Page 174 of Trick or Stalk

Or I could text her right now.

I smirk, thinking of what I might send.

Looking for someone?

I almost laugh.

That would be fun.

Also stupid.

She might figure out Hades is the one watching her.

She doesn't know I’ve been watching her stare out windows for the last two days.

And I'm not ready for her to know.

I slide the phone back into my pocket.

There are other ways to get her attention.

The Halloween store has a section for dogs.

Of course it fucking does.

I stand in front of a wall covered in costumes and sweaters, wondering when exactly my life reached the point where I'm shopping for a dachshund.

A tiny orange sweater catches my attention. Black bats cover it.

I pick it up.

Penny would look ridiculous in it.

Presley will love it.

Into the basket it goes.

Then I make another stop.

A bookstore in a neighboring town has the special edition of the book she recommended. The one about the woman who discovers she's far more interested in being stalked than she wants to admit.

I smirk. Appropriate.

The special edition has sprayed edges, alternate artwork, and enough decorative shit I don't understand to make it cost twice as much as the copy I bought.

I buy it anyway.

The cashier asks if it's a gift.

“Yes.”

“Girlfriend?”

Yes, but she doesn’t know she is.

I stare at her. “Something like that.”

She clears her throat. “I'll just ring that up.”