Page 165 of The Stalker

She squeezed the pillow one last time and set it aside, remembering the day they’d talked about the future. She looked down at her watch and set an alarm on it for midday every day. Once a day, she would allow herself five minutes to worry about Hayden, but in the meantime, she had shit to do.

She wiped away her tears and started collecting up her things. She grabbed her suitcase and packed everything away into it. Finally, she moved into the bathroom and got her toiletries. As she was looking in the cupboard, she spotted Hayden’s cologne. She spritzed it in the air and the familiar scent filled her senses, comforting her and encouraging her to do everything she could to get him back.

She sprayed it once on her wrist, then placed the glass bottle carefully in her toiletries bag along with the rest of her items before she headed back into the bedroom. She sighed as she looked around it. If she’d left anything behind…well, she would be coming back to the bus as soon as Hayden was safe. She simply couldn’t believe that this would be the last time she would be here, because if it was—no, it wouldn’t be.

She rolled her suitcase back out toward Jesse and said, “Okay, I’m ready to leave.”

“Are you okay?” He wore a look of concern on his face.

“Honestly? No. Not even close to it, but worrying isn’t going to get Hayden back.”

He nodded and sighed. “I suppose you’re right. The band is staying here for the foreseeable future. They’re refusing to leave the city until Hayden is found.”

“Sounds like them. I would like to talk to them, but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea.”

“Cooper’s been saying some pretty nasty shit about you, from what I’ve overheard. I don’t think the band is mad at you, but I’m not sure if you’ll be able to get near them, either.”

Tatiana snorted involuntarily and said, “If I really wanted to talk to them that badly, I’d be in their rooms before you even got upstairs.”

Jesse’s eyes widened, and he stared at her before it turned into a frown. “It’s so strange how this day has turned out. This whole time, I’ve been paranoid that Hayden would be taken on my watch. I never imagined that someone could get past you.”

“Trust me, Jesse. Neither did I.”

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