“Your feed is a total mess.”
“What?” I’m walking down the stairs, just having gotten out of the shower. I told Christopher to feel free to look through the messages Lucas sent via Facebook while I did. I don’t have anything to hide from him.
“Your social media feed. Do you click on every ad that comes your way?”
I sit down beside him, drawing my feet up beneath me. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“That would explain all the sponsored posts and crappy surveys.” He points to the screen. “Who’s your ideal movie boyfriend? For real?”
I blush, laughing at myself. “Whatever. It’s all for fun. Besides, when I see so many of them, I can’t help but be pulled in every once in a while.”
“Exactly, which is why so many show up in your feed. Because you click on them.”
“Jeez—and I thought Lucas was the one stalking me. Turns out it’s an algorithm.” I shoot Christopher a dirty look. “Why are you always so critical of the things I do? Your way isn’t always the best way, you know. Some people rest easier knowing who their boyfriend would be in a movie.”
“I guess when your actual boyfriend was a piece of shit…” He sees me wince. “Sorry. That was low.”
“Not untrue, though.” I lean forward, toward the computer. “I guess you’ve read through everything?”
“Yeah, and I’ve counted to ten around a dozen times just to keep my temper under control.” He scrolls through the messages. “Who the fuck does this? I wish he’d get on right now and try some shit like this.”
“That wouldn’t be a good idea, and you know it. Besides, I blocked his ass.”
“Good girl. You’re learning.”
“Yeah, at the time I thought that was the only way left for him to reach me. Stupid me.” I think back to the clipping, the sick feeling in my stomach when I pulled it from the envelope and the truth hit me all at once. He knows where I live. He wants me dead.
“You got this in the mail?” Christopher is holding the clipping in his hands. I can’t help but notice how they’re shaking. It’s not fear, though.
“Yeah, in this envelope.” I hand it to him. He inspects the postmark.
“Texas. Is he from Texas?”
“We went to school there. We were living there together before I left.”
“I guess he stuck around, then. And that’s all that was in the envelope? Just this clipping?”
I nod. “But it’s obviously from him.”
“Sure, unless you know somebody else in Texas who would send something like this.”
I shake my head. I’m biting my nonexistent nail again. He moves closer to wrap his arms around me.
“I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how you must have felt when you opened that.”
“I thought I’d die. I really did. He knows where I live. Not just the town. The address. All of it rushed at me all at once. He found me. And he wants me dead now.”
Christopher’s arms tighten. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. If he were in front of me right now…”
“Don’t.”
“I’m sorry. And I know you don’t want to hear this.” He pulls away from me, looking down at me with great seriousness. “In my world, the world I lived in for a long time, one of the worst things a man can do is be violent toward a woman. Only cowards do that. It’s part of our code. Never hurt women.”
I can’t help but think of Michelle as he’s saying this, though I stay mum.
“After all that conditioning, you can imagine how hard it is for me to hear the things he’s done to you. And to see the evidence of how batshit crazy he is. Jesus.” His arms tighten ever so slightly. “On top of it all, you’re not just any woman. You’re you. He’s doing this to you. You deserve better than that. He won’t ruin your life any more than he already has. That I promise you.”
I snuggle against him again. “Thank you.”
I need to believe him.
###
I call out of work, giving Carly an excuse about feeling under the weather. It’s a weekday morning, which, aside from the pre-nine o’clock rush, is generally dull. I have complete faith in her. Not for the first time do I count my blessings for Carly, knowing I owe her so much.
The fact is there’s no way I could go to the shop today. My mind wouldn’t be on the work. I would most likely cost myself a lot of money, burning everything I tried to bake, giving customers the wrong change, throwing away mixed-up drink orders.
Besides, I’m scared. Screw Lucas for taking away my life. I feel like a prisoner in my own home, but the idea of going out is too much to handle right now. Which is exactly what I know he wants me to feel.
