Page 27 of Four Times Taken

Looking around to make sure no one thought I'm some creep, I met her eyes with a glare. "Will you fucking stop? I'm just trying to help you," I whispered.

"Yeah, right. So you just happen to show up here, just like Eric's other friends? Why do I keep 'bumping' into Eric's friends? Are you following me? What the hell are you doing here?" She freaked.

"Fuck. You're unhinged," I said.

Her wide eyes dropped into speculative consideration, and she recoiled.

"First of all, I'm just here to get coffee. I don't know why you keep bumping into us, but I'll take a wild guess and say it's because we're staying in the same vicinity? And what am I doing here? That's a damn good question. I didn't have any plans today. Did you have something in mind?" I asked, like a smartass.

She took a deep breath, one that told me she's relaxing a little, even though she continued to glare at me. She didn't apologize, but she's not screaming at me, sweating, or panting like she's about to pass out. So, on that note, it's safe to walk away and get my coffee. Still, that interaction was odd as fuck. Ethan and Ryan weren't wrong after all. This woman needs psychiatric help for damn sure, but she could also use a friend.

Pausing on my way back to the register, I turned around. "You know, Eric's leaving tomorrow," I said. "You should stop by and tell him bye."

With her hand on the door, she stopped to look at me before dipping without a word.

Chapter 20

Eric

"So, you know how yesterday I was being kind of insensitive?" Matt popped his head into my room as I packed my suitcase.

"You mean when you were being an ass?" I looked up at him.

He came in and shoved some of the clothes strewn across my bed aside so he could sit.

"I still stand by what I said, he started.

I scoffed.

"But... I ran into her yesterday," he continued.

My chest tightened. I still hadn't been over to visit her. I'd thought about it, yes. Sat in my car for a bit. Drove around, trying to get my head straight and wondering if I should go straight over there. I decided against it because I wanted to respect her wishes.

But if she had changed her mind about wanting to see me, that changed everything. My pulse leaped.

"What did she say?" The words tumbled from my lips.

"Nothing," he said. My throat clogged, and I cleared it."After seeing her though, I take back the part about not going to see her. I don't think she's hurt."

Creasing my brows, I studied him. For him to have such a turn around after being so against it yesterday, things must be bad as hell.

"Why? Did something happen?" I stopped packing altogether.

He shook his head, bafflement drawing lines across his face. He didn't have to say another word. I couldn't leave without seeing her again. She could kick and shove me; I wouldn't leave until I was sure she was ok.

Lily

It was dark out. I'd put my mother to bed, changed into a tank top and short pajama bottoms, and was about to fall face first into bed when the doorbell rang.

Who could that be at this time of night? Granted, it's only eight o' clock, but the streets get quiet early here. It's a lot better than it used to be back in the day, but us longtime residents ain't taking any chances. I let the doorbell ring, but it's insistent. That shit will haunt my dreams if I don't answer it. I don't think it'll stop.

Dragging my feet to the door, I called out,"Who is it?"

"Eric," the voice shouted back. Freezing, I considered whether to turn around and go back to my room."Lily, please hear me out," he begged.

Shouldn't he and his friends all be on a plane out of here and out of my life already?

"If you don't open this door, I'll sing love songs at the top of my voice. I promise," he threatened.

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