Page 62 of The Stalker Snafu

“It doesn’t say. It just says… Oh my God.” Teresa clasped a hand over her mouth, and my heart pumped impossibly faster. She leaned closer to the screen, and her hand dropped slowly. “It says he should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.”

This could not be happening.

“He’s a fugitive?” I whispered in disbelief.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Noah, sliding off the bed to pace across the floor.

His phone rang and rang, but he didn’t answer.

I might’ve left a bit of a frantic voicemail.

I tried texting next, asking where he was. Asking if we could talk. Then I tried calling again and again and again—even twice from Teresa’s phone—and the voicemails grew more frantic with each ring he didn’t answer.

Noah always answered his phone.

After the seventh try, I tossed my phone into my backpack and scooped the bag up. “I need to talk to him. I have to find him.”

Teresa looked scandalized as she pulled her attention from Noah’s picture for the first time since we saw it. “Em, he’s a freaking fugitive. You can’t go looking for him.”

“What if this has to do with Oliver’s party? I deserve some answers.”

“So call the FBI or the cops, but don’t go chasing down someone who’s armed and dangerous. In fact, we should call the cops right now and tell them what we know about him!”

I stuffed my feet into the nearest pair of shoes—my pink Keds. “And if he’s innocent? This could all just be a big misunderstanding. Noah said that party was full of dangerous people.”

Teresa jumped off the bed, eyes flashing. “He isn’t innocent. The guy has been lying to you for months. Isn’t he supposed to be in New York right now?”

I shook my head. “He explained that. Kind of. He said his job is really dangerous—what if this is the danger?”

“Or what if he’s the danger! You can’t trust a word that cabrón says to you,” Teresa shot back, snapping her laptop shut. “You’re not dumb, Em. Don’t let love make you blind.”

“Fine. Maybe I’m blind. Maybe there’ll be a true crime documentary one day about me being the stupidest girlfriend to ever exist.” I huffed and planted my hands on my hips. “But this is Noah we’re talking about. Noah. He’s not armed and dangerous. And if he’s in some kind of trouble, he might need my help.”

“How could you possibly help him? He’ll just hurt you again.” She scowled. “He lied to you. Who knows what he’ll do if this is real and he knows you’ve found out the truth?”

I pursed my lips and tugged on the hem of my catering shirt I still hadn’t changed out of. “It’ll still be better than not knowing.”

Teresa groaned, rubbing at her temple. “Aren’t we supposed to be pissed at him? What happened to him being a huge jerk last night?”

I didn’t have a good excuse. I just knew something major was happening. How could I live with myself if I didn’t do anything?

“Because if this is all real, then I’m the blind idiot who fell for a lying jerk,” I said before wetting my lips. “But if there’s a chance—just one tiny chance—that Noah’s lying was a strongly misguided attempt at protecting me, then I’d never forgive myself if I don’t look for him now. And I deserve some answers.”

Teresa must’ve seen the resolve in my eyes, because her shoulders slumped, and she shook her head. “Fine. Do what you have to do, and I’ll try my best not to say ‘I told you so’ when this blows up in your face. No promises, though.”

Even if it came with a dozen I told you so’s, her support made me feel like I’d hit the jackpot in the friend department. “Have I ever told you you’re the best roommate I could ever ask for?”

Her lips twitched. “At least four times a week.”

A real smile peeked out through my mounting panic, but now it was a little awkward, because I kind of needed a ride…

“Um, how soon do you need to be at the airport?” I asked hesitantly, wincing. “I’m sorry to ask, but if you have time to drop me off at Noah’s duplex, it’d be faster than the bus⁠—”

“There’s no way I’m letting you go to his place by yourself, so of course I have time,” she snapped, grabbing her keys. “But I’m not happy about this. You have your pepper spray?”

I nodded quickly. It was in my backpack.

I knew it sounded crazy to go after someone ranked on a list of criminals, but I needed to believe this wasn’t Noah.