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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Dalton asked us for the second time if we wanted him to pick up any food while he was out.

“You really don’t have to leave,” I said, getting comfortable on the couch beside Cami. “I hate the idea that I’m kicking you out of your own apartment.”

“You’re not kicking me anywhere,” he replied cheerfully. “I’m stepping out voluntarily because I think the Gentry twins deserve some private time.”

“Love you,” Cami called.

“Love you too,” Dalton answered before he walked out the door.

“So,” Cami said, not wasting any time, “what’s going on? You sounded funny every time I talked to you this week.”

I hugged a couch pillow to my chest. Never in my life had I kept a real secret from Cami. At first I hadn’t wanted to tell her at all. I still hadn’t told my parents. But ever since last Friday night when Parker Neely attacked me I’d been walking around with a thick feeling of dread in my heart. The feeling lifted slightly when I filed a police report yesterday detailing the assault. I knew his family had money, along with connections, so I was not optimistic that anything would come of it but the officer who took my statement promised me they would follow up. She also said I might want to consider filing a restraining order. That way he could be arrested if he showed up anywhere near me. Curtis accompanied me to the police station and gave his statement as well.

Having Curtis around also helped ease that crushing sense of dread. He and Brecken had moved to their new apartment last Sunday but since Brecken still spent afternoons at our house the two of them were always invited to dinner. We didn’t talk to each other much at work but just knowing that he was within reach made me feel better. Plus he insisted on being there when I got out of class. He wouldn’t leave until I was safely in my car and driving home. The other night when I checked my rearview mirror at the last second before making a right turn out of the college parking lot I was surprised to see that he was still standing right where I’d left him, just silently watching over me.

I told Cami everything. She didn’t cry at first. Her eyes glistened and she squeezed my hand as I talked. Then when I got to the part about how I’d crawled on the ground, trying to escape from Parker and maintain consciousness, Cami let out a cry of anguish and my strong, brilliant sister lost her composure. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Cass,” she whispered.

“I’m okay,” I assured her. “Curtis was amazing. He busted in on the scene like a superhero, scared the shit out of Parker and took care of me. I try not to think about what would have happened if he hadn’t been there, if he hadn’t happened to be standing on the front porch and noticed something was wrong. But he was there.”

Cami sniffed and swiped at her tears. “Thank god for Curtis Mulligan.”

“The same thought has crossed my mind a few times.”

Cami’s face changed. Fury replaced grief. “I could kill him. Parker. I’m not even just saying that. I could seriously fucking kill him.”

“You’ll have to get in line behind me,” I said, feeling my jaw clench and my fists tighten.

“You’re angry,” Cami said, nodding with approval. “Good, I’m glad you’re angry.”

“You mean instead of retreating into my shell?” I shook my head. “No, I did that once. And I learned that it solves nothing. I won’t do it again.”

“But you still won’t talk to Mom and Dad?”

I sighed. “I’ve been dreading it. The police officer encouraged me to file a restraining order.”

“That’ll be on public record,” Cami warned.

“I know. So I guess I’m going to need to tell them.”

“You should,” she said. Then she frowned as her reporter’s mind chewed on the details of the story. “You said that you thought Parker showed up at your class because he knew you’d be there.”

“Yes, that’s what I think. Remember Alex Dorsey?”

Cami recoiled with a look of disgust. “Gross. What’s he got to do with it?”

“I heard his sister Amanda works in the Registrar’s office at the college. From what I can tell, Parker and Alex are still pretty tight. I actually drove down to the school at lunch time yesterday to confront Amanda. I didn’t make any accusations. I just asked her if she’d passed along any information about me. She denied even knowing who I was but she couldn’t look me in the eye. I can’t prove anything but I made enough of a scene while I was in the office that hopefully she’ll at least get a warning.”

Cami looked doubtful. “Are you sure it’s safe for you to go back there? It’s late when you get out of class. He could be stalking you in the parking lot.”

“He won’t try it. Both times when I got out of class this week Curtis was waiting to escort me to my car.”

Cami was amazed. “Really?”

“Really. I told him I was fine, that I was ready to scream and dial 911 if I even thought I saw Parker’s shadow but he didn’t listen. There are only a few more weeks of class and he said he would keep coming no matter what.” I shrugged. “He’s stubborn.”

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