Itap the corner of my phone against the marble countertop, my nerves going haywire after everything that transpired yesterday.
I’d love to say that things got out of control out there in the woods and that I wouldn’t let it happen again, but that would be a lie.
Gracie brings out all of the very best and worst parts of me and spending so much time around her lately means my control is shot to shit. I just can’t hold back when we’re in the moment like we were yesterday.
Things went a little too far, but I also think that what went down was one of the best things that could have happened for us.
Yesterday was the first time we’d had an actual conversation while I was wearing a mask other than the taunting and the night of the club. Gracie seemed to have realized just how serious I am about her, and I managed to get more of an insight into how she was feeling about things.
But then I had to go and fuck it all up by acting blasé over the condom thing. Personally, I don’t see how it’s such a big deal since I’d obviously never put her in danger of catching anything,I knew she was clean and that she was on the pill. If she wasn’t, I never would have done what I did. It might be selfish of me, but I don’t want to share her with a kid yet, I want her for myself for a while before we have a family.
Obviously, she didn’t see it as a non-issue the way I did because she lost her ever-loving mind and ended up running from me. I didn’t chase her, knowing she needed the space to think everything over, but I did text her from my normal number to check in, since I knew she’d be going for a walk and obviously I was just worried about her being out in the woods alone.
The thing that’s bugging me, though, is she hasn’t texted me back. I know she got back home okay, but why would she be avoiding me?
Me, as in Noah. Not me as in the masked guy.
I’m certain she hasn’t figured it out, so what reason would she have to not respond to me? I can’t make sense of it.
I sigh and stop tapping the phone before I end up smashing it and have no way of knowing if she replies and pull up her contact info. It would be reasonable for me to call her and check in, wouldn’t it? I’m just a concerned friend who wants to check she’s okay after going for a walk alone yesterday and not hearing from her since.
My mind made up, I press call and hold my breath as the phone rings. She picks up on the fifth ring and a whoosh of air leaves me as her voice filters through the speaker.
“Hey,” she says, and my body relaxes.
“Hey, little one,” I murmur. “You okay? I didn’t hear back from you yesterday after you said you were going for a walk, and I was worried. You all good?”
She curses softly under her breath, and it brings a smile to my face. “I’m sorry, Noah. I didn’t mean to ignore you, I was just in my head and didn’t realize I hadn’t replied.”
In her head? Does that mean she was too busy thinking about masked me to think about friend me? Why does that piss me off?
I inwardly scoff at myself before forcing myself back to what she’s saying.
“I’ve just had a lot on my mind, that’s all. I’m sorry I worried you.”
“It’s fine,” I say quickly, not wanting her to feel bad. “I’m just glad you’re okay. Is it him again? Have you heard from him?” I ask, wondering if she’s going to lie to me again.
After the first couple of times I’d texted her from the burner phone, she’d shown me the messages but then stopped suddenly. Since then, whenever I’d asked if she’d heard from the stalker, she always denied it.
Will she tell me about the time in the woods yesterday?
Or will she convince herself that I don’t need to know?
“He’s texted a couple of times since I last showed you them,” she admits. “But that’s it. I haven’t heard from him since.”
Hmm, such a pretty liar.
“That’s good,” I murmur soothingly.
I swear I’m getting so good at lying that evenIbelieve my words sometimes.
“What are you up to today? Still heading back to campus with the love birds?” I tease and she groans.
“Ugh, don’t. They’re a nightmare to be around, it’s making me sick. And now I’m gonna have to cope with a three-hour car ride with them making moon eyes at each other.”
I don’t hold back my laugh, picturing Gracie sitting in the back of the car and pouting, forcing herself to stare out of the window so she doesn’t have to subject herself to her brother’s antics.
An idea hits me, and excitement fills my veins.
