Page 17 of Recklessly Yours

“He must be letting the air out,” Dylan mumbled, like he was talking to himself.

“What?” I screeched. Blood rushed through my ears and my vision tunneled.

“Need you to stay calm, Hattie.”

I scoffed. That was easy for him to say. He wasn’t being followed around town by a psychopath.

“I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.” He chuckled softly. “Your brother would kick my ass.”

I rolled my eyes, though I was thankful for the levity. “Didn’t you yell at me earlier for laughing?”

“Yes. But now I’d rather make you laugh than let you spiral into a panic.”

“I’m not panicking.” I left off theyetpart of that statement.

“You’re not far from Kyle’s house,” he said. “Head there.”

“No. I’m not leading the stalker to Kyle and Tina’s. They have two kids and another one on the way.”

The last thing I wanted to do was get my family involved in this. I’d never hear the end of it. Maybe this was what I deserved for trying to meet people on the internet. I’d picked up a stalker.

“Fine. Come here, then.”

I blinked at the infotainment screen, where Dylan’s name was lit up. “What?”

“I live a couple of blocks from Kyle’s, so I’m the next closest option you have.”

“Maybe I should just go to the police.” The station was less than ten minutes from here.

“I agree.” He sighed. “That’s why I said come here.”

“Here? I thought you said the police?—”

“I am the police,” he interjected. “Come to me.”

“Oh, I meant the police station.” Though his housewascloser, and I wouldn’t have to worry about any stoplights.

“Hattie…”

His voice had that bite again, the one that made it clear he expected me to obey. Was that his cop voice? Despite being irritated by his demand, I couldn’t stop the shiver that coursed down my spine.

“Kyle’s house or mine. Pick one. Those are the only choices you’ve got.”

How had I not noticed this side of him in the twelve years I’d known him? In any other situation, I would have pushed back against his bossiness. Right now, though, I was desperate to get to safety. I looked into the rearview at the car still following me and gripped the steering wheel even tighter.

“Fine. How do I get there?”

DYLAN

I breathed a sigh of relief as her headlights shone down my street.

“You see me?” Standing on my front lawn, I waved a hand.

“Yeah.” Her voice trembled, but she wasn’t panicking.

I hated how scared she sounded, but I was impressed by her levelheadedness.

“You’re almost here. Doing great,” I said. “Pull into my driveway.”

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