Page 57 of Rush of Jealousy

An energy zings through me, making me feel hopeful that I’m on the right track with my career goals. Maybe—just maybe—I have what it takes to pursue my dreams.

Hopping out of bed, I go in search of Claire, finding her sitting in her closet looking lost.

“Hey you. Everything okay?”

“We need to go face the world, Angie. The time is now.”

“Okay…”

She rolls onto her side and grabs ahold of my knees to try to get up, avoiding my offering of my hands. Stumbling forward, she climbs my thighs, nearly knocking me down. Finally getting upright, she looks at me with purpose and says, “Go get dressed into something worthy of pancakes.”

“Alrighty.”

* * *

“I’m so full,” I moan.

Claire licks syrup off her fingers, making a popping sound as she ends with her thumb. “This place has the best pancakes on this side of the river.”

“True story.” It also helps that there really isn’t much competition.

I excuse myself to use the bathroom, feeling my phone vibrate inside my handbag with a notification. I don’t even need to look to know who is texting me. The man is relentless in his pursuits. I wonder when he’ll be back in town from his business trip. Taking out my phone, I open his message.

Graham: The next time you get the urge to dress in a hot little minidress to go get pancakes, you do it with me.

I roll my eyes and glance around the space, half expecting him to pop out of the woodwork. I guess I should be alarmed that he figured out the exact location of where I am, but that man has no boundaries when it comes to acquiring information. He is some information ninja or a secret agent man.

Or he has Parker following me. At least it’s better than him breaking into my house again. I’m not going to respond as tamely as I did if it happens a second time.

Feeling bold, I type out a message.

Angie: Do you have a tracking device on me?

Angie: Maybe you injected one into my neck while I was asleep.

I see the dots that indicate he is typing.

Graham: I wouldn’t do that to you. You hate needles.

Angie: Like that would stop you.

Graham: I’m a less invasive type of stalker.

Angie: But a stalker nonetheless.

Graham: Most women like that level of attentiveness.

Angie: Pretty sure we already established that I am not like most women.

Graham: You definitely break the mold.

As I start to write out another text, I see that Zander is trying to call, which I accept. “Hey Z, how is the trip going?”

“I’m actually just a couple of hours away from Portland.”

“San Clemente fun?”

“We actually never left San Francisco. My sister wanted to get away. It worked out.”

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