Page 56 of Something New

She’s falling for me.

Everything I have ever wanted is coming together how I planned. And this is before she even realizes she’s pregnant. Once she finds out she’s carrying my baby, there will be no turning back.

I spend the rest of the afternoon listening to their conversation. Much of it revolves around me, offering a revealing opportunity to delve deeper into understanding her. A significant portion pertains to her work and her anxieties about the future. But I am not interested in that. I will take care of her. I don’t even want her to work because it will take time away from us being together.

Outside the sky grows darker.

I’m not going anywhere.

I’ll wait all night if I have to, but I need to go in and talk to her. I want to see her face and touch her skin. She admitted how she feels about me and it’s making me crazy with need for her.

Hayley only leaves her apartment well after ten o’clock. I continue to wait. Do I tell Nerissa that I know she loves me? I watch her getting ready for bed. She stands at the window, peering into the darkness. Then closes her curtains. This shocks me because she never closes her curtains. What is she up to?

Not needing to worry about being hidden anymore I move my car closer to her apartment. I am parked right under the streetlight, still listening to her phone. She isn’t speaking, but the sounds of her moving around inside her apartment aresoothing to me. It’s as though I am in there with her, just being close to her.

I also want to wait and see if there is a reason she closed her curtains. Is she hiding something - or someone?

I hear shuffling and Nerissa climbing out of bed again. I sit tensely. What is she doing in there?

The curtains open and her beautiful face is perfectly framed in the window.

She is looking directly at me.

Her eyes are locked onto me.

She knows I am here. She knows I am watching.

My heart is beating in my chest. Will she be angry?

She steps away from the window, and I wait. I wait to hear her door opening. I want for her to rush out onto the street and come marching towards me. I wait for her to yell at me I’m crazy, a stalker, obsessed -

But instead, I hear her climbing back into bed.

I shake my head in disbelief. She knows I’m here and she’s just ignoring it. Or does she like the fact that I’m watching her?

Confusion settles over me. Does she want me to go inside? Is that why the curtains are open?

I’ve never had her catch me before and I’m frozen with indecision.

I sit for over an hour, trying to make a choice.

Finally, I give in to my desires.

I want to see her. And I always get what I want.

Climbing out of my car I close the door. The street is pitch dark and midnight silent. There isn’t a soul walking around. This isn’t the best part of town and people know better than to be walking around here after dark.

I slip my hand into my pocket and pull out the copy I made of her apartment key when she moved in here. I let myself into the foyer, the security guard is fast asleep as he always is once he’s locked up for the night.

I take the stairs, tiptoeing up to her front door.

Slipping the key into the lock my heart is pounding with excitement. I love the rush. I am the predator, and she is my prey. She is the most delightful creature to be hunting, and I know I will never tire of her.

I let myself into her apartment. Silent. Careful.

I walk over to the side of her bed. She is sleeping, but she looks restless.

Sitting down on the armchair that is already pulled close to the side of the bed I watch her. My future wife. The mother of my unborn child.

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