Page 201 of Texting Dr. Stalker

“I mean, I’ve heard of hauntings and am well used to my TV turning on without me, and Peng regularly has conversations with things I can’t see, but this…?” Drifting forward, Sailor placed the cat on the dining room table and stood bravely bare. “This is on another level. If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t believe it. In fact, I barely believe it even though I just watched you close everything.”

My fists curled. “They just can’t leave us alone, even when they’re dead—” I cut myself off with a grunt.

Fuck.

X wouldn’t know about Mary and Melody’s lifelong pact to join their bloodlines. To marry a Rose to a North and forever be family.

Spinning to face Sailor, I choked on my heart.

Had she heard? Did she know?

My shaking hand strayed to my mask, making sure it was in place.

She gave no indication of noticing, chewing on her bottom lip and staring at her kitchen in a daze. Slowly, a sly smile crossed her red-kissed lips. “I think Nana just gave us her blessing.”

I stumbled backward. I couldn’t speak. I didn’t trust myself. Once again, jealousy poured through me that Sailor was choosing X over me. She looked at me as if we had a future. She had no qualms about breaking my heart as Zander because her connection with X was so much stronger andfuckthat hurt. Itkilled. It butchered me because how could I stay living on Ember Drive after this? How could I spy on her through her windows and see her grieving for X after I killed him off?

I wouldn’t stand a chance as Zander because I’d break her heart just like she was breaking mine andgood God what the fuck have I done?

Self-protection made me shut down.

I couldn’t stay here anymore.

Marching past her, I headed toward my clothes scattered around the living room.

“Hey!” she squeaked as I brushed past without looking, our naked skin zinging with chemistry. “Where are you going?”

“I-I just remembered. I have something urgent to do.” Rage percolated, tangling with the very real, very scary ability to be cruel all in order to save myself. “I told you we were over. Just because we slept together doesn’t make that any less true.”

She slammed to a stop on the threshold.

I did my best not to look at her, but I couldn’t help throwing her a glance as I snatched my black slacks off the floor.

For a second, she looked as if she’d burst into tears. The next, I wouldn’t put it past her to beat me with a frying pan. In the end, she straightened her shoulders and stalked toward me with blue heat in her stare. “Bullshit.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re running away again.”

“No, I—”

“I’m telling you, X, if you leave, I willneverspeak to you again.”

“I’m aware.” I fisted my trousers, trembling with the need to pull them on. “This is the last time we’ll see each other. This was a mistake—”

“Amistake?”

“You’re the one who forced me to come over here. You’re the one who almost killed herself. What happened afterward was both our faults, but it’s over now and—”

“No.”

“No?” My eyebrows rose, the mask hiding my shock. “What do you mean, no?”

“I mean, I might not know your name or address or a single thing about you, but I do know that when you’re afraid, this is what you do.” She bared her teeth. “You run the moment you feel anything.”

I sneered. “I’m not running. I’m just done with—”

“Protecting me?” She stuck her nose in the air. “Good. I’m glad you’re done playing the role of my guardian. It means you can stop treating me as if I’ll break.”

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