Page 26 of Layla

“Be careful, Kirk,” she said, walking her man to the front door. “I love you.”

She stretched her neck up to kiss him.

“I love you, too, darlin’. And don’t worry. Just looking around town. Nothing dangerous.”

She watched him go before closing the door. She locked it, remembering the guy from last night. Surely he wasn’t still lurking about. One could never be too careful, she decided.

An hour later, the kitchen was put together just the way she wanted it. She smiled with pride, thinking about all the memories that would be made in there and around the table. She couldn’t wait!

She thought of Kirk and decided to check her phone, making sure he hadn’t called or texted.

He had not but Courtney sure had.

Called three times. Texted once.

I’M COMING TO BRENNAN COUNTY. LEFT YESTERDAY. STOPPED OVERNIGHT. WE NEED TO TALK. BE THERE SOON.

“Are you kidding me?” She groaned. She thought of calling and saying to turn around, but she could never not see her best friend. But she did need those healthy boundaries Kirk had mentioned.

She was confused, angry, and a little hurt, so she decided to go for a run. Changing into yoga pants, a t-shirt, and sneakers, she put her earbuds in, found the playlist she wanted, and tucked her phone in her pocket.

As she set out, she was so distracted that she didn’t even think about asking for her husband’s permission.

She simply took off as if she hadn’t learned a thing last night.

Chapter Fourteen

Layla didn’t even realize she was jogging up a trail until she was halfway up the hill.

Town was behind her. And below.

She stopped, turned around to survey Brennan County, and blew out a long breath. She was in pretty good shape but going uphill took some effort.

Being up high, she had a good vantage point. She still had to squint though as she tried to make out more details of the car that approached town. Was that Courtney’s little Civic? It was hard to see from so far away but as it grew closer, she saw it was red. That fit.

A nervousness settled over her. What was going to happen when they spoke? Would their friendship end? The thought made her chest feel heavy, as if her heart might literally break.

A noise redirected her focus.

Behind her.

Like a foot crunching atop gravel.

Suddenly she remembered the events of last night. Oh crap! Was that guy back?

She didn’t want to look but she knew she had to face whatever—or whoever—was behind her. She slowly spun around, anxiety clamping on her like a vise grip.

And there he was.

His hood was down, but he wore the same dark coat as yesterday.

She was shocked at how ordinary he looked. He wasn’t a monster. There were no yellow fangs. No evil look in his eyes. He was just a plain, middle-aged man with a head of full, dark hair and glasses over his brown eyes.

Somehow, that was even more unsettling to Layla.

“You’re not supposed to be up here,” he said. There was a note of menace to his words.

“Neither are you,” she said, angry for allowing her voice to shake. She didn’t want to show fear.

---