Page 223 of Texting Dr. Stalker

“Zander was there to save me.” I shrugged. “And I think…I think I needed to see him in that way. You know…being violent toward someone? Protecting me like X did. If I hadn’t, I would still have a super hard time admitting he’s the one who’s been stalking me all along.”

“Not surprised. He went as far as to dye his hair and change his eye colour. That’s commitment.Freakycommitment.”

I nodded along, sipping my wine.

Her voice softened as her eyes met mine. “I should’ve guessed something was going on with you two. The night he called me looking for you, his voice said it all.”

“What did it say?”

“He was panicking. Desperate.” She smiled gently. “He’s in love with you.”

I ducked my head, fighting a blush. “So…you don’t think I’m crazy?”

“Oh, I think you’re batshit crazy.” She laughed. “But then again…so is he. It sounds as if he’s turned himself into knots for you. Coming over in the dead of night, giving you an orgasm under duress, gifting you a damn kitten for goodness’ sake. I mean comeon.” She pressed her wrist to her forehead and fake swooned. “He’s a walking romance trope.”

I laughed, surprising myself. “And you’re not mad at me?”

Her smile fell. “Honestly? Yeah, I am a little.”

I flinched.

She took my hand and squeezed it, all while she scolded me. “I’m happy for you, Sails. I truly am. He wouldn’t have gone to such crazy extremes if he wasn’t head over freaking heels for you. I’m grateful he gave you an outlet to talk. That he was smart enough to know you needed a stranger to confess to. He helped you find your feet again, but I can’t help feeling like…you didn’t trust me enough to confide in me. I’m hurt that you thought I wouldn’t accept you. I would’ve loved you no matter what state you were in—”

“I know. And I love you for it. I know every word of that is true, but…I was a little lost, Lils. I was afraid of my own shadow, and you looked at me as if I was so strong, and I needed to believe that. I don’t think I could’ve coped if you’d seen how much I struggled.”

Tears glimmered in her eyes. “I get it. I do. But I just need you to know I wouldneverthink you were weak for having panic attacks. Milton tried tokillyou, Sails. Even if you hadn’t almost been strangled to death, something like that stays with a person.”

I sipped my drink and let her continue.

“No matter that Zander lied to you and stalked my best friend, I’ll always be grateful to him for helping you, and I can even understand why he used a fake name and wore a mask, especially now that I know that Milton hurt you all because he caught you spying on Zander in a towel—”

“I wasn’t spying.” I swallowed a mouthful of zesty alcohol. “I was thinking about work and—”

“I’m sorry, moonbeam, but that’s a lie.”

I reared back, breaking our handhold. “What? How could you—?”

“I’m your best friend.” She smirked kindly. “I’m around at your place all the time. I’ve been popping over well before Milton ever moved in. Do you honestly think I haven’t caught you checking out your neighbour?”

“What? No, I—”

“You might not be aware of it, but whenever Zander appeared in his living room or kitchen, every part of you knew. You’re like a damn antenna picking up his whereabouts.” Her smirk turned into a laugh. “Do you remember the night we were playing Monopoly and you—for the first time ever, I might add—had all the hotels, and I landed on your squares and had to pay an exorbitant amount of money?”

I scowled, going back over our fun game nights that’d become a bit of a tradition. We’d taken up playing Monopoly as an ode to my grandparents but also because Lily said it would help her get in touch with her developer side. We’d kept playing it because it was fun to bicker and taunt, all while eating snacks and sugar.

But try as I might, I couldn’t remember that night. Usually, I lost. I would remember wiping out her bank balance. “I’m guessing you cheated because I don’t remember you losing any game.”

“And there you have it. I rest my case.”

I frowned. “I don’t follow.”

“You didn’t remember to charge me because you were too damn busy perving at Zander as he paced through his house on his phone. He was wearing a pair of track pants that hungreallow and no shirt. Even I did a second-glance. But you?” She fanned herself. “You practically crawled to the window to watch.”

“What?” My cheeks caught fire. “I wouldn’t. I didn’t—”

“You did, and it’s okay. You’ve wanted him for years. Even if you couldn’t admit it.”

My stomach clenched.

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