Page 275 of Nobody's Girl

She runs her hands up and down her arms as if she’s cold, but it’s nowhere near cold. She turns back and says, “I’m being a jealous ass and I’m done being that. You were right about one thing. What kind of friend am I? I love her too, and I should put that at the top of my priorities. Tell her I’m coming too.”

I smile at her as my heart fills with a new feeling for her. “You’re pretty fantastic, baby.”

She takes my hand in hers and pulls me into her house. “Mom and Dad won’t be back for hours. Why don’t you come in for a while? I want to show you how much I love you, then you can show me how much you love me,” she says, and I find I’m happy to hear her words.

CHAPTER 47

ALYSSA

I notice I’ve missed a call when I pick up the phone off my night stand. I hit the button to listen to my voice mail. A man’s voice comes out of the phone’s speaker.

“So they think that by moving you, it will stop me from getting you. I will get you, Alyssa Fontaine. You took my daughter’s place in that family. She should be living that life, not you. I should be living in that house, not you. I can’t wait to get my hands on you, bitch,” a man’s voice says. I realize right away it’s Darren Stiles voice on the recording.

I drop the phone, staring at it helplessly. I can’t believe what I’ve just heard. I find I’m shaking uncontrollably. That man did terrible things to his own daughter. What in the hell would he do to me?

Tears begin to fall out of my eyes without me even realizing it. I have to let them know. I pick the phone back up and take it with me. I find my father sitting with Lyle in the living room.

My voice is shaky as I call out to him, “Daddy?”

“Yes, sweetie?”

I hold my phone out to him. “He wants me.”

Lyle stands up quickly, coming to wrap his arm around me, and pulling me to sit down on the sofa with him. He holds me tightly to his side. I sink into his chest, feeling very drained. The reality that I could end up dead, and very soon, has hit me like a brick wall.

“Alyssa, you’re white as a ghost. Who wants you?” Lyle asks me.

“Press the voice mail button, Daddy.”

My father pushes the button. He and Lyle listen to the man’s message. My father’s face pales, then he stands up.

“I’ll call the police. I’m getting your mother, Alyssa. Stay with Lyle,” Dad tells me, then leaves the room hastily.

I find I’m suddenly sobbing. Eden’s father holds me close to him as he says, “Alyssa, we won’t let anything happen to you. You’re safe. You have to believe me. You are safe.”

I feel a tug on my shoulder. “Alyssa,” I hear my mother’s voice say.

I turn away from Lyle to grab onto my mother. “Oh, Mom, what’s happening?”

Mom has me in a protective hold. “I’m taking her to her room.”

She sits me down on the bed, then walks over to the one window in the bedroom, making sure it’s locked, pulling the curtains together, and closing them. “Things change so fast around here, don’t they darling?”

She goes into the bathroom, coming out with a wet wash cloth, and blotting my face with it. The coolness of it makes me feel better and I start to calm down.

“Mom, why are there such bad people in the world?” I ask as if I’m a child.

Her arm slides around my shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess only God knows that. You’ll be fine, Alyssa. That man can’t get to you. There are too many people here to protect you for him to be able to get to you. He’s just trying to upset you. Don’t let him do that to you. You’re not a victim, Ally.”

The bedroom door flies open as Eden rushes to me, grabbing me up into his arms and wrapping himself around me. “I’m so sorry, Alyssa. I can’t believe I brought this down on you. I was a fool.”

I hear the door close as my mother leaves the room. I hate that Eden thinks this is his fault. I can’t stand it. I pull back from him, wiping my eyes.

“Eden, nothing is your fault. The man is crazy. You didn’t make him that way. You just did a nice thing for his poor daughter. I’ll be fine. I just got freaked out. I’m okay now. I have faith that all the people around me will make sure I stay safe. I’m done crying about it.”

His hands go to either side of my face, holding it gently. “Alyssa, it is my fault. I should’ve had our people do a background check on her and her family before I agreed to do anything with her. I didn’t do that and now look where we are.”

“Eden, if you would’ve done that, then you would have never taken her to the prom,” I say as I run my hands over his arms. “Or let her come over to your house and given her a few moments of happiness. Her life must have been horrible. I’m happy she got to go to her prom. I’m happy you did that for her. Don’t second guess it now. It doesn’t help the situation any.”