Page 35 of Teaching His Babygirl

I tug her back into my arms, holding her close. “It’s okay, baby. I know this is hard.”

She nods sniffling. I hate myself a little for what I have to tell her. My anger at Levi Troy grows even higher, knowing he’s forcing me to upset my girl even further. Part of me hopes that I can get my hands on him before the police just to make him pay for every tear Darlene cries.

“I need to tell you something…”

She looks at me with wide, tearful eyes. “What is it?”

“Let’s sit down…” I pull her along with me to the couch and sit with her on my lap. “There’s no easy way to tell you this, but I want you to know that you’re safe. Nothing is going to happen to you.”

“You’re scaring me, Colt.”

“I’m sorry, babygirl. I don’t want to scare you… Levi Troy has been stalking you,” I say bluntly, ripping off the band-aid. “We aren’t positive, but we think that he put Leon up to attacking you.”

“What do you mean that he’s been stalking me?” Her tone is wary, if not a little fearful.

“I mean, he’s been following you… us. His house is full of pictures of you. He’s obsessed.”

“I don’t understand. He’s flirted some and asked me out a couple times… I’ve always turned him down. Why…?” She shakes her head, probably trying to wrap her mind around the information I just gave her.

“He’s a sick man. There’s no way to know how his mind works or why he would start stalking you.”

“Is it because of us?”

“No, babygirl. Regardless if we were together or not, he would have still gotten to the same place. He’s sick. It has nothing to do with you, not really. You didn’t do anything to encourage his behavior.”

Chapter Seventeen

Darlene

Stalked.

The very thought is ludicrous. Who would want to stalk me? I’m a nobody. But based on the fact that I’m being trailed on my walk to school by Ransom from The Playground—apparently, he’s a retired bodyguard and ex-military. Both Jasper and Colt were adamant that he play bodyguard to me until Levi is caught.

I only put up a token protest because, let’s be honest, I’m freaked the heck out. When Colt told me a couple days ago about the stalking, it didn’t seem real to me. Then Jasper brought a file folder full of evidence of his stalking, and the fear crept in. Especially when I saw the pictures of Colt’s face crossed out in big, bold red marker. My anxiety is so high that I’m barely sleeping. Even with Colt beside me, I can’t seem to sleep soundly.

It’s been four days, and no one has seen or heard from Levi, and Leon still refuses to talk. Colt and I spent the weekend holed up at my apartment. We watched movies and ate delivery food. I probably gained ten pounds in pizza and Chinese food weight, but I have zero regrets. Living in our little bubble was perfect. I was able to ignore my worries about people at work knowing we are dating and mostly ignore the fact that I have a stalker.

Now reality has flooded in and overwhelmed me. It’s Monday morning, my first day back to school since the attack, and I’m walking around like some kind of bait for a crazed stalker. Wait, that’s precisely what I am… Bait.

It was my choice. Even though I’m scared half to death, I told Jasper I would continue on like I have no idea anything is wrong. That I would walk to school and pretend that nothing is happening beyond it being a typical Monday. Colt wasn’t at all excited about the idea but relented when I was adamant that I wanted to do it.

Now I’m cursing myself because even with Ransom discreetly following me, I don’t feel safe. I feel exposed like I can almost feel the lens of a camera on me. Jasper and Ransom assured both Colt and I that I’ll be completely safe, that this is only to try to flush Levi out so he can be caught faster, but all of a sudden, it feels like a terrible idea. I pick up the pace, wanting desperately to get to the school and the safety that the walls will provide.

I worried that I wouldn’t feel safe there after Leon’s attack, but knowing that Colt is there along with Jasper and my friends, it feels like the safest place to be. I practically run up the stairs to the front door of the school. I burst into the entryway and almost collapse in sheer relief.

Colt is standing in the doorway to the office—having agreed not to meet me at the front door in case Levi was following me. They didn’t want to tip Levi off that we know that he’s stalking me. I practically run into Colt’s arms. It’s not until he’s holding me that I realize I’m shaking.

“Shh. It’s okay, babygirl. You’re safe,” he croons.

I take a deep breath and settle my nerves. “I’m okay,” I agree, taking a step back from him. “I’m okay,” I say more firmly, and with every bit of confidence I can muster up. It’s not much, but it’s enough to take me out of wilting violet territory.

Jasper comes into the office, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “You did well.”

“Did you see him?” I want the answer to be yes. I don’t want to have to live in fear. It’s only been a few days since I found out about Levi Troy stalking me, and I already feel like I’ve been scared for years. I don’t think I can live this way. The desire to hole up in my apartment is huge.

“No, sweetheart. If he’s watching, he’s being careful. Don’t worry, we’ll keep you safe,” Jasper says reassuringly.

I’m glad for such capable men watching over me but having them here isn’t nearly as reassuring as one would think. How long can they watch over me? Days? Weeks? Months? The idea of this going on for months or even weeks has my anxiety spiking. I can’t live this way. I mentally shake myself. Colt will make sure I’m safe. He won’t let anything happen to me. I repeat it like a mantra. Slowly, my heart rate slows and the hand clutching my chest releases.

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