Page 134 of Stalkers Anonymous

“I believe I remember saying something about wanting you to do whatever I tell you…” There’s a playfulness in my voice.

Cole leans closer, taking my chin between his fingers, instantly giving me the butterflies I’ve missed so much. His words come out low and throaty. “And what would you like me to do?”

I run my tongue over my lower lip and lean a little closer to his lush, generous mouth. When we are a whisper’s distance from the kiss we both want, I let a wicked grin spread across my face and say, “I want you to walk me up to that door and introduce me to your weird therapy friends.”

“Anything for you.” He smiles, brushing his thumb over my cheek before pulling back.

He jumps out of the car and hurries around to my side, where he opens my door and holds out his strong, calloused hand for me to take. I take it, and use him to steady myself as I step out. I’m still unsteady on my feet, but I can get around slowly.

I square up with the house and take a deep breath, which I instantly regret because it hurts my fucking ribs, then say, “Fuck it. Lead the way. Let’s go, stalker boy.”

A brunette woman answers the door before Cole can even knock.

Cole prepped me as best he could during the day today, and I know there’s only one female in the group.

“You must be Jessica.” I extend my hand to hers, and she pulls me into a hug before I can stop her. I yelp when she squeezes me, and she promptly releases me.

“Oh! I’m sorry.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m just so excited to have another girl in the house. All these boys can be a bit much sometimes.”

She’s shorter than I expected. Mid-twenties, maybe. Her straight hair is pulled back in a clip, and she’s wearing an oversize sweatshirt that reads We’re not stressing.

“No! You’re totally fine. Thanks for letting me—”

“Stop. Don’t thank me. Get in the house, sit down, let me get you some water. Wine, maybe? Unless you want something stronger?”

“I might need a drink to get through this,” I admit, laughing lightly. “I’ll have whatever you’re having.”

She steps aside, waving us in. “Perfect. I’ll get us a bottle of wine. Hopefully you like the sparkly white kind.”

“That’s perfect.” I walk past her, Cole’s touch light at the small of my back. The second I’m through the door, I’m hit with the smell of male cologne and what I’m pretty sure is banana bread. The house is warm and cozy, and there’s an entire wall of romantasy and dark romance books.

I knew it. She totally hosts book club meetings on nights she’s not hosting Stalkers Anonymous.

There are four men sitting in the living room, each more handsome than the last, and they’re all watching me. And suddenly I’ve forgotten how to breathe.

“Everybody,” Cole announces, his voice closer than I expected, “this is Hailey.”

“Hi,” I manage with an awkward wave. “It’s nice to meet you all.”

None of them says anything for a few seconds, and that’s when I realize their eyes are all glued on my bruises. I instinctively roll my sleeves down, holding onto them with my fingers.

“Here.” Jessica is suddenly beside me holding two very full oversize glasses of bubbly wine.

“Did you fit the whole bottle in these two glasses?” I ask sarcastically.

Jessica is giggling. “Duh. I host a book club once a month, and we like to get a little wild when we talk about our fictional boyfriends.”

My mouth drops open, and I’m not sure what to say, so I just laugh with her and take a long pull of wine. “This’ll be fun.”

The broad-shouldered man with the camera bag at his feet starts. “Cole, you didn’t mention she was—” And stops himself.

The guy standing in the corner with his arms crossed just nods at me, and the third one, who I’m pretty sure is Tyler because I’ve heard Cole talk about him dozens of times today, stands up to greet me first.

“Hi.” Tyler holds out his hand. “We talked through your door.”

“We did.” I shake his outstretched hand, then take another big drink of wine. “It’s nice to actually talk face-to-face.”

“I wish it were under better circumstances, but we’re all glad you’re here regardless.”