I decide to do a little baking for Christopher instead. It’s the least I can do for him after everything he’s done for me in the last twelve hours alone.
He’s enthusiastic, to say the least. “What are you making?” He’s craning his neck from his spot at the kitchen table, trying to get a look. I’ve already had to ask twice for him to sit down and stop crowding me.
“Muffins, okay? Blueberry muffins with a streusel topping. Sheesh.”
“God, I can’t remember the last time I had a fresh blueberry muffin. Or if I’ve ever had one, come to think of it.” He laughs, drinking more of his coffee. He was impressed to find me grinding the beans fresh for him. Even if I can’t afford a fancy coffee maker yet, I can at least drink the best coffee available.
I slide the muffin pan into the oven, then turn to him with a smile. “I remember my grandma making blueberry muffins when I was a kid. She’d ask me to help her. All I was doing was pouring the berries into the batter, of course, but she made it seem like the most important part of the recipe.”
“It is, when you think about it. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be blueberry muffins, would they?”
I grin. “That’s exactly what she used to say.”
“I’ve never been very good at cooking for myself. I do a few things pretty well, but the little luxuries like fresh muffins? Cookies? No way.”
I’m laughing now. “You didn’t do too badly with the dumplings! I think we can make a cook of you yet.”
“Great, and I’ll let you do the landscaping work. We’ll make a great team.”
I go to him, still chuckling, and wrap my arms around his neck. His arms circle my waist, his head against my stomach.
A team. Is he thinking along the same lines I am? Here he is, spending time with me because he knows how terrified I am. Joking with me, leading me into conversation to take my mind off Lucas and the clipping he sent. I can’t forget the way he already saved me from freezing to death either. He puts the angel tattooed on his chest in a different light.
“What are you planning to do today?” I look down at him.
“First, I’m gonna eat at least three muffins. Then I’m going to find some tools in this place so I can fix up the locks on the windows like I said I would. I might even install a new lock on your front door if you wouldn’t mind.”
I feel warm all over. “Thanks, that would be great.”
“After that, maybe we’ll spend a little time doing…other things…” He grins at me, making it impossible for me not to kiss him. Lucky thing I set a timer for the muffins, or else we’d have been humping like rabbits while they burnt to a crisp.
###
“Are you sure you want to come with me?”
“Completely sure. I’m not going to stay here alone. I know it sounds insane, and you’re not going to move in with me or anything, but for right now I don’t want to be here by myself. Besides, it’s just the hardware store. I think I can handle a trip there.”
“It’s not that.” He’s standing there by the front door, arms crossed over his flat stomach. “I wonder if it’s the best idea for you to be seen with me.”
Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. “Well, so what? Let somebody ask me why I’m with you. I’ll tell them the whole story. About how you saved me, and how you’re keeping me safe now. I’ll tell the whole world!”
I watch as a slow smile spreads across his face. “That’s pretty risky for you, though. You realize that, right? People might not understand. I don’t want to see you lose your customers because they don’t approve of the people you spend time with.”
“Would they do that?” Another thing I hadn’t considered until now.
“Are you kidding? I wasn’t joking when I told you stories about how they act around me. They treat me like a leper. You haven’t lived here for very long. I’m not trying to ruin your image of the town, I’m really not. I hate anybody who pisses on other people’s parades. But these folks aren’t as nice as you think they are. You’re in a bubble now. In their favor. If only for your business, I want you to stay that way.”
We might have stood there all day, arguing about this, were it not for the sound of a motorcycle pulling up in the driveway.
“Who could that be?” I’m instantly terrified. Did Lucas get a motorcycle? Or maybe it’s one of Christopher’s buddies. I don’t know which would be worse.
I peer outside from behind the closed blinds. “It’s a man. I’ve never seen him before.” I sigh with relief. At least it’s not Lucas.
Christopher stands behind me, looking out the window. “Holy shit.” He doesn’t sound happy.
“Who is that?”
He’s already walking to the front door. “Trouble.”