Page 38 of Only If You Dare

“Doing just fine.” Santana blushed, and they stood there watching each other with their hands still linked. Amused, I brought my attention back to Desiree and found her watching me.

“Shall we?” I asked.

We all stepped to our respective vehicles, and I held the door open while Desiree slid in. At the trunk, I sat her bags inside before making my rounds to the driver’s seat.

The faraway look in her eyes made me reach over and tug her ear.

“Talk to me,” I said.

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Looks like something.” I reached out to her again. “Someone was following you. Who is Cameron?”

Desiree blew out a harsh breath, and her bangs flew up.

“He’s my ex.” She glanced at me then back out the front window.

“Is he a problem?”

“I wouldn’t say so. I haven’t seen him in years until a couple of days ago. Now, he seems to be popping up everywhere.”

I frowned, reminding myself to keep a close tab on this Cameron character. Desiree turned to me.

“He’s nothing to worry about,” she reassured.

“I’m not so sure. You don’t think he would’ve gone to the extreme of breaking into your condo, do you?”

“Oh no, no, nothing like that,” she said.

I pulled off and headed for the highway.

“When we return, if you see him again, let me know.”

Desiree relaxed in her seat and folded her arms.

“Why?”

“Because I want to make sure you’re safe. Is that reason enough?”

She smirked. “I suppose so, but like I said, Cameron’s harmless. At least physically anyway.”

I caught the somberness in her voice and reached out to grab her hand. “One of the great things about life is we live, and we learn.” I rubbed the pad of my thumb in circles against hers. “Sometimes it’s best to have heartache now rather than for a lifetime.” I squeezed her fingers, and she smiled at me.

“You’re right. Doesn’t make it hurt any less.”

“Would you like to talk about it?”

Vigorously, Desiree shook her head. “Not at all,” she offered up a light chuckle.

“Whenever you’re ready then.”

I could feel Desiree’s eyes on me as I drove through the city. I exited the highway and pulled into Paws Pet Cemetery. The gravel road popped under the weight of the Bentley’s twenty-two-inch tires. I felt Desiree’s hand tighten around my fingers. Looking over to her, I squeezed back and pulled into a circular entrance to park on the side of the green grass.

“Jasper’s here?” Desiree asked.

“Yes, Bella.”

She let out a deep breath and turned to me.

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