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It can’t be a coincidence that William has been around so much. Domestic and love-scorned stalking often leads to violence and there seems to be something in their past that suggests to me that Irelynn rejected his advances on more than one occasion.
And nothing hurts an entitled, narcissist’s ego more than being rejected.
My thoughts spiral, leading me to that ghastly day when my aunt’s ex-boyfriend’s obsession turned deadly.
My cousin, Christian, and I were riding our bikes, heading to his house to get a drink.
“I’ll race you,” Christian said, a smile on his face as he pumps his legs faster.
“It’s on,” I yelled, determination pushing my legs to pump faster as we raced down the road. I beat him by mere seconds.
Christian groaned and pouted. “Oh, man. One of these days, I’m going to beat you, Max.”
I grinned widely. “Bring it, dude.”
Suddenly, a loud scream pierced the air from inside Christian’s house. Christian and I looked at one another, wide-eyed and frozen in place for a few seconds. Then I took off, running at full speed to the front door. Whipping it open, Christian was hot on my heels as I surveyed the living room but saw no one. We heard something breaking and headed to the kitchen. My feet slid to a stop, sneakers squeaking on the wooden floor, as my mouth dropped in horror.
Aunt Tina’s boyfriend had his hands around her throat, choking her. Her hands pushed uselessly against his arms, trying to get him off so she could breathe. Her panicked eyes flitted to us and I looked around the room. I spotted a pan she had just washed. Rushing over, I grabbed it and hit him across the back. The guy spun around, temporarily releasing Tina, and Christian ran to her. I backed away as Aunt Tina’s boyfriend advanced.
“You shouldn’t be here. Aunt Tina told you to stay away from her,” I said, fear coursing through me.
He gave me a menacing smile. “Says who? You?”
Swallowing hard, my throat felt dry. “No. Aunt Tina.” My back hit the counter and I closed my eyes.
His footsteps grew louder, drawing closer. “You’ll find I don’t take orders from a woman. And neither should you if you want to be a man.” My eyes snapped open, the odor of whiskey on his hot breaths turning my stomach as he leaned over me. “Unless you’re a pussy.” He gave me an evil grin and grabbed me by the scruff, lifting me off my feet.
A loud scream came from behind him as my body shook with terror. He was going to kill me.
I hit the floor with a thud, pain ratcheting through my body. My mind had trouble processing what was happening at first until I saw Aunt Tina struggling with her boyfriend, a knife in her hand.
Oh God, no. Her boyfriend took the knife and Christian hit him with a skillet across the back. As I tried to get to my feet, Tina’s boyfriend spun around and backhanded Christian so hard he flew across the room, stumbling into me, knocking me down. Spotting the cordless phone on the floor, I crawled to it, quickly dialing nine-one-one.
Tina screamed and my heart nearly stopped as I witnessed her boyfriend plunging the knife into her. Once, twice, three times, as I feverishly prayed for someone to answer. Finally, the dispatcher spoke robotically into the phone. In a low, trembling voice, I told them my aunt was being stabbed and to send help. They asked for information and I gave it to them, as her boyfriend repeatedly stabbed the knife into Tina, and screamed at her that she never should have left him. He called her a fucking whore and a lying bitch. Christian crawled toward me, too terrified to try to help his mom.
My parents arrived at that moment to pick me up. The front door was still hanging open and my dad, hearing the commotion, came rushing inside. I heard the slam of the back door as Tina’s ex-boyfriend ran from the house. My dad checked over me and Christian, then ran to the kitchen.
I will never forget the sound of my dad’s sobs as my mom held me and Christian, her face pale and frozen in terror as she stared at Tina’s mangled body.
During the aftermath, I later discovered that Aunt Tina had broken up with her boyfriend three weeks ago due to his excessive drinking and temper. Any time she wasn’t with him, he stalked her, following her everywhere. When Tina told him it was over, it pushed him over the edge and the stalking got worse. She had called the police over a week ago when he’d shown up at her workplace. She filed a restraining order. But it wasn’t enough to keep her safe.
Shaking myself from those memories, my gaze slides to Irelynn, who is staring at me intently, as though she knows I disappeared. But I don’t want to tell her about my aunt. Not right now.
Clearing my throat, I give her an encouraging smile. “I’m going to research what you can do on campus for stalking. He may be more careful now that classes are starting and there are more people around, but I don’t want to take any chances.”
She gives me a grateful smile. “Thank you, Max. For everything.” She squeezes my hand and my heart soars.
“Anything for you, Irelynn.” I wince after I say those words, worried how she may take that, but instead of reacting negatively, her eyes soften, and her breath hitches.
I wasn’t lying when I told her William was only part of the reason I came to the diner. The bigger part was I wanted any excuse to see her. That’s why I texted and asked if she wanted me to follow her to class from her apartment. Not just to keep her safe, but because this past weekend of being around her was incredible.
I had no idea how lonely I was, how empty my life felt, until her. Sure, I hang around Darin since I work for him and we are friends, but it’s not the same. From the moment I met her, despite the circumstances taking place, she felt familiar. Like home.
She turns to me with a smile. “I’m really glad we have class together this morning. I feel so much calmer in your presence.” Pulling into a parking space in the commuter lot, I cut the engine and turned to her. Irelynn’s posture is relaxed, and her features are soft.
I swallow hard, hope filling my chest.
Maybe she’s feeling for me everything that I feel for her.
