Page 89 of Just My Ex

I shake my head. I feel anchorless, vulnerable. “Did you catch anything on the security footage?”

The female officer frowns. “Bits and pieces, but it’s hard to tell who it is. They were wearing a mask and a thick, dark hoodie.” She pauses and stares at me. “You probably shouldn’t be here. Just in case.”

“I could look at the footage to see if I recognize him.” I massage the knot forming above my eyes. “It’s a family will situation. But the person who’s been harassing me is in jail, as I’m sure you’ve heard, so I’m confused by this.”

I sense Henry before I see him out of the corner of my eye.

Henry. The only person who helps me feel truly safe.

“Quinn,” he says, coming closer, his eyes barely taking in the door before his arm gently slides around me. “I came as soon as I heard.” He’s wearing a baseball cap and has a backpack slung over one shoulder.

I lean into it, briefly, his warm, leather scent overwhelming me.

“Where’s Navie?” There’s a note of panic in his voice.

“With Stella. She’s fine.” I pull away. “Henry, you’re supposed to be with your family. What are you doing here?”

He gives me a look likeAre you kidding me?“I had to come. My dad will do fine without me. Are you okay?”

“Fine, except I’m going a little crazy wondering who did this? And I am so sorry about the damage. I brought this to Longdale, and I’m so sorry.”

“Shh. No. This isn’t your fault.” He lifts a hand and brushes it along my hair. “We’ll figure out who it was and get it taken care of.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t go back to California,” I say.

He adjusts the bag on his shoulder. “I’m going to reach out to the Ostlins. They have several properties in the U.S. We could go to one of them.”

I love this man. I love him. And I can’t have him at this time. But I feel myself sliding back into my old life, a life that I crave.

He’s leaving again soon, but that’s okay. We can figure it out this time.

I step towards the officers who are making notes. “Any signs that he’s still here?” I ask, pointing to the graffiti.

The male officer shakes his head. “We’ve walked the perimeter and gotten a photo and description from the security team here, but no luck so far. I’m guessing he’s long gone.”

“How could he have done this without being seen? I don’t understand.” A chill settles over me. If Raymond’s out of the picture and the security team can’t prevent this from happening right under their noses, how can we be safe?

While the female officer returns to the cruiser, Henry speaks to the male officer and gives his statement. Afterwards, they continue to talk, and it’s like they’re talking shop like man-dude champs. All scowly and serious. Just two dudes, dissecting everything with arms crossed over their chests, not even caring about the angry rain whipping around them. They even shake hands a moment later before the officers get in their cruiser and drive away.

Henry steps towards me and scans the tree line above us. “Let’s get inside.”

I turn to glance behind me, but I don’t see anything out of the ordinary. Just a drizzly, foggy Longdale Lake tree line.

But he steers me by the elbow inside, and my gut wrenches as I come closer to the graffiti. He senses this.

“I’m sorry but we just need to get inside.” He starts a slow jog and reaches the door. Holding it open for me, he scans the mountain again.

He pushes me through the doors, and I stumble forward. “Hey!” I manage, but he’s positioning himself in front of me, his stance wide.

Before I can register what’s happening, he darts forward, out the still-open door and down the walkway. After several steps, he jumps off the walkway and onto the patchy, wild grass. His feet sink into the mud with every step.

“Henry!” I yell, dropping the umbrella I’d started to close and stepping outside.

I follow the route he took, slinging my instantly wet hair out of my face. I pick up the pace, feeling the bandage around my foot start to slip. “Henry!” I shout again at his retreating form, and only then does he toss a look behind me.

“Go back to the resort,” he yells before flinging the backpack off his shoulder and dropping it at his feet, never breaking his stride.

There is no way I’m going back to the resort.

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