Page 84 of Look, Don't Touch

“Give me five and send Maggie in, please.”

“Yes, Dr. Fitzpatrick.”

“Suck-up.”

My phone vibrates in my palm.

I wipe my eyes, press it, and read.

You know why. I’ll tell you when you’re ready to hear it.

Panic seizes my guts in a tight grip. Excitement tickles my heart.

Another text shakes my phone and my world.

Just like you told me in your hallway.

Anything you want, I’ll give to you.

Anything you want, I’ll do for you.

I don’t know why I need to challenge him on it. He’s not lying. He’s the best man I’ve ever met.

Your voice. It’s my favorite sound. What happened to it?

The phone is clutched between my fingers. I watch the bubbles flutter. My heart is in my throat. Then they stop.

My phone vibrates with an incoming call.

“Hello?” I whisper.

“Hello, Siren.”

My breath catches at the sound of his voice in my ear.

“After I killed Pepper, nothing was left to hold me back. But he knew what I was capable of and was more careful around me. No knives or forks for me to use. The doors were padlocked from the inside. He starved me for three days to keep me weak. Still, I fought. He got shackles around my arms. I kicked. He tied my legs. I screamed.”

“Arlo.” I choke. “You don’t have to go on. I shouldn't have asked.”

“Anything, Hailey, means anything. I screamed so long and so loudly that he kicked me in the throat in hopes that I’d be mute. I never spoke to him again. I never screamed again.”

There’s a noise at my door. I hit my intercom with lightning speed. “Nat, I need five more minutes.”

“Absolutely.” I hear her begin to say something to Maggie, but I click off.

“What happened?” I beg.

“He thought he’d won. He didn’t, Hailey.”

“Arlo?”

“Yes, Hailey?”

“I wish I could hold you right now, and that scares me.”

“I understand. Truly, I do.” Someone speaks in the background, abruptly, loudly. It’s a man’s deep and jolly voice.

“Thank you.” I swallow. “Thank you for so much.”

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