“Enjoy.” He winks. “I think we both agree the song is fucking perfection, though, right?”
I almost forgot that was what we were even talking about. “Definitely. I want to do something big to premiere it. Like a surprise show or something.”
“I love the way you think, Sparks.”
“One condition.” I hold up my index finger. “I want it to be here in Denver.”
Noah agrees easily. “That’s fine. Amity is my home, but there’s nothing here, except a strawberry festival with no strawberries.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Why would it be a strawberry festival then?”
He shrugs. “No idea, but that’s just how it is.”
“Maybe I’ll go to the next one.”
“If you did, that would be the biggest thing to happen in this town…ever.”
“I doubt that. You’re from there.”
“And I’ve got nothing ontheRae Sparks.”
I shake my head. “Oh whatever. I’m going to keep listening to this masterpiece, but we will get something planned.”
“Have your people call my people,” he jokes and we hang up; surprisingly, I feel better.
Enough that I manage to leave my office I hardly use because I’m usually at my piano or outside. As soon as I step out into the hallway, I try to shake away the uneasy feeling that returns. It’s so quiet, and with winter around the corner the sun has set. I’ve never been afraid of the dark, but right now there’s something about it that has my stomach flipping as I take another step
Quiet should be good. Quiet means I’m alone. But the thought of how alone I could be is what’s causing the anxiety. My security still hasn’t replied, and I send another message full of question marks. I feel like I’m living in a horror movie, and lighting is going to strike outside my window any second.
Snow is falling, the thick flakes are starting to stick to the ground and window, but no thunder or lightning. I do think about reaching out to Grayson and Asher. Looking at the time, I realize Grayson is probably at the arena for his game already and I’m going to be late because this has distracted me a bit too much.
I decide to text Asher, knowing Grayson won’t be paying much attention to his phone.
Rae
There was a weird sound at my house, and my security isn’t getting back to me. Are you going to Grayson’s game?
He has yet to join me at one, but I feel like there’s been a shift lately, and I still ask. He also could be at the gym and not payingattention to his phone either. He usually is quick to reply to me, but when the message stays on delivered instead of read, I know that’s probably the case.
I’m sure everything is okay. I just need to change and go to Grayson’s game. I’m being overly paranoid, that’s all.
“Hey, Rae,” a voice I don’t immediately recognize calls out, and I freeze. I grip my phone tightly, shaking once again as I try to call my security. “I wouldn’t do that. I just want to talk.”
I look around, still not seeing where the voice is coming from, but then I see him at the bottom of the stairs, a large silhouette I don’t recognize. And when he steps into some of the dim lighting, I see his face, and rear back.
“Why don’t you come down here and we can get some things straight.” His tone is menacing and I’m completely rooted in place.
“Sh-shouldn’t you be at the arena?” I stutter. Grayson’s teammate, Chad Collins, steps one foot on the bottom stair and I take my own step back instinctively.
He lets out a rough laugh devoid of all humor. “You know I’m suspended. You can thank Wheeler for that. But I’m not here about him. I’m here because of you.”
“W-why?”
He smiles, and the look is so sinister a chill runs through me. “You didn’t reply to any of my gifts.”
“You didn’t exactly leave a return address,” I snark. The way his eyes darken, he clearly doesn’t like me talking back.
“I thought you were sweet and innocent, the perfect woman.” He takes another step, and I do the same backwards. “We could’ve been so good together. I always thought that. Then you went and ruined it.”
