“This is Niko,” Lila said, smiling up at me.
She slid her arm around me, and I smiled down at her, her warmth easing my anxiety. Casey sat up in her chair, her muscles tensing as she looked between us. Her eyes met mine, and I watched as the confusion faded away and realization took its place.
“This is him, isn’t it?” she whispered, her eyes boring into mine.
My arm tightened around Lila, and I had to fight back the urge to take her and run.
“What?” Lila whispered, her voice laced with panic.
“You know, the one who sent you the hand, and the flowers, and made you so terrified you couldn’t sleep?”
“Casey—”
She cut her off with a scoff and shook her head, her face turned up in disgust.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” she laughed. “This is some Stockholm Syndrome shit, Lila. Seriously, youhaveto see that.”
“I don’t think it is,” Lila said with a shrug. “You’re entitled to your opinion, but your opinion is wrong.”
“Come on, Lila. Let me take you back to my apartment so we can talk.”
Casey reached forward, but Lila took a step back, pulling me with her. I fought back a smile as pain flickered in Casey’s eyes.
“I met with you today because I didn’t want you to worry. I wanted you toseethat I’m perfectly fine. I’ve already talked to Detective Pearson and let her know I’m okay.”
Casey’s shoulders sagged in defeat.
“I’m happy, Casey. For the first time in my life, I’m actually, truly happy. Please, just, accept that.”
Casey stood from her chair and grabbed her purse, her eyes looking between me and Lila.
“I can’t be happy for you when you’re obviously brainwashed.”
Anger flared in my chest, and I stepped forward, but Lila’s grip around my waist tightened, holding me back. I glanced down at her, and she shook her head. She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper with her number written on it.
We’d stopped by and picked her up another phone this morning before coming here, since I’d destroyed her old one.
She slipped the paper into Casey’s hand and gave her a gentle squeeze.
“This is my new number. You know how to reach me.”
Without another word, she pulled me toward the door, and I glanced back at Casey, a tear sliding down her cheek, and smirked. We headed to my car, our hands clasped together as we walked side by side. I stopped just before reaching it and pulled her into me, her warm breath creating a mist in the air.
“Are you okay?” I asked, caressing her cheek with my thumb.
She nodded and smiled, her eyes sparkling with joy.
“I’m okay.”
“I know she’s your best friend,” I said.
“She’ll come around eventually.”
“Andif she doesn’t?”
She looked back at the coffee shop as Casey exited and sighed, shaking her head.
“I don’t know. But I know that as long as I have you,” she looked back at me, her hand reaching up to stroke my cheek, “I can handle anything.”
