Page 136 of Ever With Me

Then the stalker.

He’d stayed in Brandywood too long.

He needed to go.

Three weeks of being here was long enough to prove that this fantasy he’d let himself indulge in wasn’t sustainable. This was becoming dangerous for him and for Maddie.

Maddie found him packing when she got out of the shower.

“What are you doing?” She wore a towel around her, water droplets still glistening on her skin.

“I should go?—”

“You’re fucking leaving?” She wasn’t hurt, like he’d expected she might be.

She was angry.

“It’s for the best. Things are getting out of control.”

She marched up to his bag and grabbed a fistful of his clothes, then brandished it at him. “So this is your answer? Pick up and leave? What the fuck, Brooks?”

His brow furrowed. “You weren’t even able to look at me all day today, Maddie. You think I don’t get it? I’m supposed to protect you. I failed you—and Audrey—andyour grandfather. I wasn’t even there! And the only reason that bitch attacked you was because of me.”

Astonishment crossed her features, and she crossed her arms, keeping her towel from slipping down, his clothes still gripped in her hand. “That’s not why I couldn’t look at you. Don’t you have any idea how guilty I feel? I dragged you into the woods and gave you a blow job. I distracted both of us and was reckless, even after you warned me.”

How can she even remotely blame herself?

His shoulders drooped. “This isn’t your fault. Not in the slightest. It doesn’t change the fact that I have to leave, but you need to know that. I’m gonna go shower, and then I’ll get going. I’ll leave a bodyguard with you here tonight and then make arrangements for you until the noise here dies down.”

He started toward the door.

A shirt hit his back. He turned and looked at her with surprise.

“Asshole! How fucking dare you walk out on me tonight?” Tears shone in her eyes. “Don’t you think I went through enough today? Don’t you know how terrified I was?”

His mouth went dry. “I’m sorry about your grandfather, Maddie, I really am, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m putting?—”

“I’m not talking about me. Or Pops. I’m talking about you! I’m terrified foryou,Brooks. I can’t believe you live like this.” She swiped her tears away with the back of her hand. “Just think about what could have happened to you if that woman had found you instead of me. You were distracted and vulnerable. This is your life?”

She was worriedabouthim? He couldn’t be mad at that.

And I can’t help think about how differently Darren and Ava would react here either.

They’d see it as an opportunity for more free advertising.

He nodded slowly. “It is.”

“But you drive yourself places. You hate people driving you.”

“As much as I can, yes. But it’s not always possible. I do loathe being driven, but sometimes I’m forced to let my bodyguards take over, especially when there’s been an incident. Or when I have to use a chauffeur in another country. That woman got away today, and I’m not taking any chances.”

She shuddered. “How often are there incidents? Tell me the truth.”

“Enough.” He didn’t want to scare her. “Most are online threats that I don’t know about. People trying to hack me. But as soon as I leave my house, any freedom I have goes away. The global scale of harassment is . . . intense, at times.”

That’s putting it lightly.

He picked up the shirt she’d thrown. “My house was broken into a few times before I moved to a gated community. My guards have dragged me away from meet-and-greets or in the middle of concerts. I did a talk show once where a fan charged the stage. It happens, Maddie. It’s a reality of my life. The sunglasses and baseball cap seem ridiculous, I know, but you have no idea how much that helps give me a smidge of privacy back.”

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