I Stopped Waiting and Started Loving novel Chapter 53

Jillian looked just as puzzled. "That book? I remember it. Your grandfather used to flip through it all the time. When I packed everything up, I made sure to bury it right in the middle of the chest so it wouldn't get damaged. How could it not be there?"

She frowned, and suddenly, a realization struck her as she slapped her forehead.

"Oh, right! Parrish came back to get a book for you a while ago. Did he take it?"

Bonnie froze instantly. "When?"

"I think it was about three months ago, back in February."

Jillian recalled, "He came back alone, rushed over to my place to ask for the key, and said you were incredibly busy prepping your medical license review documents on top of your part-time jobs. He told me he was running the errand for you. I thought you knew."

Bonnie's face turned icy in an instant.

Back in February, she had indeed been working herself into the ground trying to get her review documents together.

But she had never asked Parrish to go back to the village to fetch any books for her, nor had she ever allowed him to touch her grandfather's belongings.

Those medical journals were her final connection to her grandfather after their family had been destroyed.

Even she handled them with the utmost care, terrified of creasing a page or smudging a note. How could she possibly let someone else casually take them?

Why did he secretly return to their hometown and take that book behind her back?

It felt like a massive hole had been blown straight through her chest, freezing winds howling inside, chilling her blood until it nearly stopped flowing.

"Bonnie? Did you not know about this?"

Jillian asked, disturbed by the terrifying expression on her daughter's face.

Bonnie clenched her fists, her nails digging into her flesh. The sharp sting helped clear her mind.

She buried the glacial fury in her eyes and forced a strained smile.

"Mom, I remember now. He did tell me about it, but I've been so busy lately that it slipped my mind."

"I'll go text him right now."

She didn't want her mother to worry, so she grabbed her phone and hurried outside.

...

Meanwhile, half an hour earlier.

It was the weekend, a rare day off for Parrish York.

He had been driving aimlessly around the city, and before he realized it, his car had subconsciously pulled up to the rundown apartment building in the old district.

He killed the engine but didn't go upstairs right away.

He wondered, if he went upstairs right now, would she have a hot meal waiting for him at the table, just like before?

Women threw tantrums, and that was that.

Whatever awkwardness, misunderstandings, or friction existed between them, a good meal could always smooth things over.

With that thought in mind, Parrish crushed the cigarette butt under his shoe and headed for the stairs.

"Parrish! You're back!"

A loud, excited shout suddenly echoed from above.

Parrish looked up.

He saw Curtis Miller running down the stairs in a pair of baggy shorts and flip-flops, looking thrilled.

Curtis shared a fourth-floor apartment with Jasmine Nash, while Parrish and Bonnie rented on the fifth floor.

They all had the same landlord.

The apartments here were cramped and dilapidated, and the bathrooms were communal ones located out in the hall.

Curtis had clearly just stepped out to use the restroom, and his eyes lit up the moment he spotted him.