Page 22 of Vas

“Didn’t you know?”

Anna shook her head. “It was a gift.”

Tiffany’s eyes grew wide. “Who from?”

“The guy who saved me when I was attacked.”

If possible, Tiffany’s eyes grew even wider. “Wait a minute. Someone saved you? You said the guy got scared and ran off when he saw a cop car.”

Anna internally sighed. Andthatwas why she never lied. She could never remember them and theyalwayscame back to bite her in the ass. “Um…”

Tiffany’s eyes went from wide to squinted. “Buy your damn case and then the two of us are going to get lunch and sit down and you’re going to tell me everything. This time the truth.”

Close to lunch time, the food court was crowded but she and Tiffany had managed to find a small table.

Moving her fried rice around with her fork, Anna felt Tiffany staring daggers at her. The tension at the table was palpable and Anna knew it was only a matter of time before Tiffany blew.

And then she did. “Well?”

Anna looked up, hiding a wince. She wasn’t used to sharing, especially something so personal. “I’m not sure where to start.”

“How about with the guy who gave you that phone.”

Anna grimaced. No, she definitely didn’t want to start there.

Tiffany must have seen her expression because she amended, “Okay, how about the true story of the attack.” She reached over and covered Anna’s hand that rested on the table and lowered her voice. “I have a feeling it’s a little worse than you made it out to be.”

A big smelly hand suffocating her flashed through her mind and she shivered. Looking back down at her plate, she moved more rice around and said, “It was late. I was working a shift with Gail so,” she glanced back up and attempted a small smile, “you know, it was later than the usual closing time late. My car wouldn’t start, so I got out to use the payphone out front.” She paused but Tiffany didn’t reprimand her for not buying minutes as Vas had, instead she just squeezed her hand, encouraging her to go on.

“Everything happened so fast. One minute, I was grabbed from behind and pushed up against a wall, the guy’s hand fumbling with my pants and the next, he was gone, ripped off me.”

“That must have been so scary.”

Anna gave a small nod. “I read about women being attacked all the time, and it’s always in the back of my mind it could happen to me, but I didn’t think it would everreallyhappen.” Then she mumbled, “Stupid, I know,” and stuck a forkful of rice into her mouth, taking a sip of her soda to help wash the tiny grains down when they stuck in her throat.

“And the guy who saved you?” Tiffany asked tentatively.

Anna peeked up. Tiffany’s concentration was riveted. “It was the guy from the diner. The one who sits at my table and orders pie.”

“Your stalker?!” she asked, a little too excitedly. At Anna’s nod, she continued, “And he bought you the phone?”

Anna finally glanced up. “It’s not a big deal.”

“A hundred buck cell phone, yeah, maybe. What he bought you, um, no.” She threw Anna a mischievous grin. “I told you he was into you.”

After the past few days of radio silence, Anna knew for an absolute fact himbeing into herwasn’t the case. She shook her head very happy she didn’t have to lie when she corrected her. “No, he’s made it very clear he wants nothing to do with me other than the help he’s already given.”

Tiffany snorted. “I don’t believe that.”

“Believe it. Have you noticed he hasn’t been to the diner lately?”

“You know he disappears sometimes.”

Anna shook her head again. “No, he’s around.”

Tiffany looked skeptical. “How do you know that?”

“We’ve talked.” At Tiffany’s bright smile, she stressed so she wouldn’t get any crazy ideas and blow things out of proportion, “Onceafter the attack, so I know he’s been home for a few days.”

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