Them. | The Final Installment of the Him Series | Joe Jonas Fanfiction

Ten.

What if I was wrong? What if it actually is Hope or Victoria? What if they're behind it together and I didn't notice because I was too blind in trusting them. I mean, I know I brought this up to Stella yesterday and her response was that there is no way in hell it's them but seriously. What if our entire lives were a lie and they really were in the business the entire time? What if they were conspiring against me for years and I let them into my daughters lives and they found the perfect way to get back at me? I mean, they were there last thanksgiving when I got the threat. Though Stella was the one holding the flowers. Is she in on it too? Is she their insight? Because they know that I would trust her to help me. But Stella actually is helping, we've searched on leads together. There's no way she's behind it. Maybe she didn't know and was holding the flowers for them anyway. Or maybe they planted them there first and then she saw them and picked them up to give to me. Cause she had said that day that they were sitting outside the door when they got there. She wouldn't lie if she didn't know.

Okay, so if Hope and Victoria are behind it, then I need to figure out a few different things. First, motive. Did I do something to them when we were small? Something that they could've held a grudge towards me for? Not that I can remember, but to be honest I was kind of trapped in my own world back then. I never thought about what anyone else needed to do or wanted, I only focused on what was and wasn't important to me... most of which revolved around wanting to be somewhere other than here. Some things never change, I suppose. Are there any other potential motives for it though? For it to be them. I can't think of anything that's happened. Shit.

Or did it happen later? Did their motive start when I left Texas? They still haven't been able to leave yet. Maybe seeing me be successful somewhere other than Texas with a husband and kids is what made them turn on me. Maybe that's what it is. Maybe they couldn't handle the fact that I found happiness so far away from them, where they aren't involved in my life everyday anymore. When I lived in Texas, my life revolved around trying to find time for them because I hated my life so much but after I made a life that I fell in love with, I wasn't so persistent. We talked but not as much. We didn't see each other. There was plenty of time for it to blister before they decided to act on anything. Plenty of time for them to plan the perfect revenge on me and no rush to put it into action because they had my trust to get away with it and make me go insane.

"Hey."

I jump slightly, looking over to notice Hope standing in the doorway.

"Hi," I respond, gulping.

She narrows her eyes. "Oh my god," she says, rolling her eyes and letting out a sigh. "Are you seriously still on this kick that Victoria and I might be behind all of this and out to get you?"

I gulp again, not making eye contact. "What?"

"Addie," she says, giving me a look. "I'm so serious, Tori!"

I furrow my brows, Tori walking into the room.

"What?" she asks, confused.

"We have to do damage control. She's still on it."

"Wait, what?" Tori asks, looking at me. "Bitch, for real?"

They both walk further into the room, sitting on the edge of my bed.

Hope grabs the laptop out of my lap, putting it off to the side.

"Addie, look, I know you're desperate for a lead, but we are not who you need to be looking into," Tori starts.

"No, don't be nice," Hope tells her before looking at me. "Knock it the hell off. We've been best friends since we were kids. I know you. I know what's going through your head. We are beyond happy that you found happiness and grew a family. Even if it means we don't get to see you or them every day. We love you and we love the girls. We wouldn't want any of you to ever get hurt. You know that. You're just desperate for a lead because you're starting to feel like you're never going to get home to them. You will get home to them, Addie, but looking into us is only going to make it happen slower. We are not out to get you or your girls. Knock it the hell out, think of this logically, and figure out who the hell is actually keeping you away from your babies."