Page 106 of Meet Me at the Metro

“I’m the last thing you need to be worrying about.”

“I don’t know what he’s capable of, Theo.”

His gaze darkens, and a chill slithers up my spine. “What do you meancapable of?Did he fucking hurt you?”

“I-I’m okay.”

“You’re not. You’re not okay,” he counters angrily, staring at the ceiling in deep thought. After what feels like an eternity, he asks, “You saw him tonight?”

“Yes… he was watching us.”

He lets out an exasperated breath, followed by another long beat of silence. “How many times has this happened?”

“I’ve run into him two times before tonight.”

“Nora.”

“I went to the police, Theo. I swear I did. They couldn’t do anything.”

“Do Evie and Harvey know?” I nod, and his jaw tenses again.

“Don’t be angry with them,” I sniffle. “They wanted me to tell you, but I just—I’ve been so scared, but I didn’t want you to worry about it. You’re already dealing with so much and—”

“I don’t ever want you keeping something like this from me again.” He cups my face into his hands and places a gentle kiss against my lips. “It doesn’t matter what I’m sorting through. What you’re dealing with matters to me, Nora. Way fucking more than any of my own shit. You understand?”

That confession softens every single muscle in my body. “I understand.”

“He’s not going to hurt you. I won’t fucking let him.” He holds me tightly against his chest, stroking my hair. “I don’t want you going out alone or by yourself. Please promise me that you won’t do that. Harvey, Evie, or I can go with you places…or that bloody friend of yours…”

A choked laugh slips from my lips. I don’t want to depend on any one of them for that, but I understand his concern, so I nod and say, “Okay.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise you… but what about you? He’s seen us together. He probably knows where you work now. What if he tries hurting you?”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m a big fucking boy, Nora. I think I’ll be able to handle his pathetic arse just fine.”

My smile reaches my puffy, sore eyes.

“There’s that pretty smile,” he croons, kissing my head. “You’re safe with me, Nora.”

“I know.”

29

OH. MY. GOURD.

T H E O

The steady rumbling of the train jolts every sleepy muscle in my body awake. I yawn and rub my tired eyes, hoping that the warmth of the morning sun casting through the train window will be enough to unthaw my cool limbs. Nora moves closer to share some of our heat, scooting over until her leg grazes mine.

I notice how her knee bounces restlessly, but I don’t think she notices herself until I give the top of her thigh a reassuring squeeze.

She’s anxious this morning—she has been all weekend. Despite the effort she’s putting forth to try and hide it by forcing a smile on her face, I see it. I’ve noticed a shift in her usual optimistic disposition: the frequent glances at her surroundings, fidgeting hands, tense shoulders, and the way she keeps biting on her bottom lip.

She’s been like this since she caught her ex watching us two nights ago, and I won’t admit to her how fucking sick that thought makes me. The second I found out that it was him at the train station, my blood boiled—my stomach curdled.

Nora shouldn’t have to second-guess her safety like this, especially not because ofJohn.

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