I flipped him off and grinned at the sound of his heavy laughter as I slid into my joggers and shoved my feet into my running shoes. My cane was sitting in my stall where it always was, and I shoved my phone into my pocket, figuring I’d order the ride after Vanya was on his way.
“You can walk me out,” I told him.
I heard him jump up. “Yes. Okay.”
Fuck, why was he so eager? Why didIfeel so eager?
I did my best to control my breathing as I gathered my bag, my cane, and patted my pocket to make sure my phone was still secure. The cleaning crew would take care of the rest, and tomorrow, when I came in for practice, everything would be in all the right places.
I would give the cleaning team credit for knowing how we all needed to function.
“Alright,” I said, flicking my cane out. I tapped the tip three times near the edge of the bench—my weird little ritual, but it was one I wasn’t giving up anytime soon. I felt Vanya’s presence more than I could smell or hear him. There was a warmth radiating off him.
He had a soothing aura in ways I’d never experienced before.
“You have ride home?” he asked as I passed out the door and held it for him.
My cane tip hit the wall to orient me, and then I led the way down the hall toward the exit where I would eventually catch my ride. “Yeah, I’m good.”
I got lost in the swish-swish-tap of my cane, and the soft plodding of Vanya’s steps that matched my own. It was an odd sort of comfort. A silence I didn’t feel compelled to fill. Every so often, I’d sway into him, and he’d sway back as though I’d done it on purpose.
I didn’t feel the need to correct him.
“You’re busy tonight?”
I frowned as we neared the exit. Was he…fishing? “Uh, apart from gulping down a protein shake and passing out, you mean?”
He snorted softly. “Here, I can get the door. I’m gentleman.”
“Sure,” I said, and he filled the space between us with a booming laugh. The door opened with a loud creak, and I took in a deep breath of the cold night air. It was hell on my wet hair, and I’d forgotten my toque, of course, so I pulled my hoodie up over my head, then tried to orient myself. There was a small post, and my cane swept out until I felt it, and then I pointed my body toward the curb. “Anyway, my car should be here soon.”
“Oh, is here. I see it,” Vanya said. Then he froze. “Wait…”
I was already feeling a rush of panic. My ride couldn’t be here because I hadn’t ordered a car yet. “Is it…is it him again?” Something inside me told me this was wrong. That something was off.
He was too quiet, and then he stepped in close, and his arm curled around my waist. “It’s him.”
I swallowed heavily. “Vanya?”
“Yes?”
“Can you do me a favor?”
“Anything,” he said very softly.
I shifted over until my elbow bumped him. “Don’t leave me alone.”
His hand moved to my cheek and curled aroundthe edge of my jaw. “Never, pretty goalie. He will never get near you again.”
My heart was hammering in my throat so thick and so hard, I felt like I was going to choke on it. I couldn’t believe Hunter was trying this for the second night in a row. Something was seriously fucking wrong with him.
This was straight up serial killer behavior, and I did not want to become one of his victims.
I felt sick to my stomach, and unable to help myself, I swayed toward Vanya, who caught me in a firm grip.
“Micah,” Vanya said quietly, “why won’t you go to police? This is unsafe.”
I shook my head. “You have your car, right?”
