Page 175 of Texting Dr. Stalker

Someone pounded like a crazed animal on my front door. “Sailor Moon, you open this doorright now!”

“Eep, I’m in trouble.” I winced and nose bopped Peng. “Can you protect me? She’s super scary when she’s mad.”

He yawned, showing me his sharp little teeth.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Scooting out of bed, I grabbed my kitten and darted down the stairs in my night shorts and oversized tee. Lily kept knocking, the banging echoing down the corridor as I flicked the dead bolt and wrenched it open.

Her eyes roved over me. She looked flawless in a power suit of rich grey with a black shirt and heels, her hair coiled and perfect. “Well, you’re not dead then.”

Throwing myself at her, I hugged her, squishing Peng between us. “I amsoooosorry, Lils. I have no excuse. But after what happened in the movies and then in the car park and then with Zander, exhaustion swamped me the moment I got home, and I crashed. I crashedwayharder than I thought I would and—”

“Whoa, what? What happened with Zander?”

“That’swhat you decide to focus on?” I huffed, pulling away.

Kissing my cheek, revealing she wasn’tthatmad, she moved me aside and stomped toward the kitchen. “Fine. What happened in the car park? What happened in the movie? I demand to know every minute of last night, and then you’re going to tell me everything that you’ve been hiding.”

Following her, I plopped Peng onto the countertop, then scooped up his bowl and put his morning rations into it. The orange furball ploughed headfirst, ignoring both of us as I added water to the kettle and two lemongrass-ginger teabags to big chunky mugs.

While the kettle boiled, I gathered my hair into a messy ponytail and figured out how to tell her that I’d fooled around with my stalker, had the hots for my neighbour, and beat up a guy who’d tried to rob me.

But…I froze.

My mind finally caught up to what I’d seen outside when I’d answered the door.

Something that shouldn’t be there.

“Hang on.” Racing back through the house, I ripped open the door and tripped onto the front deck.

My car slept peacefully on the driveway as if it’d been there all night long.

How is that possible?

Glancing at Zander’s house, I saw no evidence of him being awake so early. Not that eight o’clock was early. With his crazy shifts, he could already be elbow-deep in a surgery.

Huh, that’s strange.

The camera on his veranda that usually pointed at his garage had been angled to point at my front yard. Had the wind done that? Why would it—?

“You better start talking, Sails. Otherwise, I’m going to hold you down and tickle you like we did as kids until I get answers.” She wriggled her fingers. “I haven’t forgotten how quickly you squeal when I find that spot between your ribs.”

I flinched away from her. “No need for threats. I have every intention of telling you. But…hold that thought.”

“Oh my God, you’re driving me mad.” Lily stomped her high heel as I padded barefoot down the garden path and opened the car door. No clues hinted to how it’d gotten here on its own. No note. No answers.

Lily loomed over me, investigating my old car as if it would tell her what I was hiding. “Start spilling. Right this second.”

Memories of kissing Zander last night. The ignition of blistering heat, followed by the bucket of ice water. If only the damn door knocker hadn’t jammed into my back. If only he’d asked if I was okay instead of assuming that I wasn’t.

My heart picked up its exhausted beat again. Even if I had ended back at Zander’s house, could I honestly say I would’ve slept with him? I mean…I wanted to be free butthatfree? That unattached to jump from one man’s bed to another?

Perhaps it was a good thing the knocker had stopped us.

As much as I rode the high of adrenaline last night, if I’d woken in Zander’s bed this morning…I honestly didn’t know how I would’ve reacted.

“Sailor.” Lily waved in front of my face as I closed the car door and padded back toward the house.

Who brought it back for me? And how? The keys were in my purse. They hadn’t left my side. Unless X broke in last night and stole them? But if he cared enough to return my car, why hadn’t he messaged me?

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