NOAH
Ismile down at Gracie as she sleeps on the couch. She fell asleep halfway through the movie, and I’ve been watching her ever since. She’s so peaceful, and I ache to feel her in my arms, to sleep next to her with her body blanketing mine, but she’s not ready for that yet.
We’re taking things slow, which I’m fine with. I know where we’ll end up, and while I can’t wait to get there, I also know that letting her take this at her pace is what’s best for our relationship.
Things have been perfect, not a single thing could stop the happiness I feel right now.
My Gracie is finally letting me in, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
I slide my arms beneath her body and lift her, carrying her into her bedroom before placing her in the bed and lifting the sheets to cover her.
“Goodnight, Gracie,” I whisper as I tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “I love you.”
THIRTY-SEVEN
GRACIE
“Noah?” Freya’s voice is almost a screech as she finally responds. I called her over because I was freaking out about everything and knew I needed to talk it out with someone.
It’s been three weeks since I came to the realization that my stalker was none other than my brother’s best friend and we’ve been going on dates under the illusion of seeing where things go when really, I’ve been planning on fucking with him.
Though honestly, I think the only person I’m fucking with is myself.
I haven’t seen him in his mask since that night in the forest, but he has been texting me here and there. The messages aren’t nearly as frequent as they were before, as though he’s only sending them to keep up appearances.
It’s like we’re both doing a finely tuned dance, not wanting the other to find out the truth, but I’m at a loss with how to proceed, which is why I decided to spill everything to my best friend.
I went back and forth on whether I should or not, since I had no idea how she would react. When I told her about theanonymous man before, she was concerned and told me I should report it.
Will she tell me to do the same again? Will she judge me for everything I’ve done in the last couple of months?
If it was her in my position, I have no doubt that she would have reported him to the police at first instance—that’s just who she is.
So, I wait patiently as she stares at me, seemingly processing everything I’ve said.
“Okay,” she says slowly, as though her brain is still catching up. “And how do you feel about all of this?”
After sincerely apologizing for avoiding her lately, I told her about what he’s been doing and how I found out it was him, but I didn’t necessarily tell her how much I… liked it.
I take a deep breath, nervous to voice the thoughts I’ve been having aloud but knowing I need to tell her everything so that she has the full picture.
You can do this. It’s Freya… you’ve been friends forever—she won’t judge you for the way you feel.
Still, I take the cowards way out and decide to stall a little. “How do I feel about what, exactly?” I say and blink innocently, to which she gives me a flat look.
“Let’s start with the easy part, huh? How do you feel about it being Noah? I know people have always asked you about the guys, but you’ve always stood firmly on the stance that they’re like brothers to you. Has that changed?”
Okay,thisI can answer.
“I… we got a lot closer while he was protecting me… from himself.” I roll my eyes at that statement before continuing. “And I was starting to feel things for him, things that I had no idea I could ever feel for someone who I always saw as a platonic friend, but things shifted. Then, before I could even make senseof it, I found out it was actuallyhimwho had been stalking me, and it made my mind even more messed up,” I confess.
“And instead of talking to him about what he’d been doing, you instead decided to continue on with the ruse while simultaneously deciding to date him,” she says flatly and pins me with a look that tells me she knows I’m not telling her the whole truth.
I sigh. “Before I knew it was him, I was also feeling things for the…other side of him. And I was conflicted because I’m really not the type to fall for two guys at once, which scared the hell out of me.” I pause and search her face to see if there’s any judgement or worse, horror on her face, but when all I see is understanding, I keep going. “Even when he was stalking me, he was always so… sweet. He was attentive and he always put my needs first, which made what should have felt wrong, feel right, somehow.
“And then I found out that it was actually Noah, and I let my anger get the better of me. Before I knew what was happening, we were going on dates under the guise of seeing where things could go when I was really planning on messing with him, but it didn’t feel like that for long. There’s something about him, Freya. Something I’m not sure I can let go of.
“The more time we spend together, the more I feel for him. Everything that didn’t quite add up before suddenly makes sense, and even though I was mad that he created this entire thing and that he was lying and keeping the truth from me, I also couldn’t help but want him. I always thought Noah was the one who was grounded, who saw sense and always had his shit together, but the fact that he did all this told me that there was an entire side to him that he keeps hidden, a side that only I know—and Ilikethat only I get to see that side of him.”
