Chapter Three

Scarlett

I couldn’t believe how much stuff I had. By the time we had carried in all the furniture and boxes and then unpacked everything last night, we’d been exhausted. I was thrilled they’d all stayed the night. It had helped dispel the loneliness that came from being in a new home in a new city. Once they all left, I knew it was going to hit me pretty hard. I wanted to put that off for as long as possible.

“I’m so sore,” Hannah complained as she stood next me in front of the large mirror in the master bathroom.

I laughed. “Me too. Dancing is going to be interesting tonight. We’ll just tell everyone we’re stiff from a brutal round of yoga at the gym.”

I finished my makeup with a slick of light pink gloss on my lips.

“You look gorgeous! I’m so glad I already have a boyfriend. Your eyes look stunning with that green top. It really brings out the green,” she said.

“Thank you. It feels weird to be going out. I haven’t been out in forever—at least without Isaac or worrying he would show up at the club and make a scene.”

I tried to fight back the nerves. I was excited to be going out. This was me celebrating my new life and the freedom that came with it.

“Remember, don’t leave with anyone. Guys are going to be crawling all over your hot little ass. Tell them to get lost. You’re there to have fun, not snag another psychotic boyfriend. You need some time alone without a man,” she lectured.

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Mother.”

“I’m serious. Me, Jake, and Cody are going to be watching you like a hawk,” she warned.

“Thank you. I know you’re doing this for me,” I whispered. “I appreciate you guys hanging out for a few days.”

She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I can’t tell you how afraid I was. I was so worried he was going to do something terrible.”

I let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry. You all kept telling me for so long, and I just couldn’t see it.”

“It’s okay. We all knew you were struggling.”

I shook my head. “What a waste of four years.”

Hannah laughed. “Then we have some lost time to make up for. Now, let’s go out and party!”

Jake drove my car, promising to be the designated driver for the night. The club scene in Nashville was different than what we were used to. It wasn’t all country music like I had expected. We found our way to a club that played a lot of old school as well as new Southern rock. We were all having a great time. It felt good to unwind and let loose.

“Bathroom!” Hannah shouted close to my ear.

I nodded and walked off the dance floor, following close behind her.

“This is awesome!” she exclaimed once we were in the bathroom and could actually hear each other.

I smiled. “It is. I think I’m going to like Nashville.”

She grinned. “Good. I’m going to be visiting you a lot.”

“I’m going to miss you,” I said, suddenly feeling sad.

“Don’t. I’m not going to let you miss me. I’m going to be here all the time. It will be just as it was, except I have to drive a little farther. This is for the best. Hell, maybe I’ll move here, and then we can really hang out all the time like we used to.”

“Used to—when Isaac allowed it, you mean,” I mumbled.

“Exactly. I’ll probably get to see more of you now that you live forty-five minutes away!” she joked.

I smiled. I knew she was trying to be upbeat for my sake. I appreciated her efforts.

“Let’s get in one more dance before Jake drags us out of here,” I said.

We danced for another thirty minutes before we called it a night. It was close to midnight, which wasn’t exactly late, but Jake was a little bored. We got home and were busting out some after-clubbing snacks and drinks when I heard my phone ringing.

“Who’s calling you this late? I’m the only one who would and I’m right here,” Hannah said, concern written on her face.

I checked my phone and saw it was a blocked number. “Private,” I whispered, feeling that familiar knot of fear in my belly.

“Don’t answer it.”

I hit the reject button, silencing the call and letting it go to voice mail. We all waited in silence to see if the caller would leave a message. Instead of the voice mail alert, the phone started ringing again.

“It’s him,” I said, trying to hide the panic in my voice. “How did he get my new number?”

Hannah shook her head. “I have no idea. I didn’t give it to him. Your parents certainly wouldn’t have.”

I put the phone down on one of my small end tables. It immediately started ringing again. We waited, and this time, Isaac did leave a voice mail.

“Put it on speaker,” Hannah ordered.

I did as she asked. All four of us waited to hear what he would say. While the voice mail system went through its paces, the phone rang again.

“He’s crazy,” Jake murmured.

Hannah nodded. “Yes, he is.”

Isaac’s message cued up. “Scarlett, are you there? What are you doing? You changed your number? Why’d you leave? Answer me, Scarlett. I want to talk to you. We can work this out. I’m going to keep calling until you pick up.”

My heart was pounding in my chest. “He found me,” I breathed out.

Hannah jumped up and came to sit beside me on the couch. “No. He got your phone number. He doesn’t know where you are.”

