Page 99 of Texting Dr. Stalker

Standing, I placed Peng back on the table and dragged the box a little closer. “Not yet. Should I see what’s inside?”

“Tell me. Tell me.”

My smile fell as common sense came rushing back.

If it is from X, do you really want her to know?

I couldn’t tell her. He was the only thing I’d ever kept secret from her. If she asked me point-blank if I still talked to him, I’d fail at lying.

“Eh, you know what? I might open it later.”

“You what?” she screeched dramatically. “No way. How can you wait to open a present? You truly are a weirdo. Open it. Maybe it’s from your sexy neighbour. He might have been waiting this entire time for you to call him by his real name to finally ask you out.”

I shivered. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Zander’s glowing green eyes shot to mind. The way he’d stiffened as he’d looked at the box in my arms. His sudden wariness followed by a smile that said so much and so little.

“If you don’t open it, I’m going over there and doing it myself.”

“Fine. Fine.” I sighed heavily, hating that I’d backed myself into a corner. “Hang on.” Pulling out layers of bubble wrap, I found a sleek black box at the bottom. Snagging it, I placed it on the tabletop, then fumbled one-handedly with the bronze clasp.

“What is it?”

“Patience, patience.”

I flipped the lid open.

I squeaked and almost dropped my phone.

“Sails?” Lily asked. “Sails. What is it? Are you okay?”

“Uh, yeah…yeah, I’m okay.” My heart skipped as I plucked the typed card sitting boldly on top of a sparkly silver dildo. It looked sleek and stylish but femininely erotic with ribbed lines all the way to the bottom.

Touching it hesitantly, I sucked in another breath at the coolness of it. Not silicone but something hard. Glass perhaps or crystal?

“You’re scaring me, Sails. What is it? It’s not something from Milton, is it?”

His name didn’t hurt me like usual. Peng couldn’t distract me as he batted at the bubble wrap I’d pulled from the box. The only thing I saw was the scripted lines on the note.

I can’t be with you in the way you asked me to be, but I promised to help you heal. This is for you. To heal. Think of me when you use it. Love, X.

“Sailor, talk to me right now, woman!”

Slamming the box closed, I forced a laugh and did my best to lie. “Sorry, I was just reading the card. It’s nothing, Lils. Just a gift basket with some care items. That’s all.”

“Care items?” Her voice bristled with suspicion. “Like what?”

“You know. Like face creams and bath bombs and stuff.”

“What friend would send you something like that, knowing you make those for a living?”

Shit.

Why do I suck so badly at lying?

“Not a close one, obviously. Look, I have to go. I totally forgot I was steeping some cinnamon sticks for a new natural deodorant recipe. I can’t leave them in too long. Bye!”

“Don’t you dare hang up on me. Something is going on with you—”

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