Page 11 of Scary Suitor

“Nothing?” I utter, jabbing a finger to her ticklish side. “No wise words?”

“From what you said,” Finny grunts and dodges another incoming poke, “I would call you a bitch.”

I gasp, and it’s my turn to be insulted. I didn’t think my actions, grouchy and standoffish, would be labeled as that.

“Okay, a cunt.” Finny snorts loudly. “If I was the stalker, I wouldn’t want to be near you since you don’t seem fun.”

That’s exactly what I want to hear. I can doubt myself and the perturbing thoughts, but Finny has more experience with men, so her conclusion to this bizarre situation must have some certainty to it.

“Does this have anything to do with your odd chameleon phase?” The concern glimmering in her eyes appeases my rampant heart.

“I want a glow-up,” I protest, tossing the blanket over our shoulders.

“I can help,” she suggests and taps on her night lamp sensor. “You will have a boyfriend before Valentine's because our manager has been eyeing you.”

Even the thought of him is pungent.

“He eyes everyone,” I said drowsily.

“Heaven forbid you two click. I never want to see you two making out next to the snack basket in the break room.”

Finny gags at her words, roughly thumping her chest, and twists her pillow to convey her disgust. I’m not interested in being friends with our manager, let alone being romantically involved.

“Goodnight.” I laugh and snuggle deeper into the pillow.

My sleepy gaze tracks the specks of dust wafting across the window. Something moves, but I can’t find it. The rasping pinch in my throat, the trembles on my skin, and the pulsing blood running through my veins heighten a burst of adrenaline.

The feeling of déjà vu giggles in my ears as my cheeks tingle with remembrance. This exact unknown sensation was when Cassio trapped me in the stairwell.

He can’t be here; the room is too small and shows everything. But once the lights are off, shadows dance to figments of my imagination.

“Must be the stress,” I mumble into the comforter, finding relief when her body heat touches my arms.

Finny’s snoring serves as a peculiar lullaby, a reminder that I’m not alone, and a guarantee to chase away Cassio.

So, I sleep with unease drawing on my limbs and peace humming in my heart.

But the breathy command to wake up forces my lashes to flutter, frustration pricking the rims of my eyes as I kick the blanket. During my sleep, the heater turned this room into a sauna.

Cool air kisses my hot skin from a leg peeking out, gliding soothingly with shivers skipping along. The distant dream croons, wistful voices whispering remnants of the nightmare as vigilance needles together my awareness.

The oxygen smells like smoke and ambrosia. I need more, deeper inhales and longer to feel my lungs quiver with satisfaction.

Itmoves.

“You’re not avoiding me, are you, pretty?”

Black hair is barely visible between shifting shadows as a car’s high beams brush by the window. Green eyes blink intensely at my shivering form under his larger one. His shallow breathing, mingled with restrained excitement, eases into the stifling air as the bed precariously holds up under his weight.

“Of course, you wouldn’t,” Cassio purrs, a delighted laugh rumbling in his thick chest. “That would be mean.”

His voice carries away into the dark. “Hurt my feelings.”

I can’t move; it’s like subconsciously, I’m yearning for the safety his powerful arms provide. He’s too deceptive, too good at fooling everyone with his smile and enticing green eyes.

Long fingers tear apart my gasp as he pats the side of my face, calloused fingertips rubbing brutal threats with gentleness on my cheek. My voice is useless, too petrified to even breathe.

He found out where I was, broke in without making a single sound, and maybe watched us sleep for some time.

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