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Ian gives him an odd look. “It’s one in the morning. What are you two doing?”
“I am dropping her home,” Zayn tells him, a pleasant smile on his face that reeks of trouble. “But I think I’ll leave now. I’m sure you and Agatha have a lot to talk about.” I open my mouth, but he doesn’t give me a chance to speak, saying, “If you don’t talk to Philip by morning, I will.”
I fume at the hanging threat but relent when I see the worry in his eyes. Even I am not going to let my stupidity get in the way of my safety, so I nod. “I’ll call him right now.”
“What’s going on?” Ian asks, looking at the two of us.
Zayn gives him a cold look. “Ask Agatha. But make sure to lock the door in case you have the urge to run away again.”
Ian’s eyes narrow and I immediately step in between them. “That’s enough. Zayn, this isn’t your fight. I’m not coming between the two of you.”
Zayn glowers at me and then rolls his eyes. “Fine. Your headache.” To Ian, he shrugs and says, “I’ll still hold you down if she decides to beat you up. Just saying.”
Ian nods, their friendship like an elastic band, snapping back into place. “Philip suggested ruining my face, but that’s the only thing going for me right now, so…”
“Good point,” Zayn agrees, and then starts walking away, leaving the two of us behind. “I’ll tell Philip to send you a ride in the morning.”
Oh yeah. My car is still parked outside my office.
I stare at Ian, who doesn’t seem to show any signs of budging. “Why are you here?”
“I’m trying this new thing called groveling.”
I sigh and start walking towards the elevator. “Why can’t you just let this go, Ian?”
He grabs me by the arm, forcing me to stop and look at him. The misery in his eyes makes me still. “I can’t stand the thought of you hurting, Agatha. I messed up. I know I did. I’ve been doing that a lot recently where you’re concerned. You’re more than a friend to me. You’re one of the most important people in my life. When I kissed you, it wasn’t just your feelings that put my back up.” He closes his eyes for a heartbeat. “I started realizing my own, and it scared the shit out of me.”
He releases my arm and runs a frustrated hand through his hair, managing to untangle the small elastic band that keeps his red hair tied, making his hair fall around his face, fr
aming all those sharp angles. “You’re not just some random woman. You’re you. What if I screw up our friendship? What if we suck at being in a relationship? What if I make you miserable?”
A part of me softens on hearing the despair in his words. It also satisfies a part of me that I am not alone in my suffering. I recall Zayn’s words to start again, and I hesitate. Letting out a whoosh of air, I mutter, “Come on. I’ve got an apple pie in the fridge.”
“Does this mean…?”
His voice is hopeful, and I narrow my eyes at him. “No, you’re not forgiven.”
“Then…?” The question hangs in the air.
I turn my back on him and start walking towards the elevator. “Because I don’t want to be alone in my apartment right now.”
To his credit, he doesn’t ask any questions, just follows me. As we stand in the moving elevator, I can feel his eyes boring into my back.
He doesn’t utter a word on seeing my biometric alarm system, but I can see his eyes taking in all the changes: the closed curtains, the changed locks.
I dump my bag on the floor and pick up Storm, my gray tabby, who mews a welcome to Ian before settling in my arms.
“Locks, biometric alarm systems, self-defense equipment.” I am leaning down to take out a beer for him from the fridge, and I freeze mid-action at his words. I can’t identify the emotion in his voice. “What are you scared of, Agatha?”
I slowly straighten, trying to think of how to tell him and not aggravate the situation. Popping off the lid, I hand him the beer. “There’s a small situation going on.”
He doesn’t sit down, his eyes on me. “How small?”
“I may have a stalker.”
The way Ian grips the bottle in his hands makes me fear that he is going to shatter it. His eyes grow dark in anger, the gold specks becoming more obvious.
What did I expect?
