Morgan Freeman slipped in at the last moment, narrowly dodging the closing elevator doors.
Did you think I was gonna let that last thought slide? The one about how you’d love to explain why you’re hiding from your brother? Who do you think you’re fooling?
Mentally, I flip him off.
“I meant it. I’ll happily tell Lila another time. I’m not hiding from anything,” I whisper, wondering why I’m defending myself to myself.
Out loud.
Jesus fuck. I need sleep.
Well, friends. Our valiant hero is back at his old tricks, lying to himself and trying to get you to fall for his shit. Such a shame. He’s made impressive progress, thus far. But healing takes time. One can only hope he figures it out before the end of his story, for I fear, the clock is ticking. Even the great Reed Hayes can’t hide from himself forever.
FORTY-NINE
Obsession. A fragrance by Lila Kent
LILA
Canyou fangirl over someone who isn’t famous? If not, then what would you call this? In-her-face stalking, perhaps? Plain old creeping?
I’m officially obsessed with Kri. Before Reed left me alone with her, I’d already lost my chill. From here on out, we’ll be in the balmy swamp of awkward tension.
Perhaps it’s a coping mechanism for the state of my life, but I can’t stop wondering what she’ll say or do once she settles in.
Will she whip out some nunchucks? Sharpen her knives? Start shadowboxing? Set a timer to see how fast she can unload and reload her gun? Who knows! The sky’s the limit when you’re an elite female bodyguard.
Whatever she does next, one thing is for sure—I’ll be the first one to know since I can’t stop staring.
Thus far, she’s paced the condo, studying her surroundings carefully. According to my overactive and sleep-deprived imagination, she’s visualizing how everything in here could be used as a weapon.
I pity the fool who dares enter when Kri is on guard.
After biffing my three prior conversation starters, I’m nervous about attempting to impersonate a stable human again. But I do it anyway because the silence is the only thing more awkward than I am.
“Kri, I apologize for my obnoxious behavior. This is an unusual situation to begin with, and my anxiety is getting the better of me.”
She tries to wave me off with a placid smile and flick of her wrist.
Unfortunately, the apology train has left the station on an express, nonstop route to eternal mortification.
I nervously chug along in the caboose. “When Reed told me his partner convinced him to get a bodyguard from your firm, I wasn’t expecting someone so impressive to arrive.” I bite my lip, then blurt, “And I’msupersorry for touching your biceps without your consent. I don’t usually do that, but I had to know if they felt as firm as they look. They do. Congrats.”
Shockingly, Kri’s returning laughter seems genuine. “Lila, you aren’t bothering me, and I’m certainly not offended. I spent years in the Army, so it takes a lot to ruffle my feathers. Just try to relax.”
“Ha! Aren’t you precious.” I roll my eyes in jest. “Relax? Not easy to execute, given my current life-or-death situation. Throw in hanging out all day with the female version of Jack Reacher, and it’s impossible.”
Her smile is sweet and appropriately dripping with pity. “I’m just a regular person who happens to be employed in a typically male profession. Just do whatever you’d normally do, and I’ll fade into the background.”
What I’d normally do?
I’ve only been at Reed’s condo for a few days. I haven’t had time to develop routine habits for when I’m left alone. So far, mydowntime here has been spent talking to ghosts, masturbating from drug-induced horniness, and snooping around his office.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think she’d be cool with those activities.
I nonchalantly lower to the couch, hoping she’ll join me instead of standing sentry near the wall of windows. After making a few laps around the living room, she’s been parked over there for about ten minutes. Her intensity makes her look like she’s searching for snipers in the adjacent high-rise buildings and ready to take a bullet for me.
Crap. Why did I have to thinkthat? My inner thoughts are the true villain of my story.
