Page 81 of Crave

Gray begins to fill the windows as dawn approaches. One last handful of candy to tide me over until I get home. Gotta keep my energy up, this watching her all of the time is exhausting work.

Worth it.

CHAPTER 37

LARA

Song, ALWAYS BEEN YOU, Chris Grey

My stomach grumblesand it wakes me up. Checking my phone, it's only seven. I’m just constantly exhausted. Especially being on edge, I just can’t help feeling like someone is watching me.

Except that saying it out loud, even to Alexei the other day, I sound crazy.

Shoving on a knitted cardigan over my cami and shorts, I hug it around myself and head into the kitchen. Coffee. That will fix me. Stifling a yawn, I grab a mug from the cabinet, my favorite sunshine one, and jab the button on the machine.

As it buzzes to life, I rest against the counter. When I take a step back, something crinkles under my foot.

What the hell?

Lifting it up, a candy wrapper is stuck to my heel. I peel it off and hold it up to inspect it.

Huh? That wasn’t there last night. I haven’t touched any and Alexei wasn’t here. My heart almost stops. Looking up I spot the jar and rush over, grabbing it from the side. How haven’t I noticed how low it’s gotten?

Why the hell is he coming over when I’m not here? As I slam the jar down, something jumps behind the container of spaghetti. When I slide the canister out the way, I gasp.

A fucking camera. Squashing the wrapper in my palm, I squeeze it so tightly my nails break through the thin paper. Panic takes over.

Someoneiswatching me.

But reaching to get my phone, I stop. There’s something about the sweet wrapper and Alexei’s words playing in a loop about protecting me.

The distance between us physically.

The damn sweet jar.

It’s him.

Blind rage overtakes me. Swiping up my cell from the counter, I hover over his contact number.

My fingers are shaking, the urge to hurl the phone across the room taking over.

Yet I don’t.

A calming feeling settles over me as I picture him watching me.

I don’t feel unsafe. No, I feel protected.

I’m just hurt he did this rather than actually be with me. That pains me more. I need him in more ways than just looking out for me.

My heart craves him.

It always has, it always will.

Without him my mind spins out of control.

With him I am calm.

And most of all, I am loved so fiercely. That could never be matched by another.

---