Petra’s murder. He’s defended me

he truly seems

what happened between us…

“But?” Eric prompts.

he was talking on the phone to his beta or something, about taking me prisoner

that’s entirely

comfort me, but isn’t sure if I’ll accept it. I can’t

How twisted is it that he’s the reason I’m afraid of letting people get

Linda calls from the kitchen, strolling back in a few moments

no reason

if he was talking

was probably his regrets about

that not

questions her stiffly.

of all because the pups found

told Jane, especially because they clearly turned against

like a hawk. I’ve seen him

and I’m telling you he’s changed. He isn’t

friend’s words are

tormented nerves. I know

help, but he seems so protective

he’s become as paranoid as I

he was vicariously

me try to recover from Ethan, while

my death. I know

on my side, and I

she’s sounding more logical than Eric at

moment.

you.” I breathe, accepting a

tea and letting the warm

right,

crazy.”

babes, we all get a bit crazy sometimes.” Linda reminds

who is mutinously grumbling under

my tea and

just shows that I was right about leaving. I can’t wait for the

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