Page 121 of When Darkness Calls

“I have never heard of that, but okay, Doll. Whatever you want.”

I begin the task of heating the soup up on the stove while butter melts in a pan for the grilled cheese.

“Was—Was any of it real?”

The question is muttered softly across the room, and it has my spine straightening, my heart stopping, dropping painfully into the pit of my stomach.

“Dani…”

“Nevermind. Don’t answer that. I’m sorry.” She looks away, tugging a wet curl behind her ear.

“Yes. Yes, it was real. All of it.”

“So, you were really watching over me, huh?”

I sigh, placing the bread in the pan and layering the cheese slices. “Yeah, I was. Cade asked me to look after you.”

“So, you’ve been watching me for a year, and I only found out a month ago,” She chuckles humorlessly.

“No? No.” I shake my head. “He asked me to do it after the Founder’s Fest. I called him. After you ran into me, I walked around the entire back of that damn fest, looking for anyone that could have done that to you. I found them. I was so close, Dee. I was seconds away from beating him to death. But they got away. And I called Cay and told him what happened.”

“He’s known this whole time?”

“Yeah. Why? Did you not tell him?” I sent her a skeptical look.

“No. I didn’t. I didn’t want him to worry.” She sighs, “Guess that didn’t really do anything, did it?”

My smile is sympathetic as I pull the sandwich off the stove, plating it and her soup. She reaches for the bowl first, placing it in front of her, then grabs the sandwich straight from the plate. She tosses it back and forth between her hands for a few seconds before dropping it into the soup.

“Do you have any black pepper and garlic powder?” Dani blinks at me. I turn to dig through the small containers in the cupboard before passing them to her.

“So, if you haven’t been watching me since Halloween, who has been? It can’t be Alex or Keegan because of their jobs. So what? Nick?” She questions me, cutting up the grilled cheese with her spoon and stirring the pieces around her bowl, then begins to shake some of the seasonings on top.

“No. None of us were doing it before the Fest.” I reply, watching her quizzically as she creates this concoction in her bowl.

“Then who have I been feeling watching me?” Fear is sharp in her tone.

“I—I don’t know. I—” I trail off, scratching my neck. “I saw someone the other night…I’ve been watching you practically around the clock since August, and up ‘til then, I’ve not seen anyone else near you that I’d think was stalking you, Dee. So, I dunno if this is a new thing or if they’re just that damn good that they’ve skated past me or—”

“Or I need to see a therapist. Got it.” She deadpans taking a bite. A quiet, satisfied little moan slips out as she chews.

“Good?”

She nods.

“I’ve never seen anyone eat tomato soup that way.” I chuckle at her.

She grins. “Optimum soup soakage.”

Dani finishes up her bowl, and I place it in the sink. We’ve gone quiet again.

“I meant what I said.” I glance over at her. I see the gentle flush of her cheeks and the bob of her throat as she swallows before smiling softly.

“In the notes and in person?”

“What notes? I haven’t written you notes, other than the birthday one.”

Her face pales.