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I shrugged. “I know, but I wanted to do it for you.”
She didn’t say anything, but she reached for my hand, hers still carrying the bandages I placed over her cuts in chemistry. She held my hand to her chest, then kissed my knuckles in gratitude. I appreciated how she didn’t force me to explain my behavior with her, because I had a hard time understanding these strange impulses myself.
I looked at her in my hoodie, feeling angry and possessive at some asshole seeing her in such an intimate position. All of these protective instincts, instincts I didn’t even know existed, overwhelmed me and I felt my blood pressure spike with the need to spill the blood of the creepy motherfucker who had spied on us. I wanted to shield her from anyone that would make her feel scared and unsafe.
As if tracking my thoughts, Ava frowned. “It could have been a stranger, Jack.”
I shook my head. “No, Ava, something’s up, and I’m going to find out what it is.”
****
Chapter 27
Ava
I laid in bed the next morning trying to make sense of everything that had happened last night. Jesus, where to begin? It would take me hours to dissect even one of the events that happened last night, but all of them? Confrontations left and right, a declaration of a relationship, a late-night beach hook-up, and someone…harassing us? Stalking us?
I felt like a drama queen for even thinking it, but it was hard to ignore the mounting evidence. Every time I thought back to that car shining its headlights at us, I wanted to cringe at the violation of it all.
I heard my cell phone chime with an incoming message and felt grateful for the distraction. I smiled, thinking it might be Jack, but when I saw the display my heart started beating like a hummingbird was trapped in my chest.
Unknown: Time’s up, Ava. I’m ready to take back what’s mine.
Shit.
I felt panic storm through my system. Was he here? Was that him last night? I couldn’t help but think of the text I’d deleted and felt tendrils of anxiety tighten my skull. I didn’t want to believe it, but Jack said we were being targeted. Maybe he was right.
I immediately texted Jack.
Ava: What are you doing?
Immediately bubbles appeared as he typed his response, and it was crazy how seeing them made my heart race with exhilaration. If my stomach wasn’t so riddled with anxiety, it would have been doing somersaults in elation at his responsiveness.
Jack: I’m at Buck’s fixing my car. What’s wrong? Did something happen?
Ava: I got a weird text. I think it’s from my ex. I think he might be here and might be the one doing all this crazy shit to us.
I waited to see the bubbles pop up and started to deflate when they didn’t appear. Then Jack’s name flashed across my phone as an incoming call.
“Hey,” I replied, trying to sound normal. I was going to have to get used to my boyfriend calling me. Jesus.
“How did he get your number? What did the text say? How did he figure out where you were? Are you alright?” Jack peppered me with questions, but I was smiling by the end at his apparent worry.
“I’m fine. I don’t know how he got my number or found out where I lived – his dad definitely didn’t want him finding out. He said…he said time was up and he wanted to take back what was his.”
“His? This motherfucker,” Jack muttered. “Where the fuck does this asshole live, Ava? Give me his address. I’m driving up there today and dealing with him, especially if he’s the dickhead who broke my window.”
I was seized by a mountain of conflicting emotions; gratitude, anxiety, elation, and fear.
“I don’t know, Jack. If it’s not him, then you might tip him off about where I am.”
“Look, Ava, you think it’s a coincidence all that shit goes down last night, and he texts you today? No fucking way.”
“Yeah, but Jack, we also made Mike mad, and what about Shelby? I mean, yes, the text looks suspicious, but Jesus, there are a lot of suspects here.” I couldn’t believe I was talking like we were in an episode of Law & Order.
Jack blew out an aggravated breath. “Okay, I’m going to finish this up, then I’m picking you up and taking you to my place. At least I’ll know you’re okay if you’re with me.” He murmured that last part, almost as if he was talking to himself, and I found myself grinning stupidly.
“Okay, but I seriously doubt he’d try anything in front of my parents.”
