AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Me: I’m going to call you.
Irelynn: Ok. Thanks.
Hopping in my Jeep, I start the ignition, then dial her number, putting her on speaker as I drive.
“Hi, Max.” Her voice is hoarse and shaky.
“Irelynn. Tell me what happened?” I keep my voice low and soothing, but my muscles are taut. I’m regretting leaving her there alone.
She pauses before I hear her draw in a shaky breath. “I just heard… something. It sounded like someone was outside my door.”
“Are your blinds up?” I ask, pressing my foot harder on the accelerator.
“No, I closed them earlier.” Her breathing is heavy, and she gasps. “Max, it sounds like someone just scratched at the window.”
“Where are you, Irelynn? What room?”
“The living room,” she whispers. I can practically feel her trembling through my phone.
“Okay. I’m about five minutes away. I’ll stay on the phone with you until I arrive.”
“Thank you, Max. I’m so sorry—”
“Stop apologizing. It’s fine.” I can’t help the smile that pulls my lips up. “Don’t make me beat your ass for continuously apologizing.”
Shit. Why the fuck did I say that?
Irelynn sucks in a breath. “Wait… what? Did I hear you correctly?”
I’m silent, not sure what to say.
Then I hear her laughing. “Did you seriously just threaten to beat my ass? Because I may have to break out the can of whoop-ass on you if you did.”
I can’t help the laugh that escapes my lips. Her laughter lightens my tense mood, worried she’d think I was some type of pervert for saying that. Especially considering the circumstances.
Irelynn takes a deep breath. “Thanks for making me laugh. I appreciate you coming over. I hope I didn’t ruin your night.”
Thank God she didn’t take that in a sexual manner. Or if she did, she’s not letting on.Although, the thought of spanking her makes me really hard. I shake my head, even though she can’t see me.What the fuck is wrong with me?
Trying to regain control over my irrational thoughts and talk sensibly, I force myself to get out of my head and focus on what she’s saying.
“No, you didn’t.” I pause. “Not at all.”
“Okay, good.” I hear her moving, and what sounds like her refrigerator door opening. “I need a drink. My mouth is dry. Hold on a sec.”
I wait impatiently, my fingers drumming against the steering wheel. When she gets back on the phone, I breathe a sigh of relief that nothing happened to her. I have this irrational, uncontrollable fear that her apartment door will be kicked in and… I shake my head, pushing the thought away. I’m trying to come across as calm, but my heart is pounding and there’s a feeling in my gut. I’m certain that the bastard is lurking around, messing with her. I hope to hell I’m wrong.
“Do you hear anything else?” I ask her, glad that the road to her apartment is just ahead.
“No, nothing new.”
“Good.” I breathe out a sigh. Flying into her parking lot, I pull into a space beside her vehicle, grabbing my phone in my hand. Leaning forward, I squint at her front porch.What the hell?
Cutting my engine, I jump out of my vehicle. “I’m here, Irelynn. Heading toward your front door now.” My eyes are trained on whatever is lying on her front porch. It’s too dark to make it out.
“Oh, thank God.” A few seconds later, she yanks the door open, flipping the switch to the outside light, her phone in her hand. Her eyes are filled with relief as she meets mine. But then her gaze drops to whatever is in front of her. “Oh, no.” Her phone clatters to the floor, her hand slapping over her mouth.
I run to her, studying her pale face and shaking hands. My eyes rove over the red roses lying on the doorstep. Bending down, I pick them up. Noticing a card, I grab the envelope, opening it. It simply says, ”Soon.”
