“Why do you say that?” Mr. Mayson asks, and I remember my mom’s shocked face when she opened the card.
“The card said ‘I’m sorry.’ We both assumed they were from the guy she was seeing, the one that took me to the hospital. That he was sorry for what happened to me. But I remember she seemed shocked by the apology. Like he wouldn’t write something like that, you know? That he wouldn’t apologize. When I was packing my car later that evening, the same boyfriend who I thought the flowers were from stopped by to drop off Beast. He had kept him while I was in the hospital. He didn’t wanthim to end up at the shelter. He made me pinky promise that if I was going to give Beast away, he got first dibs. I remember thinking that he was a really good guy and hoping that it would work out for him and my mom. He hugged me then got in his car and left. I figured he was just busy. I left a few minutes after he did, so I’m not sure what happened with him and my mom.”
“I’m gonna need your mom’s number, and the contact information for the detective in New York who was working on your case,” Mr. Mayson says, and I nod my head in agreement.
“I have a friend who’s been looking into things,” Asher says, and I look over at him. I never knew this. We talked about what happened to me, but he never told me anything about someone looking into it.
“You do?” I ask, wondering when he had asked someone to check on it.
“Yeah.” That was all he said while pulling me closer so he could kiss my forehead.
“Okay,” I say slowly. “When were you going to tell me about that?”
“Right now.”
“Don’t you think that I should know about things like that?”
“You know now.” I narrow my eyes and he brings my hand to his mouth, kissing my fingers that are wrapped around his. “Nothing has happened in the last few months. We weren’t even sure if the break in had anything to do with what happened in New York.”
That’s a good point. We didn’t know anything. I don’t even know why I cared. I was grateful that he was looking into it.
“Have they come up with anything?” I ask, hoping that some detective was using his skills so I didn’t have to live my days worried about my life being in danger, or worse, having Asher or either of our families in danger.
“Nothing new. They think it was an isolated incident.”
“So, do they have any idea why this is happening?”
“No, baby.”
“Do you think someone is stalking me?” I ask, looking at Asher thenhis dad.
“I’m not sure what’s going on. And before I jump to any conclusions, I need to talk to the florist who delivered the flowers and ask about the person who placed the order. Then I need to contact your mother and find out what she remembers from the night of your attack. I also need to contact the officer who was handling your case and see if there are any cases similar to yours,” Mr. Mayson explains.
“Asher already found that out. They said it was isolated.”
“Yes, they did, but he was talking about the attack. I’m talking about the flowers and the messages,” Mr. Mayson says.
“Smart.” I smile at him and he shakes his head, chuckling.
“In the meantime, I want you to be extra cautious when you’re out. I also need you to make a list of people that you have dated. There might be someone who wasn’t ready for your relationship to be over.”
“That’s simple. I dated my ex-fiancé and Asher.”
“I mean anyone you went out with, even if it wasn’t serious.”
“I know, and it was only my ex and Asher. I never dated in high school. My mother wanted me to work, and if I wasn’t working, I had to be at home. I met my ex during my sophomore year of college and I dated him until I caught him with my mother. After I broke it off with him, I needed time and I was never really interested in anyone, so I didn’t date. Although, before the attack happened, my boss made me sign up for a dating service, so I did that, but I haven’t even checked the activity of that account.”
“Do you have the account information?” Asher asks and I can see his jaw tightening.
“Yeah, it’s in my phonebook.”
“So, you didn’t think about closing the account since we met?”
I rolled my eyes and looked at him, wanting to determine if he was being serious. “I haven’t even thought about it.” His eyes narrowed. “What? You’ve been keeping me busy,” I shout, throwing my hands in the air. “I’m sorry if I haven’t thought about a dating site that I didn’t even want tobe a member of.” I hear Asher’s dad laugh from across the kitchen and I look up at the same time as Asher. His dad puts his hands in front of him in a stay back gesture and laughs harder. I laugh, and Asher’s eyes come to me.
“You think this is funny?”
“Um...no?” My answer sounds like a question and I start laughing louder.
