I shrug, trying to look unaffected, but my chest feels hollow. “I should’ve expected it. Being here…”
The sharp buzz of my phone cuts me off. I flinch, fumbling it out of my pocket.
Unknown Number.
Again.
Every muscle in my body goes cold.
Tansy notices instantly. “Lo? What is it?”
I swipe the notification open with shaking fingers.
The text is short, abrupt.
Unknown Number:Is this where you think you belong?
Another bubble pops up before I can even breathe.
Unknown Number:I don’t know why you keep thinking you can leave me.
My lungs seize, panic crawling up my throat. Then, another ping.
A photo.
The world tilts.
It’s Dylan. Standing in front of my townhouse. Flames rising behind him.
The fire… the fire that happened whileIwas in the house.
My stomach lurches.
“No.” It’s a broken sound, ripped out of me. “Tansy, it washim. I thought it was someone in the town, someone who hatesmy family, but it was Dylan. He found me. He’s… he’s the one that… that set the fire.”
Tansy leans over, eyes catching the screen. “Oh my god. Lo.”
Another vibration rattles through the counter. Then another. And another. I don’t want to look. My hand shakes so badly I nearly drop the phone, but the notifications keep piling up until the screen is a blur of gray bubbles.
I force myself to swipe.
The first photo: Beck comforting me outside the burning townhouse.
The second: Hayes at the café, hugging me after the disastrous meeting with my parents
The third: Ford and me, driving in his truck.
Unknown Number:Who are these assholes? Are you dating any of them?
Unknown Number:You think they’ll protect you?
Unknown Number:Pathetic little slut, pretending they’re yours.
I choke on a gasp, scrolling too fast, too desperate to make it stop. Tansy presses her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide and horrified. “He’s been watching you. ”
My throat closes. The croissant in my stomach turns to stone. “No, no, no…”
Another text pops up, cutting through my panic.
