“Because I don’t want to be near you.”
I ignore the sting of those words and saunter towards her slowly. “Seems like I should be the least of your concerns.”
“Why is that?” She spits, spinning to face me finally.
Her fierceness leaves me spellbound for a moment. She’s a force to be reckoned with, and I’m so damn proud of her.
“You have a stalker, Liv.”
“I know. He’s standing in my driveway.”
I laugh, and she blinks at me in quick succession as if she forgot the sound. “You know it isn’t me.”
“I don’t know that.”
“Yes, you do.”
She averts her gaze because she doesn’t want to admit that I’m right. No matter what has happened between us, she knows I’d never act maliciously towards her. I’d never want her to be afraid.
“It doesn’t matter. You need to leave me alone.”
“Why? If some freak is harassing you, it needs to stop.”
“It’s not about that.” She keeps her hands tucked under her arms as if keeping her left hand out of sight will change the facts.
“Ah, because you’re engaged.”
She jolts like she was electrocuted. “How do you know that I’m engaged?”
“Even a blind man could see that rock.”
She rolls her eyes. “My fiancé is a generous man.”
“I’m sure he is.” I don’t hide the sarcasm from my voice, and she notices.
“What does that mean?”
“Just doesn’t seem like your style.”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
I used to.“Does he love you?”
“Of course, he does.”
“Then why isn’t he here?” I don’t mean to raise my voice, but this situation is ridiculous.
The second there was a hint of danger, the man she is supposed to marry should have dropped everything to be here to keep her safe.
Like I would.
Like I am.
“It’s not–” She tries to flee, snatching her keys up to go inside.
“Why, Liv?” I don’t back off, following her to her door.
“Stop!”
