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EMMA
Iheld it together until I got in my car, but as soon as I closed the door, my emotions came flooding out in big, racking sobs. When I broke up with Nathan, I’d assumed that would be the end of it and he’d fade into my past — now that he wasn’t leaving me alone, I didn’t know what to do.
After a good five minutes of bawling, my eyelashes were soaked and felt wet as I blinked the last of the tears away. I felt better, like I’d released some of the tension I’d been carrying around, but crying wasn’t going to make him stop following me.
I had to go home.
My hands shook as I drove, but I focused on my breathing as I glanced in the mirrors. If he was behind me, he was doing a more subtle job of it this time. I kept my eyes peeled for his car, but didn’t see anything other than normal traffic.
Cora was there when I arrived, her hatchback parked in the driveway.
“Are you okay?” she asked, when I came through the door and she saw my mascara on my cheeks. “Is everything fine with Helen?”
I nodded and rubbed my shoulder. It was stiff and sore, and it made me realize how much I’d been tensing up all afternoon. “It’s nothing. Just a long day, that’s all. A bath will help.”
I didn’t tell her about Nathan following me — she would worry, and I was sick of being a burden.
“Why don’t you come dancing with me?” Cora asked. She did a casual tango class every Thursday, and even though she’d invited me to join her, I hadn’t gone yet. I was tempted to go tonight, but she looked like she was ready to leave — she’d already changed from her work uniform to activewear, and her bag was open on the sofa.
“It’s okay,” I said. “My tattoo still hurts, and I’m not really in the mood.”
“Suit yourself,” Cora said. “But the offer’s there if you change your mind.”
I returned the hug she gave me after she picked up her bag, and a cold burst of air came through the door as she disappeared through it with a cheerful wave.
When she was gone, I kicked my shoes off, microwaved the leftover spaghetti and prepared my bath, looking forward to some relaxation after the drama-filled afternoon. Even though Cora had cooked the meal the night before, it was just as good as it had been when it was fresh, especially when I paired it with a glass of Merlot from the wine collection I’d bought specifically for days like this.
By the time I finished eating, the bath’s water level was exactly where I wanted it to be. I placed my wine near the soap and started with my usual breast exam, but added the extra step of rubbing the cream Jackson had given me into my tattoo.
I was almost done when I heard a floorboard creak in one of the other rooms.
That was weird. Was Cora already back from her dancing class? I remembered what Xavier and Jackson had said about beefing up security and felt my stomach tighten with fear. Could it be Nathan? I hadn’t told him where I’d be living, but if he trulywasobsessed…
Nightmare scenarios flashed through my mind as I strained my ears, listening for any sounds. The bathroom door had a lock on it, and I tiptoed over and flicked it on. I heard another creak and this time I was certain… there was someone in the house. My heart thumped as I pulled my shirt back on and wondered what to do. I didn’t have my shoes, phone, or keys. But there was a window above the bath that would be large enough for me to climb out, and thanks to our landlord’s lax approach to security, it didn’t lock.
I climbed on the side of the bath, holding the wall to avoid falling in, and tested the window with my other hand. It slid open with a squeak, letting cold air flood the bathroom.
The cold was the least of my concerns right now.
The sound of footsteps outside the bathroom door spurred me into action. I grabbed the window-frame and hauled myself up, my feet slipping on the tiles as I scrambled to get through the window. My elbow connected with the frame and in my state of heightened alertness I barely felt it, but I knew it would hurt later. I fell out of the window and landed awkwardly in the dirt, narrowly missing a shrub that was the only thing that would grow on that side of the house.
I stood up and brushed myself off. My ass hurt like hell, but I could live with that. What I couldn’t live with was the idea that Nathan was inside the house, looking for me.
I had to get out of there.
It was almost dark, but there was still enough light left in the sky for me to vault over the gate and make my way across the lawn. Every rock, stick, and blade of grass pierced into my bare feet, but I forced myself to stay silent and keep going.
Nathan’s car with the peeling paint was parked on the street two doors down.
I ran past it, staying in the shadows as much as I could in case Nathan came outside to chase me, and dashed past the houses with dark windows, looking for one where the occupants were clearly home.
I found what I was seeking at number thirty-six. The lights were on, there was a car in the driveway, and I could hear voices coming from somewhere inside. The security light flicked on as I climbed the steps and hammered my fists on the door. When it finally opened, the middle-aged man who stood behind it stared in shock as I tried not to cry.
“Can you please drive me to Sullivan Street?” I begged.
9
ADRIAN
