She’d taken the first pics down, but whoever took the photos put them all back up again. Now she just left them there. Whoever was doing this to her wanted her to see them every time she came back to her room. They wanted to remind her of them.
It freaked her out.
Someone was out there, watching her, waiting, pursuing her, and doing it all behind her back. And it needed to stop before it got worse.
Mindy Sue picked up the photo. “Does the guy look familiar?”
She shook her head. “I’m guessing it’s a photo of some random couple he, or she, saw while following me and this is his fantasy for us.” That sent a cold shiver down her spine.
Mindy Sue scrunched her lips and nose with revulsion. “I just…who the fuck thinks this is any kind of way to try to be with someone?”
“I’d prefer a silly pickup line over this.”
Mindy Sue put her hand on Brooke’s shoulder. “Call Cody. He’s got connections. Maybe he can help.”
“No. I need to do this on my own.” She couldn’t rely on Cody anymore. She needed to stand on her own two feet and build a new life for herself without him in it. “It’s not like this person is threatening me.”
“Not yet. But he keeps coming to our room. Sure, right now he’s dropping stuff at the door. What happens when he wants in?”
Brooke’s stomach dropped. “You’re right. It’s just…I don’t need this right now.”
Mindy Sue put her hand on Brooke’s shoulder and stared at her in sympathy. “I know. But you have to go to campus security and file a report.”
A tingle of fear danced up her spine, like someone walked over her grave. “Will you come with me?”
“Of course. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t hold your hair while you puked, or go with you to report a stalker?” Mindy Sue put her hands on her hips. “I mean really.”
Despite the fear still tightening her gut, she laughed. “You’re the bestest friend ever.”
“Damn right. Now let’s collect everything the psycho left you and take them with us. From now on, you don’t go anywhere alone. Keep your eye out when you’re on campus and in town. Don’t drink or eat anything someone else gives you.”
“What?”
“You never know if he’ll roofie you or something,” Mindy Sue said, staring down at the seemingly innocuous donuts. “What does this guy want?”
“I don’t know, but I wish he’d just leave me alone.” Her shoulders sagged.
Mindy Sue put her hands on Brooke’s shoulders. “You’ve got a lot on your plate. This is the last thing you need. Stress is not good for you.”
No, but it had become her constant companion, along with the bone-deep sadness she carried with her. That picture of her crying beneath the tree showed the depth of the sorrow she felt every second of the day. How many other times had this bastard spied on her when she couldn’t stop the tears or pain from sucking her under and leaving her raw?
Why did he care about anything she did?
Why wouldn’t he leave her alone to grieve in peace?
She wanted it to stop. She wanted the pain and sadness to stop. She wanted everything to go back to the way it used to be, when Cody was her best friend and a box of donuts didn’t freak her out.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Brooke met Mindy Sue and Julie at their favorite café just as Adam, Jeremiah, and Simon walked in. “Come and join us.”
“Are you sure?” Jeremiah asked.
“We can get another table,” Adam said.
“No. Don’t be silly.” Brooke smiled at Adam, hoping he saw the sincerity she put into her gaze and relaxed.
Julie held her hand out to the empty seats at their table, encouraging the guys more. “We haven’t gotten together in a while.”
