Page 178 of Texting Dr. Stalker

My thumbs flew over the screen as I made my way, in my boxer-briefs, back to the living room. I didn’t go near the window, just in case she saw me.

She’d tucked her legs up and sipped her drink. Peng had joined her and sat curled on her lap. She looked so young, so innocent.

Just as alone as I felt.

My chest ached.

Me:Turns out, we’re both night owls. If you can’t sleep, you can talk to me.

I pressed send and watched for her reaction.

She didn’t move.

She didn’t reach for a phone, hinting she’d probably left it inside.

Minutes ticked past, then half an hour.

My eyelids drooped and my shoulders sagged. I swayed on my feet, doing my best to stay awake all while fighting a losing battle.

Finally at three a.m., she vanished back inside, and I tripped up the stairs.

I barely made it back to bed before I was out cold.

* * * * *

Next time I woke was to brightness and noise.

My phone screeched with its obnoxious ringtone, flooding my system with adrenaline.

God, please don’t let it be work.

If I got called in, I honestly didn’t think I’d make it through the day. I’d never been this…sore. Not just physically but emotionally. It felt as if that proverbial train had come back and not just run me over but dragged me behind it for miles.

Fumbling in the bedcovers, I found the wailing device and swiped it on.

“Dr North speaking.”

“Oooo, hello Dr North speaking. Don’t you look at caller ID?”

I scowled and flopped back onto my pillow. “What the hell are you doing calling me so early?”

“It’s eleven o’clock.” Colin snickered.

“Fuck, is it?” Stretching, I reached for my glasses. My foggy eyesight suddenly became crisp, revealing the sun was high in the sky. “Shit, so it is.”

“I take it you crashed hard?”

“If you told me the world ended last night and you’re the last person alive, I wouldn’t be able to argue.”

“Love those nights when you’re dead.”

Sitting upright, I scratched my scruff and shoved a pillow behind my back. “Still feel like I’ve been run over, though.”

“I have the perfect cure for that. A friend of mine is going out on the lake with his boat this arvo. I asked if I could bring a plus-one.”

“Aw…and you thought of me.” I yawned. “So sweet.”

Placing the call on speaker, I brought up my inbox, making sure I hadn’t missed anything urgent.

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