Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“It’s been a really bad week,” I say, admitting it out loud for the first time. Dr. Snider, Cara, and Clint all tried getting me to open up, but I stubbornly refused.
“One of… One of our patients lost her husband. I can't really go into details, but my heart just breaks for her. This should be… the happiest time of their lives, but now… she’s preparing for the future they planned for… all alone.” A sniffle slips free. “I don't know. It hit me really hard.”
Ellis curses under his breath. “I'm so sorry, Scar. Are you okay?”
“I mean, it's dumb to even be upset, right? She’s just a patient. It's not like I know them personally. I don’t know. It just really tore me up for some reason.”
“I don't think it’s dumb,” Ellis says carefully. “I think... I think it shows you’re passionate about your job. That you care about your patients, about their well-being in a way that goes above and beyond. It’s what makes you so good at what you do.”
“Maybe.” I hate feeling so sulky, but between stuff with work and lying to Nora and everything with my stalker, my tough-girl wall is crumbling like it’s made of paper in the rain.
“No maybes. Definitely. Give yourself credit where credit is due, Scarlet.”
“Sir, yes sir,” I say, infusing a sass I don’t actually feel into my tone as I flick my eyes up to my rearview mirror. Sure enough, that car is still right behind me…
Get a freaking grip, Scarlet. Stop letting your fear override logic.
“Well, maybe this will help you feel a little better… my couch is hella comfy, and a new season of Enemies & Escrow dropped yesterday, and I’m pretty sure Elodie is pregnant.”
The mention of the reality show we watched when babysitting sends a rush of emotions through me. It sort of feels like that weekend is when everything changed between us.
Part of me is still struggling to reconcile how we went from fighting anytime we saw each other to me crashing on Ellis’s couch. Like, what the fuck, right?
Maybe this is all some sort of weird dream?
If only... I groan, frustrated with my line of thinking as I flick on my blinker to merge into the exit lane.
I check behind me once again. The car still there, following far closer than I’m comfortable with. But not so close that I can see anyone inside the dark vehicle.
It's just a coincidence. I repeat the words over and over. But as I move across three lanes of traffic, they follow, almost as if we’re connected by an invisible tether. And that doesn’t feel very coincidental at all.
“Ellis,” I whisper, my heart racing as I finally give words to my insidious thoughts. “Someone's following me.”
FIFTEEN
ELLIS
My entire body freezes at the sound of her terrified whimper. “I need you to stay calm for me, okay?” I murmur, trying to force myself to unclench my jaw so my worry doesn’t bleed through the line.
“I’m scared.”
Fucking hell. “Breathe, Scar. Breathe and listen.”
“I-I’m”—she sniffles—“t-trying.”
“Where are you now?”
“I just turned onto Holland.”
“Okay, good, you’re close. Are your doors locked?”
“Yes.”
“I want you to take the first right and follow that road. It loops back onto Holland. Let me know if they follow.”
“Oh-okay. I see the sign.”
“Try to avoid red lights and roll through any stop signs you see, assuming there’s no traffic.”
“I don’t know if— Ellis, he followed me!”
“Okay, keep going. Nice and easy. It’s going to spit you out into a traffic circle. It’s not usually busy this time of night, so just keep heading my way.”
“What if I have to stop?”
“Keep your doors locked and your windows up. If anyone approaches your car, I want you to floor it and get the fuck out of there.”
“Why is this happening to me?”
Why indeed. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely see the appeal. Scarlet’s fucking stunning. What I don’t get is why this jerkoff is tormenting her. If you’re into someone, fucking introduce yourself, get to know them, and ask them out. If they say no, fucking respect their choice and move on.
“They’re still behind me.” She sucks in a sharp breath. “Oh god.”
“You’re almost here, and I promise, if they follow you here, they’ll fucking answer to me. I’m gonna protect you, Princess.”
“Promise?” she asks, in a voice so soft and small it cracks my chest wide open.
“Cross my heart.” The words hang between us with an unmistakable weight. Even more shocking, is just how much I mean them.
Even if most days, she drives me up the wall, I want to protect her.
The line falls quiet, aside from the sound of her harsh breathing, as she drives.
“I’m almost there,” she finally says, her voice a hoarse whisper. “Can you... I don’t know, just... talk to me? Distract me?”
“Sure can, Princess.” I rack my brain for something to say, finally settling on a topic well within my comfort zone. “You ever watched Gossip Girl?”