AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Uh...coffee.”
She nodded, encouraging me to go on.
"One black and the other a mocha latte."
She smiled and went to work on my order. She'd just handed the cups to me when a cloying voice said against my ear, “I hope that's for the two of us.”
My heart beat wildly as I spun around to face Eric. The crushing grip I had on the cups prevented them from tipping over.
“Look like you've seen a ghost, babe,” he murmured and lightly touched my cheek.
I snapped my head back. “Get away from me.”
“Is that the way to talk to your boyfriend?” he crooned, eyes going half-mast in a way I once imagined was attractive.
“Hey, miss. You're holding up the line!” the man behind us complained.
I quickly fished in my pocket for a bill but was so shaken it took too long.
“I'll get that.” Eric crowded into me and paid the barista.
I held my breath. Coupled with my nerves from earlier, I stood frozen, unable to react.
He caught my arm, led me to a table, and pulled out a chair. "Come on, sit. Don't want you fainting."
Anyone watching us would think he was an incredibly attentive lover setting me down thoughtfully. They wouldn't know he was a creepy stalker who made every day of my life a nightmare.
“Why are you doing this?” I gasped as he took the spot opposite me.
He braced both elbows on the table and sat forward. “I'm still in love with you, Vivi.”
“Why?” I nearly burst into tears. “You've tormented me enough. Aren't you tired?”
His eyes hardened. “Not until you're mine again, Violet. I promised you I would do better. I will do whatever you want so our relationship can work.”
Oh, for goodness sake! “There is no relationship,” I whispered harshly. If I didn't, I would scream and draw everyone's attention. “There will never be a relationship.”
He chuckled menacingly. "You think so? Look around you, Violet. Get real. You don't belong here. You belong with me. I'm taking you back home..."
I tuned out his voice and looked around the space. The only door that led out of the café was in the opposite direction. If I walked out, Eric would follow me. And I couldn't let him walk with me to Shawn's or lead him back to Kate's house. I had to escape him. But how?
“Are you listening?”
I forced my eyes back to his once handsome face. He'd lost the healthy glow in his cheeks. His eyes had dark rings underneath, and his hair was disheveled and grimy. He looked less like the man I once knew and more like an evil caricature.
I smiled. “Of course, I'm listening.” Holding my breath, I touched his arm lightly. “Tell me more.”
He breathed in sharply, looking from my hand to my face. I kept up my smile, despite how desperately I wanted to run. I needed to distract him, so he was less suspicious of me. That was the only way I could escape.
And like a mouse stepping into a trap, he fell for it. He grinned. “Now we're making progress. Good. As I was saying...”
I gently pulled my hand back and waited three minutes before interrupting him. "I need to use the bathroom."
His brows went up. “Right now? But we were just getting along again.”
My cheeks hurt with how hard I smiled. “I'll be right back. Wait for me.”
Coffees in hand, I extracted myself from the table and headed toward the bathrooms.
