I don’t know why I want to give my stalker a chance to prove it.
“Not yet,” I say. “Maybe after Radio Eleven, I’ll be ready. Just not yet.”
Gemma nods. “Okay.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
GEMMA
“You won’t even walka girl to her door?” Bonnie asks, her hand on the SUV door.
I swallow. “Bonnie, if I walk you to that door, I won’t walk away from it, and I don’t think you’re ready.”
Her jaw tightens like she knows I’m right.
“Do you need me to take you to lunch tomorrow to meet your dad?” I ask.
“He’s just meeting me at the cafe on the corner,” she answers. “Will you be far?”
I pause to think of my plans. Still…
“I’m never too far to come back to you.”
I cut the engine on my bike as I think about leaving her yesterday afternoon. We did another hike after leaving the observatory, and every time she laughed, smiled, or teased me, I lost a little more of myself. I don’t think either of us was ready to let go of the other’s company. I often wondered if she was holding on to me as I was her—desperate not to think about the phone call that nearly broke us both the day before.
And more than once, I wanted to tell her the truth.
I think it’s almost over. I think I’m tiring of hiding, even if I love the thrill as much as she does.
Soon.
I’ll tell her soon.
I don’t know if it’s a good idea to tell her before the festival run is over or wait until it would be easier for her to avoid me. I don’t want anything to come between protecting her or the band, or give them any reason not to trust me…
Shit.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out to find Kade’s name across the screen.
“What do you have for me?” I answer through my helmet.
“Where are you?” Kade asks.
“I’m at the address you gave me earlier,” I say, glancing toward the apartment building. “This is where the twins are, right?”
“Yeah. Are you sureyouwant to take care of this?” he asks.
My eyes narrow. “Reed is my client.”
“Yeah, but this is something Liam could handle,” he argues.
I sigh and toy with my gloves. “Maybe I’m looking for something easy.”
“What if I had something better?”
I perk slightly. “Go on.”
“Rad is messaging Reed again.”
