Page 36 of Not Your Little Girl Anymore

When we get to the door, I notice a folded piece of paper slipped between the crack right by the doorknob. My eyes narrow as I pull it out and open it. My muscles tense as I read the words written inside the paper.

This is your last warning.

Samantha hovers over my shoulder to read it. “What is this?”

I know this handwriting.

“Raleigh.” I crumple the paper without hesitation, go inside, and unlock my apartment door.

“Alec, what did you do?”

Scratching my temple, I shake my head. “I haven’t done anything. He’s targeting me. He always fucking targets me.”

She gives me her ‘you can’t fool me’ look. Rage courses through me, and it would be easier to not tell Samantha, but knowing how pushy she is, she’ll find out sooner or later. I want to save myself the trouble and get it over with.

“OK, fine. I hung out with Summer a couple of times.” I shrug like it’s no big deal.

Samantha’s mouth falls open. She blinks twice, and then her hand stretches out and she smacks my upper arm.

“What the fuck, Sam.”

“You are a fucking idiot, Alec Sokolov,” she barks.

And maybe I am, but I won’t admit that to Samantha.

I want to object, but James swings the door open aggressively, causing both mine and Sam’s head to swing his direction. He pauses and looks between Samantha and me, the tension between us clear.

The only reason he’s here this late is to pick Samantha up. She works part-time at the small convenience store down the road and given that her car broke down a few weeks ago, she’s been hitching a ride with James since their schedules outside of band practice and events mingle together.

James chuckles, looking at me. “What did you do this time?”

“Why is it always something that I did?” I bite back in defense, becoming even more agitated.

“Alec is screwing around with Officer Raleigh’s daughter, and now he’s leaving threats at the door,” Samantha tells James.

“I’m not fucking her,” I scowl.

James scratches the stubble on his jaw, his lips curled downward. It’s obvious they don’t believe me. I shouldn’t care, but for some reason I do.

Before I get the chance to interfere with the theory they’ve created in their head about me sleeping with Summer, my phone goes off. I pull out my phone and see a message from Chase.

My insides are suddenly filled with relief as I read over the message, and I look at Samantha and James. “Chase got us in. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to actually sleep before practice tomorrow.”

Samantha lets out an aggravated but almost thankful groan before saying, “This isn’t over.”

I wave my arm out in an “I don’t care” motion and she rolls her eyes before grabbing James’s arm and heading out the door.

When they both leave, I lock the door and go into the living room to sit down on the couch. My mind races with thoughts I shouldn’t have. Thoughts of Summer. I want to connect with her in a way I’ve never connected with anyone in my life. Itching to feel something aside from all the pain and loneliness I’ve stuffed down inside of me over the years.

And despite her father’s threat, I do something entirely fucking stupid.

Chapter Thirteen

Summer

A sudden irritation slams into me when a loud clunk of something hits the glass of my bedroom window, jolting me awake. I wouldn’t be as upset if I actually slept more than I have been lately. As a matter of fact, I have woken up three times—and counting—since I fell asleep.

I groggily rub my eyes with the palms of my hands and squint at my alarm clock.

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