Page 156 of Sorrow & Strangers

Alice nods. “And I know we’re conflicted about that?”

I exhale, trying to find the courage to tell Alice the whole truth about what happened between us, needing her to know the whole story. “I didn’t tell you everything that went down last year.”

Alice waits, and I glance at her to find her with an eyebrow raised. “Tell me. Secrets are only fun when no one else knows them but us,” she says, and while I know she’s trying to lighten the mood, I can also feel her concern.

I take another steadying breath. I have no idea why I’m feeling so nervous, but I am. “You know I was feeling nervous about getting down the aisle.” Alice nods. “And do you remember the night with the live stream?”

“With the stranger?” she says, nodding again.

“Well, after I watched the live stream, before I came to your room, before I asked you to make sure I got down the aisle, he . . . he said something to me.”

I have no idea why I need to get this out. Maybe I am just looking to place another roadblock between the stranger and me.

“What did he say?” Alice asks, her body coiled and tight.

I close my eyes, the memory playing like a movie. “He said, ‘You will never be Summer Morningstar. You belong to me.’”

Alice says nothing for a long moment, and I glance at her, her face locked in an unsurprised look. “And this came as a shock to you?” she asks slowly.

“What?” I ask, snapping my eyes open and turning to look at her.

She frowns. “I mean, you know he’s obsessed with you, right?”

I blink, and Alice sits up. “Summer,” she says, her voice cautious. “Please tell me you are aware that your stalker is obsessed with you.”

“He’s not a . . .” Not a what? That’s exactly what he is. He’s a stalker. I call him that all the time, but why do I feel a little defensive at the insult to him?

Alice gapes at me. “I love you, but you are a hot-mess express for real.”

“I guess I kind of lived in a delusional world where it was just a crush. I even convinced myself that he wanted someone else, but . . .” I frown as I try to explain.

I know he’s obsessed with me and that he craves me, but hearing someone else confirm it is definitely not what I need to hear right now. I want to lock this shit down and pretend it doesn’t exist, and I definitely can’t admit that some part of me might crave him too.

Alice muffles a laugh.

I sit up to glare at her properly. “And you’re cool with me just hanging out with my stalker?”

Alice holds her hands up. “Summer, if I thought you were in true danger with this guy, I wouldn’t allow it.”

I exhale, deflating. The stranger is dangerous, but not to me. Never to me. “He’s back now, and every time he’s near me I⁠—”

Alice gasps and points at me. “You’re into him! Holy Drac!”

“No! What? No! I hate him!”

She snorts. “You’re such a liar.”

“No I’m not.” I clench my fists.

“Sum, it’s fine. It means you’re just like the rest of us.”

“What do you mean?”

Alice takes my hand and opens my palm, wiping away the blood I’ve drawn with my nails. “You’re so smart. Like wildly so.” She laughs. “Like genius level. But sometimes you can’t figure out that a guy who is obsessed with watching you is, like, obsessed with you. It’s very endearing.” She smiles. “You’re just so you. And you can’t see how special you are. I know the reason you doubt his obsession is because you doubt yourself, not him.”

“What are you saying here?”

“That you are perfectly flawed. And perfectly you. And perfectly my best friend.”