Page 11 of Texting Dr. Stalker

“You stupid cow, I told you not to look at him! I told you he’s after what’s mine, and what did you do? You smiled! I think it’s time you had a lesson in how I expect you to act around other men. Thereareno other men, do you hear me?”

I flinched as his fist walloped against my cheekbone.

I stumbled as he cut off my air—

Not here.

Not real.

It’s over.

I gasped as I forced myself to remember he wasn’t here. That was yesterday. Today, he couldn’t hurt me.

Today, he’s in jail.

Dropping my bag by the back door, Lucy scaled the two short steps and grabbed me in a crushing hug on the lawn.

Her embrace hurt, but I returned it, all while trying to school my breathing. Trying so, so hard not to let Milton ruin this.

“I’ll only ask one more time, Sails, and then…I’ll trust that you know what you’re doing.” Pulling away, she cupped my tender shoulders and squeezed. “Are you absolutelysureyou want to be here so soon? You don’t have to sell. You don’t have to move. Just…maybe give it a little time?” Her blue eyes softened. “Come have a few sleepovers with me like old times, alright? We can stay up late and watch swoony rom-coms. We can eat all the bad food and gossip about all the boys.” She winced. “Oh, sorry. What on earth am I saying? Of course you don’t want to watch rom-coms and gossip about boys. You probably want to stay single for the rest of your life after what he did. But if you stay single, what if you have an intruder? What if a pipe bursts? What if you have a gas leak? Living alone is dangerous, especially in a big old house like this. What if someone breaks in or a rapist is on the loose and—”

Laughing silently, I planted my hand over her mouth again.

She spoke far too much the moment she got anxious, whereas I tended to clam up.

That was why we worked so well. We’d met in high school. I wasn’t exactly shy but preferred my own company. Meanwhile Lily, with her motormouth, couldn’t seem to shut up the moment she got flustered.

Letting my hand fall, I went to speak. My throat spasmed. I just shook my head and mouthed, “I’m sure.”

She sagged and nodded. “Fine. Let’s get you inside, then. I have a house appointment at three, but I’ll stay until then. Afterward, I’ll come back with easy-to-swallow soup and have a sleep over. No arguments.”

I linked my arm with hers and smiled.

I gave her a thumbs up.

Together, we went inside.

* 4 *

Zander

Appropriate Morality

CLUTCHING MY BEER BOTTLE, I TRIED TO look away but couldn’t.

Down below, in Melody’s overgrown wild back garden, Sailor sat alone at the wrought-iron café table for two. The metal used to be painted black, but the years had weathered it, and now rust crawled up the arms and legs.

Leaning against the window frame where I stood in my bedroom, I wished I was closer so I could see how she was coping.

From up here, she looked okay.

Her straight back and fierce hold on the book she was reading seemed normal enough but, at the same time, all wrong. She was too still, too tense.

Was she struggling being back so soon?

Had Jim put her furniture in its rightful place so she didn’t see evidence of just how badly Milton had thrown her around the house?

Taking a swig of beer, I took my glasses off and rubbed at the indent left behind on my nose.

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