Page 228 of Texting Dr. Stalker

“Oh, I’m sorry, did I talk too quietly?” Leaning forward, I cupped my chin in my hands and smiled. “You appointed yourself as my faceless therapist to help me heal and…seeing as you’ve done such a bang-up job, I’m firing you from that position and hiring you in a new role.”

“What new role?”

“My orgasm delivery boy of course.”

He frowned. “That’s why you commanded me to come?”

“Careful, X.” I ran my finger over my bottom lip. “When I command you tocome, you’ll know about it.”

He shivered. His eyes dropped from mine to the cake and back again. “Lori, whatever you’re doing, it won’t—”

“I’m giving you another two choices, dear.” Wedging my elbows on the table, still cradling my chin with my hands, I smiled. “It’s up to you, so I suggest you choose wisely.”

He stiffened. “I don’t need you to give me another choice. We’re over, Lori. I told you that the last time I was here.” His eyes flashed with guilt. “I apologise for how I treated you. I-I hate that I left bruises when I always promised I would never hurt you, but…I only came here tonight to tell you that I’m leaving.”

“Oh?” I blinked like a brain-dead owl. “Where are you going?”

“Doesn’t matter. All that matters is—”

“I thought you were going to kill yourself off? That option would’ve been far more final, don’t you think?”

“What?” His eyebrows shot up. “How did you…?”

Leaning back, I shrugged. “If you wanted to end things dramatically—if you wanted me to give up trying to find you—then you should’ve told me you were terminally ill and only had a week left to live. I would’ve mourned you of course, but I would’ve given up looking in a month or two because why would I search for a dead guy?”

Peng leaped onto the table. Prowling toward the cake, he batted it. Icing covered his claws, making the little demon kitten sit and lick his paw.

X never took his eyes off mine. “I can’t read you tonight. What are you saying? What’s wrong? Did something happen?” His voice turned thick with protection and rage. “Is it Milton? Did he get in touch?”

I grinned, never letting my act slip. “I received the summons to testify against him, but that’s not what tonight is about.”

He moved before he could stop himself. His hand reached for mine across the table. He squeezed my fingers tight. “How can it not be? Knowing you have to see him? Are you doing okay? I know you’re strong enough to face him…but do you know that?”

I squeezed him back, my heart fisting all over again.

I’d invited him here to pick a fight and strip his disguise halfway through. My revenge plan was to show him I knew all along and forgave him, but…I’d never been good at confrontation and had no intention of making him hurt more than he already was.

He was too nice.

Too caring.

Even now…even highly suspicious and on guard, he still put my well-being above his own.

Oh, Zander, Zander, Zander. You just keep messing up my heart, and I just keep on letting you.

“I’ll be fine.” Squeezing his fingers, I stood and headed to the butcher’s block. Sliding out a large blade to cut the cake with, X stiffened as I carried the knife back and placed it slowly on the table.

“When will you have to go to court?” he asked quietly, never taking his eyes off the knife.

“Why?” I sat back down. “Will you come with me? I hate to tell you, X, but I don’t think you’ll be allowed a mask in there.”

“I won’t be there, Lori. I’ve told you this. After tonight, you’ll never see me again.”

“Is that right?” I nodded along. “In that case, I better get to the point quickly then, huh?”

He sighed heavily as if I’d drained him of every strength. “That would be great. Thanks.”

Grabbing the knife, I plunged it right in the middle of the X, slicing through the cake with murderous precision. “Alright then…”

---