Page 42 of Make You Mine

Unknown:

You’re breaking my heart, but we both know I can’t do that, Madelyn.

Vibrate.

Unknown:

I suggest you take the easy way and do what I say. Listen to your future husband.

Unknown:

You’ll have to whether you like it or not, my wife.

I take a deep breath, my chest heaving, as I watch in the mirror.

This guy is delusional.

“I’m not your wife, and I’ll never be,” I mutter. “See? No ring.” I show my bare ring finger to the mirror.

Unknown:

Oh, is that what you want from me? A ring? You should have told me earlier.

I grit my teeth.

“I want you to stop harassing me.”

Unknown:

Too bad we’re meant to be, my wife.

The thought is there, to smash my phone against the wall and make it break into pieces. Cut all methods of communication with my stalker.

Unknown:

I may have left you another gift on your desk. You’d better find it before anyone else does.

I push my phone into my pocket and sprint out of the bathroom. I have another class in a couple of minutes, and I can’t afford to let my students find whatever he left me.

When I get to my classroom and find it empty, a huge sigh escapes me.

Thank God.

The present is in the middle of my desk, as usual, a small box, this time, black with a white bow.

On it, a note that says,

I know you don’t wear makeup, but I thought this might suit you well.

Use it.

Yours,

Your husband.

“Like hell you are!” I announce to the empty class, making a small ball of paper with the note and tossing it to a corner of my desk.

Two things catch my attention and send me spiraling. One, the note is on the outside this time. And two, he used the nickname he just came up with.