Page 21 of Stalkers Anonymous

“I’m going. I met with Tyler yesterday for our first check-in. I’m doing everything that’s been asked of me.”

“Are you, though?” Jack leans forward, his voice dropping. “Because doing the bare minimum and actually working on the problem are two different things. We both know that.”

I want to argue, to defend myself…

But he’s right.

“The skills that make you great at your job got you in trouble in your personal life,” Jack continues. “You need to figure out how to separate the two. How to turn off that part of your brain when it’s not work-related.”

“I’m working on it,” I say, and I mean it. Mostly. I think about the tracking app I still haven’t deleted.

Behind the counter, Madison strikes again. “Order for Jess-eye-ka? Jess-eye-kuh?”

“It’s Jessica,” a tired voice says.

“Oh!” Madison brightens. “That’s so much easier.”

“Good,” Jack continues. “Because I need you, Matthews. This company needs you. But not if you’re going to be a liability.” His expression relaxes slightly. “And I say this as your friend, not just your boss: you need this. Not for the job. For you.”

Before I can respond, I hear a voice amplify behind me.

“Oh my god, Hailey, that’s the guy from the trail?”

I turn reflexively, and there she is, standing directly behind our table, looking at me with an expression of surprise. Her friend, a petite woman with light-brown skin and auburn hair, is looking between us with undisguised enthusiasm.

“Cole,” Hailey says, and I instantly love the way my name sounds coming off her tongue. “Hi.”

“Hailey.” I stand without thinking and Jack rises too, ever the gentleman. I shift my cup so COKE faces my body. “This is…unexpected.”

“Good unexpected?” she asks, a small smile playing at her lips.

“Definitely good.” The words come out before I can second-guess them.

Her friend wears a broad smile, which she beams at Jack, then Hailey. “Well, don’t be rude. Introduce us.”

“Right.” Hailey gestures to her companion. “This is Rachel, my best friend and coworker. Rachel, this is Cole.”

“Hiking Emergency Guy, right?” Rachel asks, like she doesn’t already know. “Hailey told me all about it.”

But what I hear is that Hailey told her about me.

“Just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” I say, fighting the urge to ask what exactly Hailey said. “This is Jack Morrison, my boss.”

“Cole and I served together in Afghanistan. Now we just fight security threats,” Jack adds, balancing that extremely cheesy line with firm handshakes for both of them.

“Much safer,” Rachel says with a grin. “Usually.”

There’s a moment of awkward silence, the four of us standing between tables while other customers navigate around us. I’m too aware of how close to me Hailey is standing—and of the way she’s looking at me with that wickedly sharp gaze.

“Well,” Jack says, checking his watch with exaggerated obviousness, “I actually need to get back for a call with a client. Matthews, why don’t you stay, finish your coffee? No need to rush back. Just have that report to me by tomorrow morning.”

I shoot him a look that he completely ignores.

“Oh, and I need to get going, too,” Rachel says, her tone matching Jack’s theatrical timing. “I’ve got that thing. You know, the thing I told you about.”

“What thing?” Hailey asks, confused.

“The very important thing that I absolutely cannot miss.” Rachel’s holding up her purse and jacket, like they’re evidence of the nonexistent appointment she can’t miss. “I’m leaving. You should stay, though. Weren’t you saying you could use another cup of coffee?”