I chuckle at that, because that’s a problem I understand all too well. “Well, I’m not sure I would call that a problem. Outside of the lack of space.” I grin, waving her in. “I gave one away already, but I do have one more small shelf if you could use it. Let me show you.”
Turning, I lead Becky into the dining room. “Sorry for the piles of boxes. My boyfriend and his friends are on their way to move us, so it’s a little hazardous at the moment.” Kai is alsogoing to help us move, but he’s watching the entrance to the apartment building at the moment.
“Oh?” I hear Becky close the door. “Do you think he’ll get here in time?”
A shiver works down my spine as I stop dead in my tracks. Shoulders stiff, heart picking up speed, I turn to find Becky standing a few feet away, a creepy-ass smile on her face. “Excuse me?”
Becky giggles. “Do you think he’ll get here in time to help me carry that up to my place?” She points at the bookshelf. “It doesn’t look too heavy, but I’m not very strong.”
I blow out a breath. Reed ambles out of my room, stopping in the hall when he sees our neighbor. “Oh. Right. Um, I’m sure he’d be happy to help.”
“Help what?” Reed’s eyes narrow as he takes in the tight set of my jaw before turning his attention to Becky.
“Reed, this is our neighbor, Becky. She’s going to take the last bookshelf.”
“Oh. Hey. That’s cool.” He looks between us again, frowning. “Do you need help moving it?”
“I can wait. Your sister said her boyfriend is coming soon.” Becky smiles brightly. “I don’t want to interrupt your packing.”
“It’s not a problem,” Reed assures her, stepping up beside me.
Becky giggles again, and something about the way it sounds makes my stomach lurch. “This might be kind of inappropriate, but I heard you’re dating a hockey player on the Rogues?” She watches my expression, cocking her head to the side as she waits for an answer.
I take a step in front of Reed, that lurching feeling intensifying. “Not to be rude, but I don’t know you. I’m not comfortable discussing my private life. I tell you what, we need to finish up a few last-minute things. Why don’t we leave thebookshelf in the hall for you to take whenever you have some help?”
Becky’s smile falls. “That won’t work for me.”
“Blair?” Reed grabs my arm when I take another step to the side, shielding him from this woman completely.
I think I’ve made a mistake.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I’m going to have to ask you to leave. The shelf will be in the hall later if you change your mind.”
Every muscle in my body bunches, ready for a fight, when Becky’s expression falls into something blank. There’s not a single hint of friendliness left in it, and now IknowI’ve made a mistake.
I never should have let this woman into our apartment. What was I thinking?
“You know, it didn’t have to be this way.”
“Reed,” I hiss, never taking my eyes off Becky. “Go to your room and lock the door.”
“What?” Reed’s grip on my arms tightens, and my heart aches at the panic tainting his word.
“Get in your room, lock the door, and call Kai. He’s supposed to be waiting in the lobby. Then call Logan.”
Becky lets out a little huff and takes a step toward us. I reach back to put a hand on Reed and guide him to take a responding step back. “Is Kai your little bodyguard friend?”
Reed sucks in a quiet breath.
Becky takes that as our answer. “Yeah, he won’t be coming, I’m afraid. He was taking a little nap the last time I saw him.”
“What did you do?” Reed asks, his voice high-pitched and childlike.
I give him a push. “Reed. Fucking listen to me. Go lock yourself in your room.Now.”
“You should probably listen to her,” Becky says with an eerie smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “I’d hate for you to see this.”
And with that ominous statement, Becky pulls a knife out of her coat pocket. It looks like a steak knife. Something she grabbed out of her kitchen.