“He’s going to find me. It’s only a matter of time. Now he’s really going to be mad. I screwed up.”

“No, you didn’t,” she assured me. “He’s not going to find you. You need to change your number again, and this time we’re not going to let him get it.”

I shook my head. I felt like I was going to be constantly running. I couldn’t live like that. I had given up everything to move away from him. It wasn’t fair.

The phone rang again.

“Block the number,” Jake ordered.

“It’s a private number.”

“Download an app that blocks private numbers,” he replied.

I sighed. “This sucks.”

I put the phone on silent when the calls kept coming.

“We need to call and report this to the police.”

I scoffed. “I’ve reported him to the police. They won’t do anything.”

Hannah shook her head. “We’re calling and filing a report. Eventually, they’re going to see this guy is a menace.”

“I feel so dumb. What am I supposed to say? He keeps calling me? That isn’t exactly a threat.”

I saw my phone light up and knew he was calling again. He wasn’t going to give up.

Hannah picked up her phone and called the nonemergency number for the police, which went to the 911 operator. I felt like such a ridiculous, silly girl. I paced while Hannah explained the situation to the dispatcher. She filled her in on the backstory.

“They’re going to send an officer over to take a report,” Hannah said, hanging up the phone.

“What am I supposed to say?”

“You tell them exactly what happened,” she said with a shrug. “Maybe you’ll get lucky and that lunatic will call when the cop is here.”

My phone lit up again, indicating another call was coming in. Isaac wasn’t going to give up. Hannah had done the right thing.

It was about thirty minutes later that we heard a knock on the door.

“I’ll answer it,” Jake said. “Just in case.”

“You don’t think he found me, do you?” I asked in horror.

“I don’t think so,” Hannah said. “Better to be safe.”

Jake opened the door, and Hannah’s mouth dropped open.

“What is it?” I asked, spinning around to see what had her jaw on the floor.

It was my cranky neighbor—in a police uniform.

“You’re a cop?” I asked, standing and walking to the door.

He nodded. “I am.”

Jake held the door open and gestured for him to come inside.

I giggled. “That explains why you were such a hard-ass about the moving truck.”

He didn’t smile. Clearly, he didn’t like my terminology.

“Dispatch recognized the address and asked me to stop by before I went home. What’s the problem?” he asked in a gruff voice.

“Her ex is harassing her,” Hannah blurted out.

“How?”

“Officer”—I paused to read his name tag—“Campbell. He keeps calling.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Calling? You called 911 because your ex-boyfriend is calling you?”

I shook my head. “No. You don’t understand. He’s, uh, well, kind of crazy. I moved here to get away from him, and he somehow got my new phone number.”

Hannah stood up and went to stand in front of Officer Campbell. “You don’t get it. The guy is abusive. Very violent and certainly crazy. She’s running away from him, and he got her number. This is bad. This is most definitely worthy of a call to the police.”

The cop relaxed a bit. “Do you have his phone number?” he asked me.

“Yes, but he’s blocking the number when he calls.”

I quickly grabbed my phone and showed him the call log of missed calls before I pulled up my voice mail and let him listen to the numerous messages Isaac had left.

He took a deep breath. “I know these situations are hard. Unfortunately, as far as the law is concerned, he isn’t breaking the law.”

Hannah cursed under breath. “Bullshit. He’s going to kill her!”

“I understand you’re upset. I get it. I don’t like these situations either. Unfortunately, the law is behind the times. Give me his number. I’ll give him a call and let him know he’s harassing you. If he continues the harassment, we can issue a ticket. Other than that, there isn’t a lot I can do until he actually makes a threat. Then, you would be advised to file a restraining order. That I can enforce,” he explained.

“I’ll change my number,” I said.

He nodded. “That’s a good start.”

“That’s it?” Hannah asked. “That’s all you’re going to do?”

He shrugged. “I’m sorry. Truly, I am.”

“It’s okay, Hannah. We’ve been through this before.” I turned to face him. “Thank you, Officer Campbell.”

“Call me Cameron,” he said. “We are neighbors after all.”

“Thank you for coming by, Cameron.”

He got Isaac’s number for the report and left.

“Well, I guess it’s somewhat comforting I live next door to a cop,” I said, locking the door.

“Not that it’s going to do any good,” Hannah grumbled.

“It’s fine. I’ll get a new number on Monday. I’m beat and going to bed,” I told my houseguests.

I went to bed a little less anxious than I had been when my phone was ringing nonstop. It was a little comforting to know there was a cop right next door. He may not have been able to do much from a legal standpoint, but at least if Isaac did find me, I could run to him for help.