Page 96 of Texting Dr. Stalker

Me:What if I told you to take them down? That I don’t want you watching me anymore?

X:Then I’d respect your wishes and do what you asked.

I chewed the inside of my cheek.

Damn you, X. Damn you for being such a gentleman.

A stalker who was a gentleman. What an oxymoron.

Me:Keep the cameras where they are. Message me tomorrow. Goodnight.

X:Sweet dreams, Lori. Xx

Focusing on the two little kisses he’d sent, I accepted that was enough for now and went to retrieve my new best friend. And for the first time since coming back from the hospital, bruised and traumatised, I went to bed without panic, without memories, and slept with a tiny guardian on my pillow.

* * * * *

Grabbing the oblong box that’d been delivered into my gingerbread letterbox, I looked up just as Zander closed his front door and strolled toward me. Ten a.m. Far too early to claim the little beast who had captured my heart.

Dressed in dark jeans and a white t-shirt, he’d traded his everyday glasses for sunglasses and his rich red hair glittered with fire streaks under the already hot summer sunshine.

My heart skittered in a totally different panic than usual.

Strange that my fear where Zander was concerned now centred around wanting to keep Peng and not just the triggers Milton had instilled in me.

Hugging the box—another gift from Lily most likely because I didn’t order it—I braced myself not to run and lock the door. “Good morning, Zander.”

He gave me his typical reserved smile. Not able to see his eyes, I couldn’t judge if he’d caught up on sleep or if running a stray cat to the shelter annoyed him.

“Morning, Sailor.” He tipped his chin and stopped by my letterbox. His attention dropped to the package in my arms. One second, he stood loose with his hands by his sides. The next, he was as stiff as a tree with his fists clenched.

Wow…what?

A wash of anxiety cut through me.

I backed up a step. Even though he promised he’d never hurt me, it still didn’t stop the fight-or-flight from kicking in.

“Maybe he’ll take you like I did, slut. But you’d like that, wouldn’t you? After all, you’re begging masked men for a fuck. Why not let your nerdy neighbour have a turn?”

Trembling, I did my best to shut out Milton’s horrible voice.

Zander swallowed hard and cleared his throat. “A present from someone?”

I frowned and looked at the box I clutched like a rubber ring, all while drowning in a sea of anxiety. “It’ll probably be from Lily. We randomly send each other things now and again.” I hefted it. “I haven’t bought anything online for a while, so it has to be her.”

It could be from X.

The tiny thought appeared and grew louder.

He’d dropped a phone into my letterbox. Would he send another parcel?

Curiosity itched to dash inside to check, but I stood my ground and prepared to deliver the speech I’d practiced in front of the bathroom mirror.

“Uh, Zander, I—”

“So, Sailor, I—”

We both laughed awkwardly as we spoke over one another.

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