Page 27 of You Saw the Best In Me

I don’t say anything, anxiously awaiting whatever he wants to tell me.

It’s silent between us for a few beats before he sighs deeply, and prepares to drop a truth bomb right into my lap.

“So, I saw someone poking around your car. The first day Harper stayed at my apartment. He was older and asked me if I knew who it belonged to. I didn’t answer him, but he took off running,” he spills, and my body instantly freezes.

I can’t move or find the words because my nightmare is becoming a reality.

Asher followed me to Forest Falls.

I thought I was careful, hiding in Rose Hills and moving discreetly, but he must’ve had his eyes on me the whole time.

I think I might throw up, and I feel Maverick staring at me.

I know he’s waiting for me to say something, but I can’t. I'm devastated.

I thought I finally found a place to call home, to place roots and build a life.

All of that has gone to shit, and I want to scream.

“Karina, are you okay?”

“Is it your ex?” he moves closer to me, and I rest my head on his shoulder.

“Yeah, it’s Asher. He found me again,” I whisper, the tears starting to fall.

“I promised you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, and I meant that. I didn’t mention it at first because I thought it was nothing, but your story about him last night made me realize what was going on,” he sits me back up, holding my gaze, and there’s fierce anger in his eyes.

“Thank you. I appreciate you telling me,” I say, unsure what to do next.

Do I run away? Do I hope his obsession will fade, but continuously look over my shoulder? I want to stay and fight, but I don’t know if I have the strength to do it alone.

“What else did you want to tell me?” I ask, remembering he had another thing up his sleeve.

He sighs, seemingly contemplating if he should say something or not.

“I want to put a little distance between us. I shouldn’t have asked to kiss you last night, and I can’t be the guy in a relationship; that doesn’t work for me,” he chooses his words carefully, probably trying to let me down easily.

“I was thinking the same thing, especially if Asher is around. It’s a strict reminder of why I can’t trust men,” I say, hitting him where it can hurt him.

I don’t know why I’m mad, I was planning on talking like this with him, but it feels like something is ending, and it fucking hurts.

Everything hurts.

“We can still be friends, continue the silly pranks, but I think we’ve crossed lines by drinking and sleeping together,” he tries to move closer, but I stand up and walk away from him.

I feel like I’m about to cry and refuse to let him see that. I grip the countertop so hard, my knuckles turn white, and my breathing is so intense, I feel like I might faint.

I muster up the courage to say something — anything — to get him away from me.

“It’s fine, Maverick. It didn’t mean anything. It was the alcohol, nothing more,” I spit, keeping my back turned to him as the tears flow down my cheeks.

“Karina —” he tries to talk, and I hear his steps getting closer to where I’m standing, but I cut him off.

“I said it’s fine. You should probably go. Harper’s waiting for you,” I don’t move, listening as he grabs his stuff and walks out of my apartment.

Once the door clicks shut, I let myself fall apart.

Emotions take over, and I’m so upset I can’t even think straight.