Page 4

BROOKE

Glancing at the rearview mirror for what feels like the millionth time, I see Granger’s truck lights right behind me.

When I finally swallowed my embarrassment and looked at the man who’d come to my rescue then offered to go to the police with me, I recognized him immediately. Even if he didn’t remember me, it’s hard to forget a man like Granger Wallis.

Not to mention he’s the uncle of the boy I went to prom with. But that was a long time ago. Ten years. I’ve changed a lot since those teenage years.

Just after lunch I heard Felix had been brought in with a gunshot wound and stuck around a little later than normal to see if he was going to be okay. Fat lot of good that did me. I wouldn’t have been at the hospital when my ex arrived for work if I’d left on time.

Sighing, I stare through the windshield at the dark highway and think about what I’m going to tell Chief Yunker. The police officer I spoke to in Curning told me they couldn’t do anything about my ex calling or following me. He wasn’t doing anything threatening. It didn’t matter that I felt threatened—scared.

But maybe Granger is right. Maybe this time something can be done.

Even if it can’t, I need to do this. I can’t keep pretending my ex isn’t harassing me, because in spite of what the officer in Curning said, that’s what he’s doing, and Granger is right. He’s escalating.

Tonight is the first time I felt bone-deep fear. The look in my ex’s eyes wasn’t just angry. It was mean. I’d never seen him look like that before.

A shiver rolls through me and I turn up the heat knowing it won’t help. For the first time since I decided to end our relationship and he lost it, I admit no matter how much I ignore him, he isn’t going away. The words he spewed in my face were plain enough.

“You don’t get to say we’re through. I do.”

He squeezed my arms so hard they still throb and I know I have bruises. Cranking the heat up again, I shove all thoughts down and concentrate on navigating the unlit mountain roads.

Another ten minutes of white-knuckling the steering wheel and the outskirts of Winter Lake appear. The familiar streets and houses, lights blazing in their windows, have my fingers loosening, the pressure in my chest easing.

My hometown sprawls out along one side of the lake that gave it its name. It’s not a big town, only around ten thousand permanent residents, but it’s home, and even though I once thought I wanted to leave and not come back, I’m forever grateful I could.

The few years I lived in Curning were enough to show me city life isn’t for me, and Curning isn’t a big metropolis like New York City which had been my original destination. And the drama with my ex didn’t even factor into that decision. The breakup followed by the eviction only solidified my desire to come home.

Luckily Nan has a spare room, and while I don’t plan to stay with her indefinitely, it works for now. Plus I feel safer living with someone than on my own. Especially since my ex knows where I moved to.

The first time he ‘called’ by, Nan sent him on his way. Told him I didn’t live there. But he isn’t stupid and the fact he’s followed me home from work multiple times since I moved back doesn’t help prove her lie.

I hate that I’m putting her in the middle of this. Hate that I’m in the middle of this.

I should never have accepted a date with him. Except it’s hard to say no to someone that constantly asks. At first I thought it was exciting, made me feel special, even though I wasn’t interested. But he wouldn’t take no for an answer, begged and pleaded every chance he got, and in the end I agreed so he’d stop.

I see it for what it was now.

Albert Redford is a bully.

And like a timid little mouse, I let him bully me into dating him.

Contrary to my actions, I’m not a mouse. It’s why I told him we were done. But I’m not confrontational either. If I can, I avoid conflict. Watching my parents fight every day until they divorced left a bitter taste on my tongue for arguments of any kind. I might not be a mouse but I definitely shrink away from difficult situations if I can.

And I’ve done that with my ex.

I ignored all the warning signs. Pretended what he’s doing isn’t harassment. Gone out of my way to make sure we don’t cross paths at work…

Shit. Maybe I am a timid mouse.

That thought has my spine straightening. No. Just because I prefer to live peacefully doesn’t mean I’m weak. It may have taken a nudge from Granger, having him willing to make a witness report about what happened, to get me to go back to the police, but I went before. On my own. And I’m ready to fight this head-on, because after tonight I know my ex isn’t giving up.

Well too bad for him, neither am I.

When I get closer to the center of town, I find Lake Front Drive blocked off and I have to detour through the backstreets to get to the police station. It takes a few moments to find a parking spot. Frowning, I wonder what all the activity is about. Then Granger appears beside my car and I remember.

Felix was shot. And I never asked Granger how he is. Never gave him my good wishes.