“Yeah. I keep smelling cologne. Like something dark and musky. The scent doesn’t scream woman. However, it does scream dark and dangerous. As if I didn’t already know that.” I bite the inside of my cheek, my heart clenching.
Haven slips her finger under the seal, opening the envelope. She dumps out a couple of pictures. “These aren’t of you sleeping, but I’m not sure they’re much better.”
I square my shoulders, trying to steel my nerves as I take the pictures.
My hands shake. The world around me starts to blur, and the blood rushing in my ears only makes me feel worse.
When I look down, there are pictures of me with my niece and nephew. Dominic is on my hip while Bianca is running around and laughing. I’m trying to cook. We’re in Royce’s kitchen on a night I was watching them while Gia and Royce went out on a date.
Another picture is of me holding Ellie’s ultrasound picture the day I found out I was going to have another niece.
He’s been stalking me while I’m with my family. He knows about the kids.
What if he hurts them?
Clenching the pictures tighter, I stalk over to the fire burning in the hearth and toss the pictures inside, not wanting to see them anymore.
They’re nothing but a reminder that the stalker has invaded every single part of my life. That I’m not safe, even if I can pretend I am right now.
Haven drops down onto the couch. “Okay, this is getting serious, J. This guy is escalating, and it’s only going to be a matter of time before he gets violent. They always do.”
“It’s nothing worse than what’s been happening.” I grab a pillow, hugging it tight to my chest, and drop down beside her.
“It’s worse. He’s making contact. You need to be more worried about it than you are. I know you think you can just go out there and kill him if he gets too close, but I’ve never seen you this terrified. And then, with all the pressure you put on yourself to be what your family expects, I don’t think any of this is good for you.”
“Look, the family stuff is what it is. There’s nothing I can do to change that.”
“You could drop out of business school and start pursuing something that makes you happy instead, like cooking. I don’t think any of them would blame you for doing that.”
“I doubt they would, but they don’t need me to be a chef.” I toss the pillow to the side and put my feet up on the coffee table, reaching for my phone as it buzzes.
ThatsRenfieldInTheCorner:Sorry about the silence today. Big day at work coming up, and my boss is running me ragged.Finished Little Women, though. Only went through a box and a half of tissues.
Me:I told you so.
ThatsRenfieldInTheCorner:Well, what’s the next book on the reading list?
Me:Maybe Peter Pan.
Haven clears her throat and arches an eyebrow. “Tell lover boy we have a problem right now and that we’re trying to figure things out.”
My cheeks warm, and I roll my eyes. “Come on, Hav. It’s good to have someone else to talk to. Didn’t you say I had to start opening up and living my own life?”
“I did, but talking to some guy through an app all the time isn’t doing that. He might know what’s going on with you, and you send him some killer nudes, but at the end of the day, you don’t know who the hell he is.”
“Fine, I’ll get him to meet up with me.” I take a deep breath, thumbs hovering over my screen. “How do I ask him to meet me, though?”
Haven throws her hands up in the air. “How the hell am I supposed to know? I still can’t get past the talking stage with any of the women and men I’ve been messaging with lately. It always comes time for the date and then they’re like, ‘You know what, no’.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Might have something to do with living in a pool house. You didn’t put anything other than that on your profile. And since you never mention that it’s arenovatedpoolhouse, people are probably thinking that you’re sleeping with a bunch of floaties.”
Haven shrugs. “I don’t think that should deter anyone.”
I snort and turn my attention back to my phone, knowing that I’m not going to get anywhere with her. Haven is gorgeous and funny, but when it comes to letting people get close to her, she’s worse than I am.
Me:What do you think about meeting in a week to talk about the book? Maybe get some coffee?
The little dots appear and disappear over and over again. I’m about to toss the phone aside and go on with the rest of my night when it buzzes.
