“Is there anything else we can do?” Sebastian chimes in for the first time.
Detective Harlow looks between us. “You’re doing all the right things. If they make any further contact—especially in person—call us immediately. Don’t ignore your gut feelings.”
I nod, my stomach churning. This all feels more real now. More dangerous.
As we stand to leave, the detective hands me his card. “You’re not alone in this. We’ll do everything we can to help.”
I smile at him gratefully. I believe him. “Thank you, detective. I’ll drop the package by later on the way to my job.”
Outside the station, I stop and take a deep breath, letting the cool air fill my lungs.
Sebastian slips his arm around my shoulders. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, leaning into him. “I just want this to be over.”
“It will be,” he says with more confidence than I feel. “The police are helping now and we’ll do what we can to help catch this person.”
“You sure you’re good to close by yourself?” Hannah lingers in Knit Happens’ doorway, keys in her hand.
“Absolutely.” I wave her forward. She has dinner with Michael to get to, and—if I’m being honest—I would enjoy closing the shop on my own more.
Things have continued to be weird between the two of us, despite the fact that we’re working and joking like regular times. But though we’ve hung out as a group with our friends, there’s been no one-on-one time.
I haven’t initiated it. She hasn’t initiated it.
It feels like we’re at this standstill, smiling and acting like everything is as it always has been. Things feel off, though…and I know it’s all my fault.
I could tell her about what’s really happening with my health and the stalker—I told Sebastian, and that’s something I never saw coming.
The downside is that he’s been worrying about me, though, and while I like having him around—especially when I literally can’t do something for myself—I don’t want everyone in my life to see me as some kind of invalid.
“Have a good night,” Hannah says softly as she slips out the door.
As I watch her walk down the street, a bit of guilt winds its way through me, but I push it aside. I’m getting used to it anyway, this feeling of failure whether I tell the truth or keep it to myself.
Too bad I don’t have much respect for the person I’m becoming.
Checking a sigh, I get to work closing out the register. It’s the first day back at work since my flare, and thankfully, I feel fine. Stiff and sore, yes, especially after walking around the petting zoo yesterday, but that’s nothing new. At least I’m not on the ground, incapable of standing. And the visit to the police station today did give me some hope.
Done with the drawer, I tidy up the few things that are out of place, grab my bag, and lock up the shop. Though it’s a twenty-minute walk to my place, I drove today just in case my health took a nose dive and also for added protection.
Climbing into my car, I realize this will be the first evening all week Sebastian isn’t at my place—either staying until I fall asleep or crashing on the couch so I can spread out across the bed. It’s odd, going home and knowing he won’t be there.
Usually, a guy leaving my house comes with a big, relaxed sigh on my part. As much as I might like someone, having them in my space, all up in my business, makes me nervous and tense. I need my own zone to just be myself in.
But now, Sebastian won’t be there, and that leaves me feeling…empty.
We had such a good time yesterday, hanging out at his parents’ petting zoo. I could tell he was nervous since his mom and dad are kind of odd birds, but I didn’t even care. They made me laugh, if anything.
And then there was afterward, when we curled up on the couch at my place and ate pasta then fell asleep watching TV.
At least, I fell asleep.
Waking up a few hours later, I wasn’t surprised at all to find him sitting at the kitchen table doing some work on his laptop.
Now, here he is today, jumping into another eighteen hours of work. I thought I was busy, but I have nothing on him. Really, I don’t know how he does it.
Shaking my head, I drive through downtown, making sure I don’t pass by the vet’s office where he’s working the closing shift. I can’t turn into one of those women who is checking up on the guy she’s dating.
