Page 165 of Texting Dr. Stalker

He refused to look at me until he finished. Once he’d hung up, he flexed his hands with a wince, a streak of blood and faint bruises staining his knuckles.

The thief whimpered as Zander glowered at him.

The night gathered thick around us.

I wanted to ask so many things.

Why had he defended me?

Where had he come from?

How was thispossible?

But then he captured my hand and dragged me away from the creep on the ground. Once we were far enough away, he squeezed my fingers and let me go reluctantly. “Are you okay?”

Rubbing my hand from his tingly touch, I nodded. “Yes.” I frowned, vacant from panic and feeling a little floaty. “Actually, I feel rather good.”

“Good?” His eyebrows shot to his hairline, and for a second, I pictured a silver piercing. The way his eyes widened then narrowed reminded me so much of X, my brain tried to splice the two men together.

“Now, I’m the one who doesn’t understand.” He cocked his head. “Are you sure he didn’t hurt you?”

Looking past him to the creep on the ground, I shrugged. “He tried.”

“And…you feel good about that?”

“Yes.” I crossed my arms, nodding with more bravery than I felt. “I fought back this time. It felt very good to do that.”

His eyes darkened, reminding me all over again of another man with brown eyes. Eyes shaped so similar. Lashes just as thick.

Aghh, will you stop?

They are not the same person!

Apart from the height and a few mannerisms, Zander wasn’t like X at all. Not to mention his hair and eye colour—

He attacked that guy for you.

He’d come to my rescue just like X had on those nights I’d needed him.

He knew where I was…

I froze.

Couldit be him?

You told both you were at the movies.

But I couldn’t remember ever giving the name of the cinema because I’d been drowning in panic like an idiot.That’s why X isn’t here. That’s why he—

He’s not here because he said you’d never see him again…remember?

I swayed.

“Sailor?” Zander stepped into me, his green gaze darting over mine as if worried I was about to pass out. “Are you alright? Do you need to sit down?”

I stumbled away, my heart resuming its panicked flurry. I couldn’t get my bearings. Couldn’t stop the yearning for one man all while another had saved me.

Anger rose, wanting to strike at all these annoying, confusing,stupidfeelings.

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