Page 26 of My Bloody Valentine

“Shit, I’m so sorry.” I rush to my bedroom, phone pressed between ear and shoulder as I dig through my closet. “I completely lost track of time. Give me fifteen minutes?”

“You never forget our coffee dates.” Concern creeps into her voice. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just...” I pull on my jeans, hopping awkwardly. “Work stuff. Reviews piling up.”

“Bullshit. You’ve been weird ever since that chocolate tasting with Adrian Vale.”

My hand freezes on a sweater. Just hearing his name sends electricity down my spine.

“Maya? You still there?”

“Yeah, sorry.” I yank the sweater over my head. “Look, I’ll be there soon and tell you everything.”

“You better. I’ve got questions about this guy and why you’ve been ghosting me.”

“Fifteen minutes,” I promise, grabbing my purse. “Order me the usual?”

“Already did. It’s getting cold.”

“You’re the best.” I pause at my front door, keys in hand. “And Amelia? Thanks for... you know. Being you.”

“Always. Now move your ass.”

I hang up and take a deep breath. Amelia deserves the truth. Well, maybe not the whole truth about Adrian’s special ingredients. But enough to understand why I’ve been distant.

My phone buzzes with another text as I lock my door. I delete it without reading it.

I pull up my phone as I walk down the street, fingers hovering over Adrian’s contact. The right thing to do is block him. Delete his number. Pretend none of this ever happened.

My thumb trembles. Just do it. Press block. But what about the murders? I should be calling the police, not just blocking his number.

The thought of Adrian in handcuffs makes my chest tight. They’d find his special ingredients. Ask me questions. Make me explain how I knew.

No. Block him first. Deal with the rest later.

I click his contact and my screen fills with his messages. Each one sends electricity through my body. I squeeze my eyes shut and hit block. Done.

The Daily Grind’s familiar coffee scent wraps around me as I push through the door. Amelia waves from our usual corner table, two mugs in front of her.

“You look like hell,” she says as I slide into my seat.

“Thanks.” I wrap my hands around my coffee, letting the fading warmth seep into my cold fingers.

“What’s going on with you and the gorgeous chocolate guy?”

“Nothing anymore.” I wet my lips with a sip. “I ended it.”

“Just like that?” She leans forward, elbows on the table. “After you being all mysterious and disappearing for ‘private tastings’?”

“It wasn’t...” I stare into my coffee. “He wasn’t who I thought he was.”

“Did he hurt you?” Steel enters her voice. “Because I know people who?—“

“No, nothing like that.” The lie tastes bitter. “Just... sometimes people aren’t what they seem.”

The barista calls out an order, and I jump, half-expecting to see Adrian walking through the door. This is ridiculous. I can’t keep living like this, jumping at shadows.

“Maya.” Amelia’s hand covers mine. “Talk to me. Please.”

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