“I’m observant. That, and I’ve seen you going into her building a couple of times when I’ve been out for a run. By the way, putting a mask on in the middle of a parking lot is a sure-fire way to make people ask questions,” she says with a tut.
I take a deep breath and pinch the bridge of my nose in an effort to not lose my shit.
Once I finally feel a semblance of calm, I focus all of my attention on her.
“Are you going to tell Cole?”
She stares at me, her eyes drilling into mine and I have to force myself not to fidget.
“Nah,” she says, and the relief that washes over me almost makes me dizzy, until she mutters, “I thinkyoushould be the one to tell him, and soon.” She pins me with a glare, and I can tell with that one look that she’s not kidding. If I wait too long to tell Cole, she’ll tell him herself.
I let out a slow breath and a thought occurs to me. “Is it you that’s been leaving me notes and texting me from an unknown number?” I ask, figuring it best to ask her outright.
A look of confusion crosses her face, and she frowns. “No, if I was to do something like that, I would have been much more creative. What are the messages saying?”
I sigh, since a part of me really hoped it was Lana’s doing, but since she seems to know everything that’s going on around here, it can’t hurt to talk to her about it. “Asking what I think Cole would do if he knew about me and his little sister… about what Cole would do if he knew I was visiting her while wearing a mask. It’s not even Cole I’m worried about finding out at this point, it’s Gracie.”
Lana blinks and then blinks again. “What do you mean, it’s Gracie that you’re worried about finding out?” she asks, and I frown.
“Well, what’s gonna happen when she realizes it’s me behind the mask?”
Her mouth from open as her eyes widen, and I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen shock on her face. “You’re telling me that Gracie doesn’t know it’syouwearing a mask? I figured it was just some sort of kink that you guys were into and that she knew.”
I snort, glad to have been able to surprise her with at leastsomething, but I also inwardly chastise myself at the fact I’ve just told her a secret I’m not so sure I want her to know.
Well, there’s no going back now.
“She has no idea, but things have been getting a little… messy. We started seeing each other with me asmebut then she was responding to messages to me as her stalker and now I’m confused as fuck. Add in the messages I’ve been getting, and it’s all fucked. I have no idea what’s happening at this point, all I know is that the thought of Gracie finding out the truth and leaving me…” I trail off, not wanting to eventhinkabout that being a possibility.
Lana clearly thinks my pain is hilarious because she bursts into laughter and I glare at her.
“I’m sorry,” she says, still wheezing a little. “But this is fucking brilliant. Oh my God.”
“I’m glad you find my issues amusing,” I say dryly, continuing to scowl at her.
“Want my advice?” she asks once she finally calms down, and I nod.
Not sure how good her advice will be because, well… it’s Lana, but I guess hearing what she has to say won’t hurt. I’ve already disclosed far more than I should have, I may as well see if I can reap any benefits from this entire shit show.
“You should tell Gracie everything and then come clean to Cole. Whoever is leaving you notes and sending you messages is clearly trying to hold it against you and you’re going to spin yourself in circles to cover up all the lies. You’re better off just coming clean with everyone and letting the chips fall as they may. I imagine Gracie will be pissed that you lied to her, and Cole will be furious either way, but you’ll be able to work through it with both of them. The longer you keep your secrets, the worse the betrayal will be. Just something to think about,” she says and stands, grabbing her laptop before heading back to her and Cole’s room, leaving me to think over her words.
She does have a point, but what if Gracie can’t overcome it? What if I lose her? Well, not lose her, because I’d never let that happen, but I’d hate to have to force her into staying with me.
There’s no way on this earth that I can be without her.
One way or another, I’m keeping her.
So, what do I do?
My phone dings and I take it out, expecting a text from my girl, only to see another message from an unknown number.
Fucking hell.
I open the thread and this time, instead of there being a message, there’s pictures.
Two, to be exact.
They’re stilled images from the camera placed on the door to Gracie’s room, the first is an image of me letting myself into her apartment last night while wearing the mask. The second is of me leaving, and you can clearly see my features from the side profile.
